Radio Camp students explore storytelling at the Special Olympics

Jul 8, 2026

Learning to tell great stories begins with meeting the people at the heart of them. For MPR News Radio Camp students, that meant spending a day at the Special Olympics USA Games, where conversations with athletes, event leaders and supporters helped shape the stories they would tell.

Offered in partnership with ThreeSixty Journalism at the University of St. Thomas, Radio Camp is a weeklong program that introduces Minnesota high school students to audio storytelling.

Each year, the camp partners with different organizations to offer students a hands-on reporting experience while they develop original radio stories. Along the way, they learn about interviewing, scriptwriting and field recording.

A new opportunity for Radio Camp

Lisa Ryan, MPR News editor and Radio Camp liaison, says this year’s collaboration with the Special Olympics is especially exciting. It's the camp's first time reporting at a sporting event, offering students a unique opportunity to learn more about inclusive storytelling.

“While learning how to report on people with disabilities, students are also learning more about the Special Olympics and how to use language that the community wants to see reflected— not just within the media, but also in the way we talk with and respect people in general,” she said.

At the Games, students conducted one-on-one interviews, attended a press conference and gathered audio from across the venue for their stories. They also explored the Fan Festival to visit interactive booths, interview fans and capture the sounds and excitement of the Games.

Building confidence through storytelling

As the day progressed, the conversations that once felt intimidating had become easier for many students. With each interaction, they grew more comfortable asking questions and following their curiosity.

“I’ve learned not to fear going up to people and interviewing them or just talking with them,” one student said. “I think that translates into a lot of other things, like not being scared to take a chance and take opportunities.”

For organizers, moments like that reflect one of Radio Camps' broader goals. Beyond teaching journalism, the program aims to help students become more curious and thoughtful communicators, regardless of the careers they pursue.

The week concluded with a new milestone for the program. For the first time, all 10 student-produced stories aired on MPR News’ All Things Considered, giving every camper the opportunity to hear their reporting broadcast across Minnesota.

Listen to the students’ Special Olympics stories here.