Frequently Asked Questions
Why Attend Summit?
Teen prevention initiatives are at their best when teens like you are taking the lead! At Summit, you will get all the information and training you could ask for to boost your leadership skills and knowledge. Dive into group discussions (led by fellow teens), interactive workshops, and community planning where you will team up with other teens to make a difference. Our goal is to send you home feeling pumped, inspired, and ready to make waves in your community with our youth-powered prevention programs!
What are Our Goals?
• To empower young people to take a lead in developing a prevention program in their schools and communities.
• To develop the skills necessary to make healthy life choices.
• To train youth to be capable leaders who have a powerful, positive influence on their peers.
• To give youth a positive peer support group of like-minded friends.
• To learn to utilize resources and systems available to young people.
• To expose young people to current community issues such as violence prevention, bullying prevention and conflict resolution.
Who can Attend?
9th through 12th graders who are interested in learning leadership skills, connecting with like-minded youth, and making a difference in their community.
What is the Cost?
Registration is $25 for all three days*.
*Scholarships are available. For more information, contact Bain Brown at Bain.Brown@TeenHealthConnection.org or (704) 381-8368
Do I Have to Attend Each Day?
Yes. The Summit registration is a three-day event and daily registration is not an option. Attendees should plan to attend all three days and get the most out of the Summit experience!
Dates and Location
Dates: April 2-4, 2024, from 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Location: Mahlon Adams Pavilion at Freedom Park
2435 Cumberland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times
Drop-off begins at 8:00 am and ends at 8:15 am each day.
Pick-Up begins at 5:00 pm and goes until 6:00 pm each day*.
*Please note that 6:00 pm is the latest time for pickup possible. Fees may be assigned for pick up after 6:00 pm.
Transportation and Parking
Parents or Guardians are responsible for getting their child to and from Mahlon Adams Pavilion each day. Students with a valid driver’s license may drive themselves. Please use the above address for drop-off and pick-up. Directional signs for drop-off and pick-up will be visible. Our team will be outside to assist you.
If a participant plans to drive, there are two available parking lots. The parking lot closest to the pavilion has limited parking. The second parking lot is further from the pavilion, and participants will need to walk from the lot to the pavilion. Directional signs to the parking lot and to the pavilion will be available.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks will be provided for all participants during the day. Please note that dinner is not provided.
What to Bring
A complete packing list will be provided in the registration packet. Please dress in casual and comfortable clothing and wear shoes that allow for physical activity and movement. Do not bring valuable items! We encourage all participants to “be present” and for that reason, we discourage the use of cell phones (which includes texting) during the Summit beside picture taking or to access or transmit Summit information to Staff as necessary. Participants are responsible for all personal items. Freedom Park and Teen Health Connection are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
Participants are encouraged to bring extra clothing and shoes in the event of rainy conditions. We encourage everyone to monitor the weather closely leading up to Summit and to prepare accordingly. Some events and group activities will take place in covered shelters but transitioning from one place to the next will not be covered.
Medical Needs and Emergencies
A nurse will be available throughout the week for routine first aid, if needed. In the unlikely event of a major emergency, appropriate personnel will be contacted and/or the participant will be transported to a nearby hospital emergency room. Parents will be notified immediately in case of illness or emergency.
Routine prescriptions for controlled substances MUST be kept locked in the administrative office in the original bottle. The participant will obtain the medicine for self-administration when needed from the nurse. The nurse will remain in the administrative office for every meal to be seen for medications as requested. The participant will be responsible for seeing the nurse for self-administration. ONLY BRING THE AMOUNT OF MEDICINE NEEDED WHILE ONSITE AT THE SUMMIT! For the youth, failure to disclose controlled substances on site may result in removal from the Summit.
Mental Health Preparedness
As a trauma-informed organization, we make every effort to prevent mental health concerns from arising for participants during discussions. Occasionally, participants may need more time to talk through sensitive topics brought up at the Summit. Therefore, a mental health professional, referred to as the “TLC,” will be available throughout the week to serve as a resource for participants needing additional processing time.
Adult Supervision
All adults supervising the event are staff of Teen Health Connection and have completed background checks via Atrium Health. They will be on-site throughout the duration of Summit. We expect to have a 1:8 ratio of adults to youth/participants.
Registration
Registration can be completed below or by clicking this link (insert link when available). The registration process must be completed in one sitting and includes the payment portion.
If you have any questions, please contact Bain Brown: Bain.Brown@TeenHealthConnection.org or (704) 381-8368
Information for Parents/Caregivers
Parents and/or caregivers will receive a packet of information from Teen Health Connection’s Parent Educator, Kris Hawkins, before their teen attends the Summit.
Kris will provide parents with tips and techniques about at-home prevention. Each day, parents will receive a message from Kris telling them what their teens are learning about during Summit and suggestions for questions to ask at home. We encourage parents to learn about the work their teens will be doing at Summit. Kris will also send information about continuing prevention conversations at home.
Kris Hawkins serves as the coordinator of Teen Health Connection’s parent education programs and has extensive experience with a variety of parent educational curriculums and prevention tools. Contact Kris for more information or to learn about our parent programs. (Kris.Hawkins@TeenHealthConnection.org or 704-381-8333).
Search and Seizure
Teen Health Connection employees may conduct searches when they have reason to suspect that the health, safety, and welfare of students may be in danger. Any employee making a search, or a seizure will follow these guidelines:
1. General searches of event property (including personal items found on event property) will be conducted at any time when there is reasonable cause for employees to believe that something violates a law. This search of event property may be made without the student being present.
2. Illegal items or other possessions reasonably determined to be a threat to the safety or security of others may be seized by Teen Health Connection staff.
3. A student’s person may be searched by Teen Health Connection employees when there is reasonable cause to believe that the student has on his/her person illegal items or other items that may interfere with Summit.
