2026 NOPBC Youth Track – Live the Life you Want
Welcome to the 2026 NOPBC Youth Track!
We are so excited to come back together this year as we make new friends, reconnect with old friends, and gain all the confidence and resources we need to turn our dreams into reality together. We hope you will find that these sessions will not only prepare you to live the life you want, but that you will make new friends, become more confident and independent, and have a lot of fun. So, bring your cane, your positive philosophy, and your open mind for a great Youth Track in Austin! Don’t have a cane? That’s okay – we will have a cane bank there for you to use for Youth Track sessions.
Sessions are open to all blind and low vision students, children of blind adults and sighted siblings aged 11-18 unless stated differently in description.
Day 1: Friday, July 3rd, 2026
7:30 – 8:45 AM: Youth Track Registration
If you have not yet preregistered, please take a moment to sign up at the NOPBC registration table. There is no cost to attend.
9:00 AM – 10:45 AM: Games and Prizes
Come join your Federation Youth family for board games, and much more: Let the games begin! This first session we will see old friends and discover new ones. If this is your first time, or you are a little bit shy, no worries, everyone will have a perfect place in our introduction session.
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM: Introduction to your National Federation of the Blind Convention and Youth Track Activities
So much to do, so little time. This convention has so much to offer. Learn about what will happen each day, and get your questions answered so you can make this convention your best. In this session you never know who you may meet. You may even win a door prize.
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Tactile art and more
Come find your hidden - and not so hidden - creativity through self-expression. We will explore our authentic talents with a variety of art forms.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Career mentoring Fair
Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Come meet blind mentors working in all kinds of jobs. Already have your career planned out? Great! Come meet someone in your field who can give you some useful tips and tricks.
Day 2: Saturday, July 4th, 2026
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Cane Walk
Don’t I have a cane yet? Come explore how a cane can give you more freedom. You can receive a free NFB white cane. Then take a walk with the world’s best cane training instructors. Learn how awesome it feels to walk proud and free.
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM: Unconventional Scavenger Hunt
There won’t be anything conventional about this convention scavenger hunt! You will be working in teams to scour the hotel for the next clue that will lead you to the final destination!
Evening: Book Fair Setup (Teen volunteers needed for setup)
Day 3: Sunday, July 5th, 2026
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Exhibit Hall Challenge
Join a team, gather information, tools, and win prizes as you explore the Exhibit Hall and all the secret hiding places in our great convention hotel. Learn all the ways you can accomplish any task you choose in school and in work. When each team has completed their challenge, you will return to our youth track room and submit your challenge card. Prizes will be awarded in our last session.
4:30 – 6:30 PM: Braille Book Fair
New/used Braille and print/Braille books—fiction, nonfiction, early readers, cookbooks, and more—all free!
Day 4: Monday, July 6th, 2026
12:15 – 1:45 PM: Resolutions Explained
What is a resolution, and how does the National Federation of the Blind use resolutions to make us stronger? We’ll explore the resolutions recommended by the National Federation of the Blind resolutions committee.
7:00 – 10:00 PM: Skills and more
Want to learn how to thread a needle, change a tire, put on mascara, use a drill, iron a shirt, and more: Come to our skills and more session, the sky’s the limit on the things you will learn in this fun packed evening.
Day 5: Tuesday, July 7th, 2026
12:15 – 1:45 PM: Accessible Video Games
Whether you are a first-person shooter gamer, a mind craft type of player, or you like the interaction of role play and storytelling, there’s something for everyone in this nonvisual authentic gaming tournament. There will be prizes too, obviously!