Civic Program Instructors

Being a Civic Program Instructor is an immersive experience for people who appreciate the excitement of a fast-paced environment and working closely with colleagues who become lifelong friends. Each week, Civic Program Instructors engage middle school and high school students from across the country in experiential, multi-day programs in Washington, D.C. (with opportunities to travel to New York City, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Gettysburg, and other historical cities as well). Each day, Civic Program Instructors hop on and off buses, guiding students through all program lessons and site visits in the D.C. area and other program locations. They lead an assigned “workshop” of 25 diverse students throughout the week as they have discussions and deliberations; visit historical sites, monuments, memorials, museums, and government institutions; and attend meetings with policy experts and elected officials with the goal of empowering active citizenship. Instructors are responsible for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where students can explore differing perspectives and engage in respectful discourse.

The Civic Program Instructor schedule does not follow traditional working hours. Each week mirrors the program schedule to which you are assigned, generally a 50-hour week. The hours align with those of the specific program (often Sunday through Thursday, with days beginning at breakfast around 8am and ending at room check around 10pm).

Close Up serves young people from all communities and backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Our participants come from all 50 states, U.S. territories, rural and urban communities, the left, the right, and everywhere in between. This diversity is what makes our programs great, opening students’ eyes to new perspectives and ways of thinking.

In addition to a salary (paid twice per month), Civic Program Instructors receive:

• Medical and dental insurance
• No-cost life/AD&D insurance
• All meals while working on program
• Mass transit subsidy or free garage parking
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Paid sick leave
• The opportunity to earn free graduate credit
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Close Up provides three weeks of paid training encompassing our teaching methodology and the logistics of our programs. This training will be followed up with weekly professional development sessions and regular coaching and observation from our professional training staff.

At the end of the contract term, successful Civic Program Instructors may renew their contract. There may also be opportunities to join Close Up in a full-time/full-year role.

Unfortunately, no. This is a full-time position that is open to college graduates only. If you’re graduating in spring 2025, please be sure to apply for our Close Up Civic Fellowship instead!

Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that informs, inspires, and empowers young people to become active citizens. Since 1971, we have partnered with school districts nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential learning programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development, and curriculum design and consulting. Our goal is to connect what students learn in class to the real world around them and help them articulate their own views, listen to those of others, and engage with people of different backgrounds with tolerance and understanding.