Washington, DC as Your Classroom
Explore the heart of national leadership right from the corridors of power. It's an up-close, firsthand look at leadership as you've never seen it before. Grow and develop self confidence as you lead debates, speak thoughtfully on a topic, and defend your point of view.
Engage in Issues Facing Our Nation
Join other outstanding young leaders in discussing current issues and events that are facing our nation. You'll gain insight from national, state, and local leaders about the importance of teamwork, persuasive communication, and critical thinking. Leave the Junior National Leadership Summit inspired, motivated, and prepared for a lifetime of leadership and the exciting challenges ahead.
Develop and Grow Your Leadership Skills
The Junior National Leadership Summit is a fast-paced, dynamic program that offers outstanding students hands-on experiential learning opportunities. Step into the roles of those who lead on the national level in the Legislative Simulation, where you will be faced with complex issues and conflicting points of view.
Think on your feet, engage in critical thinking, and solve complex problems. You'll actively engage in discussions and debates while you practice negotiation and effective communication, developing the skills necessary to lead in your community and your school.
Program Highlights
Future leaders created here — Discover the importance of leadership and influence as you explore how America works and how activists and government leaders build coalitions. You’ll experience what it’s like to be on the campaign trail, create national policy, propose solutions to our nation’s greatest challenges.
At the Junior National Leadership Summit Conference you can:
- Hear from outstanding guest speakers that will share their experiences and provide insights into our nation’s future. Past speakers have included individuals such as:
- Former State Department Foreign Service officer, Gary Crocker, M.A.
Gary Crocker served for 25 years in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Throughout his career, he was involved in arms control, missile site inspections in the former Soviet Union, and treaty negotiations in Geneva. His most recent assignment involved six trips to Libya to participate in the dismantling of the nuclear, missile, chemical and biological capabilities in exchange for diplomatic recognition and new trade agreements. - Congressional Elections Expert, Barbara Palmer, Ph.D.
Barb Palmer is an Associate Professor at Baldwin-Wallace College and focuses her academic research on congressional elections and the success of women candidates. Dr. Palmer also serves on the Board of Running Start, a non-partisan organization that encourages young women to get involved in politics. - (Ret.) U.S. Army Brigadier General Rebecca S. Halstead
General Halstead was the first female graduate of West Point to become a general officer. Obtaining the rank of general in 2005, she served as the senior commander for logistics operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2005 to September 2006. In this position, General Halstead commanded more than 25,000 soldiers and civilians dispersed among fifty locations throughout Iraq and Kuwait.
- Former State Department Foreign Service officer, Gary Crocker, M.A.
- Learn how to build support to your ideas, resolve conflict, and and hone your public speaking skills in an actual Campaign Simulation.
- Explore ideas and craft solutions in policy areas ranging from National Security to Alternative Fuels and the Environment.
- Examine leadership skills and attributes through case studies on influential leaders like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
- Develop and refine skills that will help you succeed in school now, in high school, college and in life.
- Get a true sense of what it will be like to be a national leader solving real-world challenges.
Conferences include dynamic off-campus guided field trips:
Washington DC
- Experience Washington, DC and its legacy of leadership with visits to the National Monuments and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- Visit Ford’s Theatre and explore the leadership style and attributes of one of our greatest Presidents – Abraham Lincoln.
- Visit Capitol Hill and explore the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Capitol Hill Visitors Center.
You lead others by following your passion.
Program Components
- College Accredited, Academic Curriculum
- Conduct research, analyze information, engage in debate, resolve conflict and build networks of support as you practice being the leaders of tomorrow
- Evaluate leadership qualities through LeadAmerica’s challenging Leadership Case Studies
- Debate current proposed policy solutions while crafting new paths forward on current issues of national importance like healthcare, national security, the economy and the environment
- Engaging Faculty & Guest Speakers
- Gain access to academic and professional leaders
- Speakers may include Legislative and Executive branch representatives, policy analysts, national security experts, representatives from federal agencies, Ambassadors and/or regional experts from institutions like the US State Department and the Brookings Institution
- Program Relevant Field Excursions
- Experience the program content and appreciate regional sites of importance through field excursions designed to complement the academic and skill building objectives of the program.
