Future Presidents of America Youth Leadership Camp

Camp Information

Camp Dates
June 22, 2026 - June 26, 2026

Registration Dates
March 4, 2026 - May 15, 2026

Cost
$0.00

Description

To ensure the Hauenstein Center can provide a high-quality, personalized experience, and gather meaningful feedback during this inaugural year of Future Presidents of America, eligibility to apply is currently open to only students enrolled at a group of partner schools: Byron Center Schools, East Grand Rapids Schools, Grand Rapids Public Schools, East Kentwood Schools, and Black River Public School. The inaugural cohort will accommodate 20 students, 4 from each school district. We look forward to expanding the opportunity in future years as the program grows.

Future Presidents of America is an innovative and engaging youth leadership experience with a mission to develop individual confidence, civic literacy, and good citizenship to reveal the exceptional qualities of character that make for great presidents and great leaders. The program is specifically designed for 13- to 16-year-old students and hopes to:

Expand knowledge on the characteristics of a good citizen and identify opportunities for current and future civic engagement.
Explore key leadership qualities and learn how to apply them to real-world tasks.
Gain and build confidence in personal skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and personal expression.
Investigate how rights and citizenship have evolved over the years through the lens of the Presidency.
Engage local civic leaders and peers to solve real-world problems within our communities.

Using the Constitution of the United States, President Gerald R. Ford's presidency, and the tenets of civic discourse as lenses of focus, this week-long camp encourages participants to take a panoramic view of issues relevant to leaders, while immersing them in the amazing stories of real people making real choices that impacted the lives of millions.

This camp will focus on the qualities that make for great presidents—yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Location

The Future Presidents of America camp will take place at the Richard M. DeVos Center (401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504). Throughout the week, students will walk to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) for learning activities, and participate in walking tours to historical sites in the downtown Grand Rapids area.

Website
https://gvsu.edu/hc/fpa

Sponsoring Department
Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies

Categories
Leadership

Grades
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11