Youth at the Conference
The MN Prevention Program Sharing Conference takes place annually in October, and is Minnesota's only statewide conference focused on the primary prevention of substance misuse. The conference engages communities, coalitions, individuals, agencies & organizations doing prevention work around Minnesota. 2026 will mark the 52nd convening of the conference!
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Each year, a Youth Track is hosted on day one of the conference, October 13th. Youth Track attendees include high-school aged members or leaders of student groups or coalitions focused on substance use prevention among their peers. The youth track provides opportunities for students to learn from each other, share their work, network, and engage with professionals.
Planned 2026 Youth Track Components
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Youth networking breakfast
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Possible “science fair” style presentation opportunities for students to talk about what they do. Stay tuned for more info.
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2-3 Youth Track breakout sessions. Now accepting proposals for Youth Track and standard breakout sessions - we welcome student presenters! Learn more at mnprc.org/call-for-proposals.
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Opportunities to engage with prevention professionals, network, and learn about career paths
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Breakfast, lunch, and snacks included
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Scheduled breaks for crafts, games, and activities
Cost to attend: $60/student
save an extra 10% if you register before 6/1/2026
registration opens April 2026
Are you interested in bringing a group of students to this year’s conference?
Sign-up here to receive more information:
"Conference 101" Orientation Video
Registration
We are excited to offer opportunities for youth to participate and engage with this year’s conference. Groups of students can register for the conference using the “Student Registration” ticket type. The recommended age range for student conference attendees is 10th grade and above, and a group size of 5-7 seems to work best for groups. Students enrolled in higher education are also welcome and encouraged to attend.
Photo Release Forms
We ask for photo release forms from conference attendees. Student attendees under the age of 18 will need to have a paper copy of the photo release form signed by their parents/guardians. Copies of the photo release form will be emailed to adult chaperones who register students for the conference upon registration, and should be returned prior to the conference. Any students who don’t complete the form, or who do not consent to have their photo taken, will have a sticker added to their name tag indicating they should not be photographed at the conference.​​
Goals & Expectations
MN Prevention Program Sharing is a professional conference, and youth and students are some of the most important partners in our work. We have been honored to learn with and from them over the years at Program Sharing. We also want to set student attendees up for success to participate and engage in this professional conference in a way that is accessible to them! Upon registration, students will be asked to complete a brief form to set personal goals and expectations for the conference. Chaperones bringing youth to the conference are also encouraged to review and share the Student Code of Conduct.