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’s monuments, visit DC’s museums and engage in small group activities designed to build their historical frame of reference and civics skills.
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.
- It has been fascinating to learn about our roommate’s culture, hobbies and everyday life – they are from Puerto Rico. We are pleased to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with two sweet, unique girls.
- Program has been everything we expected and much more.
- 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.
- 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.
- Throughout our trip to Washington, D.C., we have met a lot of important and powerful people.
- What good shall I do this day?
- 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.
- I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.
- The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.
- Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
- Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
- The Capitol Hill office visits allowed my students to exercise their participatory skills.
- We were pleased with the diversity of viewpoints our students were exposed to. They got into some great discussions.
- Our instructor Reggie was amazing. The kids enjoyed his background knowledge base...The students came away with a deeper understanding of government and are already using it in the classroom.
