Student / Educator FAQs
All students and educators please be sure that you take the following steps before February 24:
- Complete your registration in the Innovation Lab and update all your profile fields.
- Students: Complete your permission form, media release, survey evaluation permission form, & pre-test survey.
- Coaches: Complete your media release.
- Complete Step 1 of the Playbook and submit in the Innovation Lab with your team by Monday, January 26, 2026.
The Benson and Edith Ford Conference Center at College for Creative Studies, 201 E Kirby St, Detroit, MI 48202.
All guests are encouraged to use the center event lot for complimentary parking for the event. Please note you will not be able to park in the east lot.
At the Woodward lot, you must press the button on the call box then tell security that they are here to park for Aspen Challenge’s event in the Conference Center.
There is no validation ticket or anything you’ll need to access parking or to leave the event.
Once you are in the building, let security know you’re here for Aspen Challenge’s event in the Conference Center to help find the elevators.
Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education
460 W. Baltimore, Detroit, MI 48202
A parking and venue map can be found here.
There will be two schools sharing a bus based on the geographic location of your school to the Benson and Edith Ford Conference Center at College for Creative Studies. Coaches will receive their exact bus departure time the week of February 9th via an email from Olivia, and the schedule will be posted on this website. You will likely be picked up between 7:15am-8:00am, and return to the school between 4:15pm-5:00pm. You can also find your exact bus time linked here.
Yes, please contact Cara Minardi at cara.minardi@aspeninstitute.org for any accommodations.
We will have black, long-sleeved t-shirts for everyone at the event. Please encourage team members to “dress for success”- jeans are appropriate! Everyone can also put on the Aspen Challenge shirts, should they desire, once they arrive at the event.
Definitely! We will have breakfast, lunch and snacks galore!
Click here for the agenda.
Come with an open mind and be present! Listen thoughtfully to each Challenger, take notes and jot down questions, engage with your teammates when given the opportunity to do so. Be sure to share your ideas during the question and answer segments and at your tables. Have fun!
In the unfortunate event that a student team member, coach, or guest is unable to attend the event, please log into this site, (enter cite) on February 24 to witness the event on the livestream.
Yes, a recording of the event will be available Monday, March 9 following the event and posted in the Innovation Lab and on www.aspenchallenge.org.
Unfortunately, due to venue capacity parents/guardians are not able to attend either of the events in person. We highly encourage participating students to share the Livestream link with their families and friends.
Please contact us at aspenchallenge@aspeninstitute.org and we can connect you with either the speaker or a representative from their organization to help answer any questions you may have about the challenge or the topic area.
Please alert the registration desk immediately on site, or after the event please contact Cara Minardi at cara.minardi@aspeninstitite.org.
Students and Educators will be requested to complete a survey after the Solution Showcase where they can provide feedback on both the Challenge Forum and Solution Showcase.
