American Civics Center


  • Learn more about our programs for US High School Students & Their Teachers

American Civics Center has ceased operations.

Between 2004 and 2021, the Center planned programs for tens of thousands of people traveling to our nation’s capital for a civic education experience. The Center worked with hundreds of schools, numerous nonprofit organizations, and the U.S. Department of State to provide programs of unsurpassed quality.



Past Program Partners

  • U.S. Department of State

    In addition to working with middle and high schools from across the U.S., the Center conducted the Washington DC component of several U.S. State Department sponsored programs in cooperation with a range of nonprofit organizations.
  • American Councils For International Education

    Under a grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the American Civics Center conducts the civic education workshop week of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program in cooperation with American Councils.
  • Council on International Education Exchange

    Under a grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the American Civics Center conducts the Washington DC civic education component of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program for participants enrolled under the auspices of CIEE.

Our Programs (2004-2021)

Middle School Programs

Middle school students explore the capital city

High School Students on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while they visit on an American Civics Center Program

High School Programs

Each week, students from across the United States interact with members of the media, government officials, lobbyists and policymakers as current issues are explored through the prism of civics and history.

In Their Words

  • We had the opportunity to explore the Library of Congress. Gary, a staff instructor showed us around where he was once employed. He took us to places that even our teachers, who consider Washington their second home, had never experienced. He explained the amazing architecture and the symbolism everywhere we looked.
    High School program participant
  • It has been fascinating to learn about our roommate
    High School program participant
  • Program has been everything we expected and much more.
    High School program participant
  • We had the opportunity to spend some time with our Senator. It was an incredible experience to converse about some very important issues that he is currently dealing with. He seemed very interested in our opinion. We were very honored to be able to experience everything that we did this week, and we will never forget meeting him. This opportunity has made our trip even more worthwhile and memorable.
    High School program participant
  • We were fortunate enough to meet with our congressman. We talked with him and his chief of staff, learned about the issues and committees that they were focusing on, and heard stories from his experience as a freshman congressman at the Inauguration.
    High School program participant
  • Throughout our trip to Washington, D.C., we have met a lot of important and powerful people.
    High School program participant
  • What good shall I do this day?
    Benjamin Franklin
  • We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
    John F. Kennedy
  • I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.
    Thomas Jefferson
  • The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.
    Thomas Jefferson
  • Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
    Abraham Lincoln
  • Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
    Thomas Jefferson
  • The Capitol Hill office visits allowed my students to exercise their participatory skills.
    Eric, California Teacher
  • We were pleased with the diversity of viewpoints our students were exposed to.
    Viviana, California Teacher
  • Our instructor Reggie was amazing.
    Sara, Texas Teacher