- Field Excursions may include visits to State and Federal Agencies, Museums, Political Think Tanks, and Capitol Hill
- Career Focused Skills & Personal Development Workshops
- Formulate a personal mission and vision plan
- Develop and polish skills like time management, decision making, team building, conflict resolution, public speaking, and communication
- Explore the opportunities and strategies to advance in program related career fields
- Collegiate Experience & College Enrollment Seminars
- Experience college life from challenging academics to dormitory living
- Gain an important head start in the preparation for college and the college admission process.
- Friends & Support for a Lifetime
- Develop a network of fellow scholars and mentors
A DAY AT JUNIOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
| 7:30 - 8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:45 - 10:15 | Guest Speaker: The Role of Media in Politics |
| 10:30 - 11:30 | Policy Briefing: Issues in National Security |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch on Capitol Hill |
| 1:30 - 3:30 | Field Excursion: Capitol Hill |
| 4:30 - 5:15 | Skills Workshop: The Art of Public Speaking |
| 5:30 - 6:30 | Dinner |
| 7:00 - 8:00 | Leadership Case Study: Abraham Lincoln |
| 8:00 - 9:30 | Simulation: Policy Summit Debate |
| 10:30 | Room Check |
*This is a sample day and examples of lectures, excursions and activities each program may include. All speakers and events are subject to availability and change, without notice, before or after the start of a conference.
Photo Gallery
Previous Guest Speakers & Organizations Include:
White House & Executive Level Officials
- Dr. Madeline Albright, Former Secretary of State
- Brian H. Hook, M.A., Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
- Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense
- Dr. David Walker, Former U.S. Comptroller General
- Elaine Chao, M.B.A., Former Secretary of Labor
Political Leaders and Policy Experts
- Bruce L. Braley, Congressman, Iowa, First District
- Jeff Flake, Congressman, Arizona, Sixth District
- Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska
- Dr. Jim McDermott, Congressman, Washington State, Seventh District
- Michael Dukakis, Former Governor of Massachusetts
- Steven Bennett, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Brookings Institution
- Gary Crocker, Former Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
- Dr. Martin Dupuis, Assistant Dean, Burnett Honors College and Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Central Florida,
- Felix Ortiz, New York State Assemblyman
- Jamin Raskin, J.D., Maryland State Senator
- Manuel Stefanakis, Former Director of Public Administration Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow, The CATO Institute
- Mary Beth Tinker, R.N., Tinker vs. Des Moines, 393 US 503, 1969
- Robert Tobias, J.D., M.B.A., Director of the Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation, American University
Government Agencies, Military and Defense Organizations, & Political Committees
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- International Spy Museum
- National Security Agency
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Secret Service
Dates, Location and Tuition
Complete tuition, enrollment and other conference details can be found in the Application and Enrollment & Other Details included in your invitation package and in the online application.
| Please pay careful attention, as dates may have changed from printed material. |
|
2012 Junior National Leadership Summit*
| Location | City | Program Date | Tuition | Tuition & Travel Insurance | |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | July 7 – July 14 | $2,349 | $99 | Enroll |
Tuition Includes:
- A full schedule of classes, briefings, lectures and simulations
- Certificate of Completion
- Housing accommodations at a University/College dormitory
- All on-campus meals ***
- Course materials and lab fees
- Transportation as needed for off-site activities, briefings and events
- Field trips and social events
- Program Faculty and on-site staff for supervision
- LeadAmerica T-shirt
* Dates and locations are subject to change.
*** Students will need spending money for several off-site meals, souvenirs and incidentals.
Students are responsible for their own airfare or other travel costs to and from each conference location.






