Contribute to our online Teen Chicago Travel Guide and shape the story of our city.
Destination and Special Interest Features cover a specific destination or events around a specific topic, such as community murals or cycling routes. Features should have a beginning, middle and end. Draw in other teens with descriptions of sounds, smells or use a quote to pique interest. If you’re creating a Top 10 list for a neighborhood festival or museum visit, add an introduction to infuse your personality into the entry.
Format your submission so it has a point or clear storyline. For instance, explain what your goal was in going to a specific destination (i.e. “I wanted to discover for myself what…”) or explain why you are interested in a specific topic.
Keep your submission focused. Do not try to cover too much in one submission; you can always submit others. Decide what story you want to tell and try not to add too many detours. Imagine you’re sharing your tale with someone who has two minutes. Make your story and experiences fit together to hold their attention.
Show the good and bad. Be straightforward and honest about your opinions and experiences, but keep your tone positive and engaging. Keep your submission “clean” (PG). We hope to publish this on the website for all to see, including your loved ones and future potential employers.
Need some inspiration? Consider the one thing you love about your neighborhood and write about it. How do you like to spend your time in your neighborhood? Is there a favorite food you can get at a local restaurant or food truck that’s simply divine? What was the best meal you had last week? Think about memories from your childhood and how your vision of your neighborhood has changed over time. What do you want others to know about the people and places that are important to you? Include details.
Be original! Use your own ideas, creative thinking and problem-solving skills. In providing optional advice, consider what other teens who go on your journey would need. For instance, what supplies or special equipment should they bring? Is it sunscreen and a blanket for the beach after checking out Buckingham Fountain? How long will your recommended journey take? How much money is needed? Do you have any warnings or are there dangers about which other teens should be made aware?
Submit accompanying multimedia creations. This can be photos, music, videos, maps, original art, audio recordings, etc. Examples could be a map collage of a historic neighborhood landmark, a video describing a cool event, a recording of elders in your neighborhood discussing what they did and where they went as teens, a music playlist for a road trip or hike in Chicago or a photo collage of neighborhood restaurant menus.
Include your phone number and/or email address so we can contact you in case you are a winner of our weekly raffle, or for clarification about any part of your submission.
Reflect on your experience or entry. Share whether or not your travel changed you. Would you do anything differently? Also, did sharing the experience make a difference for you? What sort of comments/responses do you anticipate your Teen Chicago Travel guide entry will receive? Where will you go from here?
