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NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit

The NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit brings together high school students from across the country to build knowledge, develop strategies, and hone leadership skills to make a positive impact. Through engagement with experts and collaborative inquiry into pressing national issues, students will consider their individual and collective responsibilities and agency, identify best practices in community engagement, and develop vision statements and strategies to make a difference in their own communities.

The summit is open to high school students in grades 9-12 who have an interest in civic action and community engagement and are traveling with an educator from their school attending the concurrent 2025 NNSP Annual ConferenceA faculty advisor must attend the NNSP conference to gain critical insights to support students with their projects when they return to school.  The summit and adult conference culminate with a student presentation gallery during which each school group presents to educators their vision statements, strategies, and implementation plans to make an impact in their community.

OVERVIEW >

 

Program Details, Dates, & Tuition

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Pre-Program Workshop
: Registered students and advisors should plan on attending a pre-program orientation on November 19 or 20 to hear more about the summit and identify which issue area they would like to focus on during the summit.

Each school will be asked to select one of the following issue areas:

  • Climate: What does climate change look like in your community? How is your community contributing positively and negatively to climate change?
  • Poverty: What does poverty look like in your community (food insecurity, homelessness, childhood poverty)?
  • Civic Engagement: What does political and civic engagement look like in your community?
  • Mental Health: How do youth mental health issues show up in your community?
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During this three-day program, high school students will engage in a variety of experiential, academic, and social activities, as well as explore our nation’s capital.

Dates: Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025
*Optional early arrival package – Tuesday, February 4. 

Location: The summit will take place at a hotel in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Eligibility: The program is open to high school students with an interest in civic action and community engagement. We ask that schools to bring a cohort of 4-8 students.

Tuition: $1,300 per student for NAIS members | $1,450 per student for non-members
*Optional early arrival package – $275 per student.

DATES & DEADLINES >

Program Highlights

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Through engagement with experts and collaborative inquiry into pressing national issues, students will…

  • Deepen their understanding of pressing national issues;
  • Explore the ways in which these national—and even global—issues impact local communities;
  • Deliberate on the barriers and structures that can make change difficult;
  • Work in groups to create vision statements that incorporate tangible action steps; and
  • Present their plans to educators and experts at the 2025 NNSP Annual Conference.

 

Summit FAQs

Who is eligible to participate in the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit?
How does the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit connect to the NNSP Annual Conference?
Do schools need to send a faculty advisor to the NNSP Annual Conference in order for students to participate in the Summit?
Is there a limit to the number of students I can register?
How much does the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit cost?
What are the registration and payment deadlines?
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
What does the early arrival package include?
Where do students stay during the program?
Do I have to check my students in at night and monitor them overnight?
Can I check in on my students during the program?
What does a typical day look like for students?
Can you tell me more about the student experience during the program?
Will my student group be together during the summit?
Does Close Up provide transportation for students or teachers to and from the NAIS Student Leadership Summit?
Are individual students able to participate in the program if they are not part of a school cohort?