CIVICS AND LEADERSHIP CAMP

***We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Civics and Leadership Camp will be taking place at St. Ignatius College Prep (2001 37th Avenue) from June 5-9, 2023! Applications can be found on the Apply page and are due on May 1, 2023.***

The Civics and Leadership Camp is a FREE, week-long summer camp for rising 7th and 8th grade students from underrepresented backgrounds to learn about public speaking, leadership, and the issues facing San Francisco and the country through interactive lessons and simulations. The first camp took place in early June 2016. The 2017 camp took place from June 5-9, 2017. The 2018 camp took place from June 11-15, 2018. The 2019 Civics and Leadership Camp took place June 10-14.

Unfortunately, the 2020 Civics and Leadership Camp has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The curriculum of the camp is broken down into three phases: learn, witness, advocate.

[2016 CURRICULUM]

Learn

On Monday and Tuesday, the mornings were for public speaking and leadership and in the afternoon SI TA’s taught small groups of students about the various issues in SF: homelessness, gentrification, police and race relations, and gender equity. Tuesday culminated with a caucus-style discussion in which groups taught the entire camp about their focus issue.

Witness

On Wednesday, students embarked on a field trip to Downtown SF where we spoke with community activists, met legislators, and got a tour of city hall. They witnessed the problems they learned about in the real world.

Advocate

On Thursday and Friday, students participated in a Board of Supervisors Simulation, where students became supervisors, created legislation, refined them through committees, and debated them on the floor.

Highlights

  • Learn about politics, leadership, and advocacy.

  • Understand and develop solutions to the issues in San Francisco.

  • Take part in a SF Board of Supervisors simulation.

  • Go on a field trip throughout SF, speaking with legislators and community activists.

  • Develop crucial public speaking skills.

  • Speak with a St. Ignatius College Prep admissions officer.

  • Participate in a culminating awards ceremony.

  • The program is FREE; Lunch will be provided.