Minnesota teens.

What will I get out of this?

• College application gold: Leadership skills and an exclusive leadership experience you can put on college applications

• Clarity in your education and career path

• New friends from across Minnesota

• Confidence in your voice and ideas, and pathways toward realizing them

• Maybe funding to actually make your idea happen

• A chance to be part of something bigger

Yes! You'll form a "delegation" of 5 students. You can come with friends from your school, youth group, sports team, or community org. Each person picks a different role (CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, or CPO - think of them like team positions).

That's okay! You can form a smaller team (2-3 people), or the Summit organizers can help you connect with other students to form a delegation.

Yes, on a first-come, first-served basis. Please indicate your need in your application.

Nope! Before the Summit, you'll get access to a simple portfolio about your chosen field (climate, education, or media). It's just background info to get you thinking - like articles, data, and examples. You're not expected to solve anything yet.

• CLIMATE: How can your community lead on clean energy?

• EDUCATION: How can we make school a place students actually want to be?

• MEDIA: How can media bring people together instead of dividing them?

We don’t expect you to solve the world’s problems. We invite you to learn and think of some small (or big!) things you can do in your local community related to these topics.

Willmar Conference Center (240 23rd St SE, Willmar, MN 56201)

Willmar is located about two hours west of the Twin Cities metro.

All conference goers are encouraged to stay in the America’s Future Summit block of hotel rooms onsite at Willmar Conference Center. Participants are responsible for making and paying for their own reservations. Rooms must be booked by Sunday, Feb 8, 2026 in order to receive the discounted rates listed on this page or below.

Best Western Plus (2100 Highway 12 E, Willmar, Minnesota 56201)
Place your reservation at: (320) 235-6060 or at this link.
$139.99 + tax / Standard Rooms
$149.99 + tax / Double Rooms

Holiday Inn Express (250 23rd Street Se, Willmar, MN, 56201, US)
Place your reservation at (320) 231-2601 or at this link.
$139.99 + tax / Standard Rooms
$149.99 + tax / Double Rooms
$159.99 + tax / Suites

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson (201 28th Ave SE, Willmar, MN, 56201, US)
Place your reservation at (320) 214-0300 or at this link.

Hampton Inn by Hilton (100 Lake Avenue North, Spicer, Minnesota 56288 USA)
Place your reservation at (320) 796-3000 or at this link.

Your registration fee includes three meals a day — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — both Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10.

All meals will have options for those with dietary restrictions, as noted in your registration. Suhur and Iftar meals will be offered for those observing Ramadan.

America’s Future Summit will offer complimentary Park and Ride transportation hubs in Minneapolis and Saint Paul (details forthcoming). If you are unable to take the Park and Ride, you will be responsible for your own transportation costs. Parking onsite at the conference is free.

$250 per student ($210 for those who apply before the priority deadline of January 1, 2026)

The tuition covers transportation, meals, materials, and programming. Students who stay in one of the onsite hotels will book and pay for their own stays.

The registration fee is waived for chaperones.

Casual comfortable clothes for Day 1. For the pitch on Day 2, you might want to dress it up a tiny bit (like you would for a school presentation), but it's not a suit-and-tie thing.

That's totally normal. Remember:

• You're on a TEAM - not everyone has to talk during the pitch

• The judges are rooting for you

• Everyone there is learning

• Your delegation will practice together before presenting

Yes! A prayer room is available.

Meals will be halal.

Suhur and Iftar meals will be provided.