Register for the 2025 STAY Summer Institute!

 STAY Summer Institute 2025

WE’RE SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR ANNUAL STAY SUMMER INSTITUTE 2025! SSI is happening Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27th, 2025 in Kingston, Tennessee this year! REGISTER NOW by going to bit.ly/STAY2025 or clicking the picture next to this caption! Registration for SSI 2025 will close on *MONDAY, JUNE 30th at MIDNIGHT in your timezone!*

We invite youth 14-30 years old living across central and southern Appalachia to the STAY Project Summer Institute to JOIN us! SSI is a for youth, by youth space for young people to make friends, have real talk about our struggles and our dreams, to share skills with each other, to learn, to cackle really loud with each other, and to have fun! We’re going to ground in the political reality of what we are facing as youth right now and to make a plan of action about what we want to do about it. Share with your folks, bring a friend, REGISTER TODAY!!!! WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!

The STAY Summer Institute is a place to learn from each other, which is why we encourage attendees who have something to teach or want to share a skill to submit a workshop! You don't have to be a "professional" to submit, you just need to want to teach something! Please submit your workshop by JUNE 30th at MIDNIGHT in your timezone! REGISTER at: https://bit.ly/WORKIT2025

 ¡¡AMIGUISSSSSSSSS!!! ¡¡¡ES OFICIAL!!! ¡ESTAMOS MUY EMOCIONADOS DE ANUNCIAR NUESTRO INSTITUTO DE VERANO ANUAL STAY 2025! ¡SSI se llevará a cabo del jueves 24 al domingo 27 de julio de 2025 en Kingston, Tennessee! ¡INSCRÍBETE YA en bit.ly/institutoSSI25 o en el enlace en nuestras redes sociales! ¡Inscripción para SSI 2025 cierra el **LUNES 30 DE JUNIO a la medianoche en tu zona horaria**!


¡Invitamos a los jóvenes de 14 a 30 años que viven en el centro y sur de Appalachia al Instituto de Verano del Proyecto STAY para que se UNAN a nosotres! SSI es un espacio para jóvenes, creado por jóvenes, donde podemos hacer amigos, conversar abiertamente sobre nuestras dificultades y sueños, compartir habilidades, aprender, reírnos muy fuerte y a todo volumen y divertirnos!! Vamos a analizar la realidad política a la que nos enfrentamos como jóvenes y crear un plan de acción sobre lo que queremos hacer al respecto. Compárte sobre SSI con tus amiguis y trae a alguien. ¡¡¡INSCRÍBETE HOY!!! ¡¡¡NO PODEMOS ESPERAR EN VERTE!!!!

What is SSI?

The STAY Summer Institute (SSI) is a regional gathering hosted by The STAY Project providing creative gathering space for youth with leadership development, cultural sharing, political analysis , and kinship with youth from across the region at the forefront.

 What is the STAY Summer Institute?

  • Regional gathering hosted by The STAY Project providing creative gathering space for youth with leadership development, cultural sharing, political analysis , and kinship with youth from across the region at the forefront

  • Youth designed & facilitated workshops across many topics

  • Full­ group activities around art, music, storytelling, and political discussion led and facilitated by youth

  • Youth of Color caucus and LGBTQIA caucus


Previous STAY Summer Institute's around Central Appalachia

  • 2023: 13th STAY Summer Institute held in Hungry Mother Lutheran Retreat in Marion, VA

  • 2022: 12th STAY Summer Institute held in Spencer, West Virginia.

  • 2021: 11th STAY Summer Institute held in one day state-based gatherings in five locations across Appalachia.

  • 2020: 10th STAY Summer Institute held virtually.

  • 2019: 9th STAY Summer Institute at Hungry Mother Lutheran Retreat in Marion, VA.

  • 2018: 8th STAY Summer Institute and 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, TN

  • 2017: 7th STAY Summer Institute at the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, WV

  • 2016: 6th Stay Summer Institute at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC.

  • 2015: Partnered with Appalshop, Appalachian Media Institute, Higher Ground, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth & Southeast Community & Technical College to collaboratively host It’s Good 2 Be Young in the Mountains in Harlan, KY

  • 2014: 4th STAY Summer Institute at Camp Bethel in Wise County, Virginia

  • 2013: 3rd STAY Summer Institute at the Highlander Center in New Market, Tennessee

  • 2012: 2nd STAY Summer Institute at High Rocks in Pocahontas County, West Virginia

  • 2011: 1st STAY Summer Institute at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, KY