Earth's mightiest heroes: unlocking the superpowers of our youth | Amy Ben-Horin | TEDxVail

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Our future lies in the potential of today's youth, so what can we do to insure it's in good hands? The answer is locked in an encrypted message that we will decode together, but it may just be as simple as C.A.R.I.N.G..

Amy Ben-Horin is the Co-founder/Executive Director at Ute Springs ELC. Amy has her Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Adventure and Environmental Education for Special Needs. Using her decade of experience in non-profit youth programming she creates curricula for all programs, in charge of program development, program staffing, scheduling, collecting and managing registration and is Lead Facilitator during camp and during all school activities. In addition, Amy has been in charge of licensing, permitting and creating partnerships with the school district and fostering relationships will individual schools and their teachers.

What can we do to unlock
the inherent superpowers of our youth?

Well, we all start off as a blank slate,

with the ability to do
or accomplish anything.

We're lucky enough
that we don't have to be hit by lightning,

or bit by a spider to unleash
these latent superpowers.

(Laughter)

However, as we grow older,
we begin to pick up labels.

These labels are not specific,

and they end up putting limitations
on what we think we can do.

Eventually, they start to define us.

These labels, along with other
present day super villains -

too much screen time,

a lack of unstructured free time outside,

and our focus
on rigorous academic standards -

have begun to suppress
the natural abilities of our youth

and have begun to lock up
the potential superpowers.

So what can we do to ensure
the future is in good hands?

Well, I believe that we've come up
with the answer,

and it lies in the acronym C.A.R.I.N.G.

As I began my research for this talk,

I realized that many of the kids
I work with every day

were just like the superheroes
I was studying:

simply misunderstood,

with so much to offer.

They're caught in this kind of flux
where they don't fit

with what society is telling them
and what's innately within them.

So, as we begin to decode
the acronym C.A.R.I.N.G,

we start with "C" for "compassion".

When we teach compassion to our kids,

we help them understand
their and other people's emotions

without judgment.

As adults, it's much more than this.

We must truly understand
their strengths and interests

to make a difference.

What could they do
if they could accomplish the impossible?

I asked this question to my community,
and the responses blew me away.

Compassion for me is to continue
to encourage everyone I meet

to live your strengths and your interests,

to make a positive difference,

because I know you can.

The next letter in this acronym
leads us to "A" for "adventure".

This doesn't have to be
hanging-off-the-top-of-the-ropes course.

However, I've seen many people
thrive in this environment,

particularly kids who may struggle
in the classroom.

I've known the kid in this picture
for a few years now,

and I've seen him sit in a class,

feeling completely powerless
and frustrated,

because he could not accomplish
what was being asked of him.

But once we got him
into a situation like this,

his true leadership power shined through.

Not only was he the first one
up this specific element,

but he continued to encourage
his peers to overcome their fears

and reach new heights.

We're missing out on opportunities
to teach these tools to kids.

With kids sitting in a classroom
for eight hours a day,

how much are they truly learning?

Let me back up and say
that some do thrive in this environment

and others can survive,

but are we really asking all kids
to reach their full potential?

When we provide the opportunity for kids
to step into their adventure zone,

whether it's a physical, mental,
or emotional challenge,

magic happens.

They start to believe in themselves
and all they can accomplish,

and they start to form bonds

with the people that help them
overcome these challenges.

This leads us
to the next letter in C.A.R.I.N.G.,

and we start with relationships.

This may seem strange,

the idea of needing
to teach relationship skills,

especially in the time when we have
the ability to be so connected.

It's interesting
how disconnected we've become.

Does anyone know the average time
a kid is in front of a screen?

It's between five and seven hours a day.

With this much time spent attached to TV,

video games, the Internet, and our phones,

we leave very little time for building
strong relationships with others,

which was something else
that I realized with my research:

that most superheroes have a team

that they can share their secrets with

and help guide them

when they're not sure
they're on the right path.

It's extremely important,

since being a superhero,
or a kid for that matter,

comes with super responsibilities.

Not only do you have to decipher
what's right and what's wrong,

but how to live with integrity
and how to be true to yourself.

Integrity also teaches us that we are more
than what society has labeled us.

Jorge, who I think
is a real life superhero,

came to my camp this year
in a leadership role,

as a counselor in training,

and the message he took away
speaks to the true meaning of integrity.

(Video)

Jorge: During camp this summer,
I met a special kid named Tyler.

When he woke me up
in the middle of the night -

and there were many counselors,
but he chose me -

I think that showed
I was one of his leaders.

I had a different responsibility,
I had to act as an adult.

I don't think it was Tyler.

It's just like something
I knew I had to do,

something I had to do as a CIT.

Amy: So, how do you know
how to be who you are?

Jorge: Uhm, I don’t know.

I just… you know,
like you said, you just know.

Amy: You know what's right?

Jorge: Yeah, and what's wrong, yeah.

Amy Ben-Horin: So I asked that,
as we teach integrity to our kids,

we remember that it's more
than just right and wrong.

It's allowing them to accomplish
what they think they can.

Okay, so back to my acronym,

and with only a couple of letters left,

we find ourselves
with an "N" for "nature".

Nature is seen as the key connection

to many mental, physical,
and emotional health benefits.

But for me, it's where I grew up.

It's part of me.

It's how I connect to everything,

and it's how the clarity
for my work with kids came through.

Kids learn through play,

and as soon as we limit their time
and creativity in natural places,

we create a snowball of negative effects.

This disconnect has already led
to increased rates of obesity

and other mental, physical,
and behavioral challenges.

It's no surprise when the average
unstructured time for kids outside

is only four to eight minutes a day.

Nature has great benefits,

and it may be the key
to unlocking this entire message,

but it's not complete
without including "G" for "giving back",

as this is how we show gratitude
to the communities that support us

and that have helped us
become the people we are today.

It also helps us to remember to use
our powers for good instead of evil.

I believe in a better future and I believe
in the potential of our youth

because I get to work
with superheroes every day,

just like my friend Will.

(Applause)

Will: My superpower
is creativity and smarts,

because I believe in the future.

I can help out many people,
like everyone else.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

Amy: Awesome.

(Applause)

So what do these nine minutes
mean to you all?

Take this C.A.R.I.N.G. acronym
home or to your classroom,

and practice it.

"C" for "compassion" -

you should probably write these down -

(Laughter)

"C" for "compassion",

"A" for "adventure",

"R" for "relationships",

"I" for "integrity",

"N" for "nature",

and "G" for "giving back".

If you practice this acronym
with your youth,

I guarantee you will unlock
their inherent superpowers.

Thank you.

(Applause)