Youth Well-Being
What local youth say life looks like when they feel their best, in their own words.
Compiled from three youth engagement efforts across Natrona County, 2024-2025
What does life look like when you feel your best?
At the Youth Forum, teens were asked to represent well-being through drawings, poems, stories, and words. Their responses revealed eight recurring themes that paint a picture of what young people in Natrona County need to thrive.
These aren't abstract ideas. They're the lived priorities of real young people in our community.
Eight dimensions of youth well-being.
Connection with friends & family
Feeling cared for, safe, and emotionally connected to the people who matter most.
Self-acceptance & positive environment
Spaces free from judgment where youth feel accepted, supported, and seen for who they are.
Emotional well-being & support
Trust, gratitude, kindness, and the willingness to seek or offer help when it's needed.
Personal growth & accomplishment
Reaching goals, feeling purposeful, and having the support to succeed in life and learning.
Physical & creative outlets
Sports, music, art, and creative spaces to express themselves and stay physically active.
Safe spaces & community
Affordable, inclusive places to gather, connect, and find opportunities for development.
Freedom from violence & judgment
Safety from bullying and violence, with trauma-informed support and accountability.
Self-expression & identity
Freedom to be themselves through personal choices, orientation, and creative expression.
“There are activities for little kids, and things for adults to do, but nothing for that in-between age.”Youth Takeover Week participant
“I want to be around others doing my own thing.”Youth Takeover Week participant
“Social media increases access but decreases quality.”Youth Takeover Week participant
Youth know what they need. The gap is in access.
When we asked teens where they actually spend their time, the picture was stark. Most don't have access to the kinds of spaces they described. Instead, they're making do with what's available.
Where they go now
Youth mapped their current hangout spots during Youth Takeover Week. The most common? Parking lots, big-box stores, and fast-food chains. Many said they cruise around town because those are the only spaces they won't get kicked out of.
Where they wish they could go
When asked to dream, teens described places with variety, entertainment, and a welcoming vibe. The gap between reality and aspiration points directly to the need for intentional, youth-centered community spaces.
“We need more places to be ourselves around others, not just be alone at home.”Youth Takeover Week participant
This is why the answer kept coming back to third spaces.
The answer kept coming back to third spaces.
Third spaces are places outside home and school where teens can gather, relax, and be themselves. Youth defined five qualities that make a third space great:
in youth-led grants awarded
During Youth Takeover Week, 21 teen grantmakers used these five criteria to score proposals and award funding to community organizations building and sustaining third spaces for youth.
Read the full reports.
This infographic draws from three youth engagement efforts across Natrona County. Each report includes detailed findings on youth challenges, priorities, and solutions.