28 Years of Service
Teens leave equipped, not just inspired.
Real life skills, built from the inside out — for teens navigating a world louder and faster than the one we grew up in.
Proof, Not Promises
28 years of showing up for teens — and the numbers to back it.
Why MTS
What teens take home.
Lisa Nichols developed MTS after watching teens get loud messages from the world with no tools to respond. Every program session builds something concrete teens take home.
- Communicate with clarity instead of chaos
- Build confidence from the inside out, not external approval
- Develop a grounded self-image in a comparison-driven world
- Make values-aligned decisions under pressure
- Navigate relationships with respect and emotional awareness
- Turn stress and overwhelm into self-awareness and direction
- Trust themselves enough to lead their own lives
2026 Tour
Four cities. One summer.
The MTS 2026 Tour brings life-skills programming to teens across the country — partner with us or find your city’s registration.
Programs
The Safe Space Initiative
Emotional literacy programming for high school teens (9th–12th grade), 20–40 participants per program. Currently serving California, Oregon, and Washington.
A full single-day session for schools and communities wanting a complete introduction to MTS’s emotional literacy framework.
Two full days building depth over time — teens practice and return, rather than absorbing everything in a single sitting.
8 in 10 teens return by choice for additional programs. See full program details →
Lisa Nichols
Lisa Nichols founded Motivating the Teen Spirit in 1998 after recognizing that teens were being handed a louder, faster, more emotionally complex world — with no tools to navigate it. Twenty-eight years later, the organization has reached tens of millions and built a track record that speaks without hype.
“Today’s teens are navigating a world that is louder, faster, and more emotionally complex than ever before — yet most are not being equipped with the life skills they need to thrive. MTS bridges that gap.”
Be an Angel
Give a teen a second chance.
Your donation helps a teen feel seen, supported, and empowered. The MTS Teen Retreat creates a transformational space where teens build emotional tools, connect deeply, and rediscover their worth — and many campers face financial or personal challenges that your support helps clear.
Donate Now