Building Bridges Through History: The Youth Guide Project

In a world where museums constantly strive to stay relevant to younger audiences, the Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums have found a powerful formula: hand over the guiding reins to the students themselves. For more than 20 years, the Youth Guide Project at the Naval Museum in Karlskrona has been captivating students, their families, and teachers alike by transforming young people into confident storytellers of their local heritage.

The initiative, introduced by Fredrik Karlsson and Catherine Odehammar at the Museums & Schools Summit, offers a compelling example of how museums can become not just sites of knowledge, but platforms for empowerment and community connection.

A Living World Heritage Classroom

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Karlskrona—a UNESCO World Heritage Site composed of 33 islands and home to a remarkably preserved naval base dating back to 1680—the Naval Museum brings Sweden’s maritime legacy to life. With over 300,000 visitors annually, including a third from neighboring countries, the museum serves as a national hub for the history of the Swedish Navy.

But it’s not just the setting that makes this museum a model of best practice. The real magic lies in its educational outreach, particularly through the Youth Guide Project.

From Visitors to Experts: The Youth Guide Journey

The concept is straightforward but transformative. Students from local schools visit the museum multiple times over the course of a week. During these immersive sessions, they explore exhibitions, engage with objects, and learn how to craft compelling narratives. Each student selects a story or object that resonates with them and develops a personal script. The process doesn’t end at the museum doors—back at school, they continue to refine their presentations.

The culmination is a public evening event where students guide their own family members through the museum. The atmosphere is electric. The museum buzzes with energy as proud parents listen, challenge, and applaud their children’s efforts. For many families, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, it marks a meaningful first connection with the museum and its stories.

Roots in Inclusion

The program was born out of a partnership with a school on the outskirts of Karlskrona, where most students were first- or second-generation immigrants. Many of these families had never visited the museum before and felt its narratives were not meant for them. The project deliberately lowered the threshold of entry, welcoming these communities into the museum space in a deeply personal way.

The results were immediate and lasting. Not only did the students benefit from improved research, writing, and public speaking skills, but the museum also expanded its reach to an entirely new audience. Importantly, the participating schools have continued to return year after year, making the program a staple in their annual calendar.

Curricular Alignment and Lifelong Benefits

The Youth Guide Project is closely aligned with the Swedish national curriculum, which emphasizes historical perspective, dynamic thinking, and interdisciplinary learning. Students incorporate topics ranging from 18th-century naval history to Cold War geopolitics, often connecting these themes to science and language learning.

One school, for instance, structures its visits across three years. Seventh graders explore local history, eighth graders focus on physics through submarine design, and ninth graders dive into Cold War themes. This structured progression not only reinforces academic content but also fosters personal growth. Students report increased confidence, improved public speaking skills, and a stronger sense of identity and place.

A student who participated from seventh through ninth grade summed it up: “The museum gave me more than my school could. I learned to source information independently, trust experts, and speak confidently in front of adults. It’s an experience I’ll carry into real life.”

Flexible Models for Diverse Needs

The project’s success has inspired a range of adaptations. In one school, students developed multilingual visitor leaflets in Arabic, Somali, Albanian, Kurdish, and Bosnian. Native language teachers were trained in the museum’s exhibitions, and Swedish-speaking students learned design tools like Photoshop and InDesign to create these materials.

Other versions of the program cater to special education classes, with modifications such as quieter, early-hour visits and hands-on experiences. The museum’s flexibility has allowed it to remain inclusive and accessible, regardless of student needs or learning styles.

A Ripple Effect Across Borders

The Youth Guide Project has not gone unnoticed. Museums from across Sweden and beyond have visited to learn from its model. The Southern Öland Agricultural Landscape, another World Heritage Site, has implemented a similar program. The Immigrant Museum in Gdynia, Poland, also launched its own youth-led guiding initiative after a study visit to Karlskrona.

The project’s success demonstrates that this is not a concept limited by subject matter or location. Whether a museum specializes in agriculture, migration, or maritime history, the principle remains the same: empower young people to become interpreters of heritage, and the benefits will radiate far beyond the museum walls.

Lessons for Museum Professionals

For museum educators and professionals, the Youth Guide Project offers several key takeaways:

Youth Participation Transforms Engagement: Giving students real responsibility deepens their connection to museum content and boosts their confidence.

Community Involvement Strengthens Reach: Engaging families creates ripple effects, extending the museum’s relevance into homes and communities.

Curriculum Integration Enhances Learning: Aligning projects with national education standards ensures academic value and increases school participation.

Adaptability Is Key: Customizing the program to different age groups, linguistic backgrounds, and abilities ensures broad inclusion.

Replication Is Possible: The core framework is flexible and can be adopted by museums of all types and sizes.

Final Thoughts

Fredrik Karlsson and Catherine Odehammar’s presentation at the Museums & Schools Summit wasn’t just about one program—it was a call to reimagine how museums engage with young audiences. By treating students not as passive visitors but as active contributors, the Naval Museum has created a model that educates, inspires, and builds lasting community bonds.

As more museums explore meaningful ways to connect with youth, the Youth Guide Project stands as a beacon of what’s possible when education, inclusion, and heritage intersect.

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Fredrik Karlsson and Catherine Odehammar spoke at the Museums & Schools Summit 2025.