Civic Engagement Camp

The Power of Community

Students visit the Pennsylvania State Capitol — Campers visit the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C

A Dynamic Experience!

This interactive camp takes a hands-on approach to civic engagement, helping highly-motivated high school students turn ideas into action that transforms communities. We connect students with experts, using real-world situations to inspire creative solutions to challenging questions. This weeklong training builds the foundation for advocacy, equipping students with tools needed to become impactful leaders.

Participants will learn about our democracy and its institutions in historic Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. They will participate in simulations to practice strategic thinking and decision-making skills used by one of our nation’s most effective leaders, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Importantly, students will develop their passions into individual action plans that address a public policy challenge - and compete for a grant to fund their project. Participants will walk away from this experience well-informed, inspired and prepared to make positive changes in their community.

Need-based scholarships and project grants are provided through the generous support of the Price-Eisenhower Civic Engagement Initiative

Campers at the White House during a day trip to Washington, D.C

Applying to Civic Engagement Camp

APPLY HERE

Information for campers and families

About the Camp Director

Tracie Potts is the Eisenhower Institute’s Executive Director. She joined Gettysburg College with a wealth of media experience focused on public policy, along with years of educational advocacy for and with students.

Mrs. Potts spent three decades as an award-winning broadcast journalist, most recently as senior Washington Correspondent for NBC News Channel, the affiliate service of NBC News. Based on Capitol Hill, she covered four Presidential administrations, Congress and the federal government for 200+ local morning news programs, MSNBC, CNBC and foreign news organizations.

Mrs. Potts serves as vice chair of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Advisory Board, after being selected as a 2017 National Fellow. She was an instructor for NBC University and continues to provide the foundational digital lesson for the News Literacy Project. Her lesson on NLP’s “Checkology” digital learning platform has been used by more than 100,000 students and educators worldwide. She also taught journalism at Knoxville College and Biola University.

Mrs. Potts was appointed to the National PTA Board of Directors and serves as a family engagement trainer, facilitator and speaker on its governance team. She advised the federally-funded Statewide Family Engagement Center for Maryland and Pennsylvania, and currently serves as an advisor for the educational nonprofit Learning Heroes.

Mrs. Potts completed Northwestern University’s Accelerated Masters Program, earning Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the Medill School of Journalism.

About the Eisenhower Institute

Front photo of Eisenhower Institute The Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College empowers young leaders to tackle society’s most challenging public policy issues in real time. Our experts lead students into communities across the U.S. and abroad to see the impact of policy decisions, talk to people affected, create innovative solutions, and urge decision makers to take action.

The Institute has offices on our historic Gettysburg campus - in what was once the home of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower - and in the heart of the nation’s capital, just blocks from the White House. Our dual locations provide students with the resources and experiences to lead what President Lincoln in his Gettysburg address called the “unfinished work” of American democracy. We prepare students to contribute meaningfully in public, private, and nonprofit careers.

About the Theme

Participants sharing groups presentations — Participants share groups presentations on original ideas to strengthen democracy

This year's theme "The Power of Community" challenges students to look into their communities for problems that needs solutions, and engage across difference to find common ground and create coalitions of people ready to take action. They will learn to build bridges and create effective strategies. Specific topics are expected to include:

Finding and empowering unheard voices
How to dialogue across difference
Goal-setting
Building coalitions
Defining Civic Engagement (beyond voting)
Strategic thinking and effective decision-making
Storytelling and Effective Communication
Creating a Call to Action

Experiences

Students having a discussion session — The closing campfire is one of many opportunities to socialize and have fun throughout the week.

Create a “WHY” story or video for your public policy project
Decision-making simulations
Small group activities
Guided discussions with experts
A day in Washington, D.C.
Student presentations

Details at a glance

Battlefield Tour — A Gettysburg Battlefield tour helps participants connect the past to the present and future.

Details

Where: Gettysburg College Campus
When: July 7-12, 2024
How Much: $1,395 for lectures, activities, room & board (financial aid is available)
Who: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: Applications will be received on a rolling basis until June 14, 2024.

Sample day

Time	Event
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.	Morning learning session with guest speaker
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Activity (campus tour, group simulation, etc.)
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Afternoon learning session with guest speaker
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Presentation prep/ 1:1 or group project advising
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	Dinner
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	Social activity (movie, walk to town for ice cream)
8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Free time
9:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.	Prep for following day
10:00 p.m.	Curfew

FAQs

Registration and logistics

When is the camp?: The camp will take place from July 7-12, 2024.
How much does it cost to attend?: The camp fee is $1,395. This includes lectures, activities, and room & board. The number of admitted campers is limited to facilitate close contact with camp director (professor) and additional faculty, and guest speakers.
When is the application deadline?: Applications will be accepted until June 7. Once admitted, campers will receive instructions for completing online registration. When the camp is full, registration will close.
What is the refund and cancellation policy?: Gettysburg Conference Refund Policy: Refund requests received up to 60 days prior to the start of the camp will be given a full refund. No refunds will be issued less than 60 days from start of camp.
What is the contact information for the camp?: Eisenhower Institute
300 North Washington Street
Campus Box 2988
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-337-6685; ei@gettysburg.edu
Who is eligible to attend the Eisenhower Institute’s Civic Engagement Camp?: Civil Engagement Camp is designed for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Does my camper need to do academic preparation for the camp?: No. We welcome campers with varying levels of knowledge from no knowledge to extensive knowledge.
How are scholarships awarded?: A limited number of scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Requests will be reviewed in light of the overall application as well as other scholarship requests.

Camp life

Can my camper have a cellphone?: Yes. However, campers will be asked to turn off cellphones and other portable electronic devices during sessions.
Does my camper need a computer?: Yes, campers will use a computer during camp.
What does a typical day look like?: See a sample day at Civic Engagement Camp.