What’s New & Noteworthy at Media Power Youth
6 Essential Tips for Navigating a ‘Bell-to-Bell’ Cell Phone Ban
By Roger Gelman, MPY Youth Advisory Board Member
We’d heard rumblings for a few months before the news was officially announced by our superintendent a few weeks before the school year began: our district would be implementing a “bell-to-bell” cell phone policy. Elementary students (K-4) must leave devices at home, middle schoolers (5-8) must store phones in lockers, and high school students (9-12) must keep them in their backpacks, off and silent.
My first reaction. Ugh. No phones at all? Even at lunch or in the hallways? It felt like a huge change and I was pretty skeptical about how it would go.
Building More Than Robots: How Engineering Taught Me to Lead
By Ayva Hanks, Media Power Youth Advisory Board Member
When I first joined my school’s robotics team, I thought leadership was about giving directions, making sure deadlines were met, and the robot actually worked when we pressed the start button. But somewhere between broken gearboxes, and endless redesigns, I realized leadership was something completely different. It wasn’t about being in charge. It was about building something, not just a robot, but a team.
7 Things I Learned From Being (Nearly) Phone-Free at Sleep-Away Camp
By Roger Gelman, Media Power Youth Advisory Board Member
Before the start of every summer my living room turns into Camp Packing Central: piles of T-shirts, bathing suits, and random socks everywhere. This was my seventh summer away, and while part of me was pumped to ditch my Google Classrooms and finals stress, I also had this weird feeling I couldn’t completely ignore. Not homesickness (sorry, Mom and Dad). It was more like “phone-mo” — the stress of giving up my phone for seven weeks. KEEP READING
Lights, Camera, Community! Youth Film Festival 2025
Over 150 family and community members gathered for Media Power Youth’s Second Annual Film Festival in a celebration of creativity, leadership, and the impact young people can make. With red carpet photos, popcorn in hand, and powerful stories on the screen, this morning of cinema captured everything Media Power Youth is about: teaching kids how to use media to learn, lead, and connect. KEEP READING
Summer Filmmaking Camps 2025
The 2025 summer filmmaking camps went fantastically! Our 10-14 year-old filmmakers investigated nature and wildlife, explored their emotions and how to communicate them, and filmed some cool and extravagant scenarios. We worked with technology to share inspiring stories!
In partnership with NH Audubon and the SEE Science Center, the Conservation Quest and Reel Explorers camps gave young filmmakers the chance to work across genres and styles to share their stories. They produced experimental films, documentaries, comedies, dramedies, and more. Through this, they found their voices, and used them to inspire us to change how we view nature and promote healthier relationships with emotions. Our partners welcomed us with open arms and gave the campers knowledge and a space to grow as storytellers.
Teacher Wish Lists: Bringing Community to the Classroom
by Abree Knight, MPY Board Member
Preparing for a new school year can be an incredibly busy time for public school educators. There’s events to plan, schedules to coordinate, and new students and parents to get to know, and, of course, a classroom to set up.
However, this last effort can be surprisingly expensive.
Resilience 101
by Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Let’s be real. Life comes at you fast. But that’s what it’s like being human in this day and age. Between job pressures, family drama, and the social dilemmas we all face online and in-person, it’s no surprise that managing life can get difficult. But let’s talk about something that actually helps when things get hard: resilience. Not the “man up and deal with it” kind. The real kind. The kind that helps you bounce back from bad days, tough moments, and full-on emotional plot twists.
School’s Out, Driving’s In: A Teen’s Summer Driving Guide
by Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Ah, summer. That magical time when the sun is shining, cold smoothies are a daily essential, and every teen with a license turns into the designated Uber driver for their friend group. School’s out, freedom’s in—and so is a lot more driving.
But hold up. While you’re planning beach trips and late-night snack runs, the roads are doing their own thing: getting busier, riskier, and honestly? A little unhinged. So if you’re a new teen driver (or a parent who loves one), buckle up. Let’s talk about summer driving. KEEP READING
NH Teens Pave the Way to Safer Driving
Obtaining a driver’s license is a significant milestone for teens. It is often seen as a symbol of freedom, giving youth aged 16 and up more independence and access to new opportunities. It also helps them maintain relationships and connections with their peers through in-person visits and group activities. A driver’s license contributes to our teens’ social and emotional well-being by allowing them to develop and refine self-awareness, social-awareness, better judgement, and decision-making skills. KEEP READING
Retrain Your Brain – Tips to Manage Screen Time
By Geo Elasmar, 2024-2025 MPY Youth Advisory Board Member
Most of us know we spend too much time on our phones, and yet breaking the habit is still painfully difficult. Social media platforms, streaming services, and even productivity apps are all designed to keep us hooked. If you’ve ever tried (and failed) to limit your screen time, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are practical, realistic ways to take back control without cutting yourself off completely. As a member of MPY’s Youth Media Squad, I wanted to share a few strategies that have helped me strike a better balance. KEEP READING