What is the Common Ground Summit?

Every year, the Wild Kids Stewardship Council hosts a student-led conference centered around global issues, activism, and community stewardship. For one weekend, we camp under the stars on Le Jardin Academy’s campus, contribute to community work projects, play epic games, enjoy music and food, and co-create new frameworks of understanding.

 The Common Ground Summit was first launched in 2016 from a vision for multi-age collaboration that begins with our common ground, the planet. At the time, we were a little fed up with the typical youth conference. The whole “You are the future leaders!” message felt empty. In our experience, we often need the guidance of adult change-makers and kupuna (elders) in order to make an impact. Instead of a spotlight on “youth,” we wanted an opportunity for authentic collaboration between diverse, intergenerational communities.

When we reconnect with our most ancient roots, those that began and end in the ground itself, we can generate new templates for healthy, sustainable communities and develop innovative solutions to our collective problems.

Three core tenets drive each Common Ground Summit:

1. Environmental and Social issues are inextricably connected.

2. Multi-age collaboration is essential.

3. Shared work and play are the foundation for open exchange and effective collaboration.

Past Common Ground Summit Themes