Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
  • In Person
  • Seminar

Spring Hurst High School Great Ideas Seminar

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Mar 16 – 19, 2026
Aspen, CO

Date

Mar 16 – 19, 2026
2:00pm – 6:00pm MDT

Location

Aspen Meadows Campus
1000 N. Third St.

Contact

    [email protected]
    970.544.7992

Hosts

  1. Aspen Community Programs
This event is now at capacity. To add your name to the waitlist, please email [email protected].
 
A Reverence for Life
The Pursuit of Freedom: Liberation and Responsibility
For almost 25 years, the Aspen Institute has brought its nationally renowned approach to leadership and ideas to local high school students through the Hurst High School Great Ideas Seminar, offered each year for students valley-wide. Modeled after the Aspen Institute’s prestigious Executive Seminar—an experience that has convened global leaders for 75 years—this program invites students into the same tradition of thoughtful dialogue and inquiry.
This immersive four-day seminar is designed to strengthen leadership, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills for high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley. Through guided, text-based dialogue, participants are challenged to examine their values, question assumptions, and explore the ideas that shape a good society. In a respectful, neutral forum, students engage deeply with enduring human questions, seek common ground, and develop a richer understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Moderated in the Aspen Institute’s signature Socratic style by expert moderator Allyson Breyfogle and guest moderator Peter Waanders, President and CEO of Anderson Ranch Arts Center, students read and discuss selections from influential thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Hobbes, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. The result is a transformative experience that equips students with new perspectives and the confidence to navigate the complex choices of an ever-changing world.

A past high school participant wrote, “The experience I had at this seminar is almost indescribable.  This was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I will carry this wisdom and passion for knowledge with me for the rest of my life.  Thank you!”

Schedule*

Monday, March 16: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 17: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 18: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 19: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

*Refreshments will be provided each day. Please plan to arrive by 1:45 pm to get settled.

Fee: $175, includes refreshments and all materials