A team of Naperville middle- or high-schoolers with a big idea for a library event has five weeks to make it real.
The Naperville Public Library's Teen Pitch Program accepts applications through Wednesday, Sept. 30. Groups of two to five students in grades 7–12 can propose original programs or activities. Winning teams get library staff support, all materials provided at no cost and volunteer hours as they develop their concepts for all three library branches in summer 2027.
The program is free to enter. Applications are available online at the library's Teen Pitch Program page.
Ellen Fitzgerald, director of public services at 95th Street Library and chair of the program committee, said in a Chicago Tribune article that the initiative responds to teen interest in partnering with the library.
"We often hear from teens who want to partner with the library to develop a new initiative or event," Fitzgerald said. "The Teen Pitch Program gives teens the opportunity to present those ideas in a more formal setting, learn about project management and earn volunteer hours by giving back to the community."
The program already has proof of concept. It launched in 2025, and two teams were selected in that inaugural year to deliver STEM-focused children's programs.
A seven-member team including Deetya Chundru and Dinuda Karunarathna built "AstroThink: Space and A.I. Adventure," which invited grades 3–5 to crack alien codes, guide a Mars rover through a maze and test paper airplanes. AstroThink ran at Nichols Library (200 W Jefferson Ave) on Monday, June 15, among its three-branch run.
A second team of Pratham Naik, Ishant Sharma, Vishant Sharma and Shiven Patel created "Float Your Boat." Kids in grades 1–5 designed tin-foil vessels and learned about buoyancy across all three branches over spring break.
After the Sept. 30 deadline, the library will contact the top three to five teams in mid-October to deliver live pitches to staff. One or two teams are selected each year to implement their programs, NCTV17 reported.
This week in Naperville
- Teen Pitch Program applications open now through Wednesday, Sept. 30. Teams of 2–5 students, grades 7–12. Free. Apply at naperville-lib.org/374/Teen-Pitch-Program.
- Live pitch presentations: Top teams contacted mid-October to present to library staff.
