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Explore our experiential civics programs!
Since 1971, more than one million students and educators have participated in Close Up programs. Our mission is to inspire young people to find their unique voice and help them develop the skills and awareness they need to be engaged citizens for life.
Join us to make lasting memories as you interact with the people, places, and institutions that shape our nation, and discover how your voice can make an impact on American democracy.
Join us for NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026!
Are you looking to spark students’ interest ahead of America’s 250th anniversary and the 2026 midterm elections? Close Up is engaging youth nationwide through our programs, our professional development workshops for educators, and our national and local deliberation opportunities for students—including NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026 this summer in Washington, D.C.!
I think Close Up’s virtual program is an amazing experience…
Close Up brought me CLOSER to politics…
the entire notion no longer seemed obscure. I became very involved in politics on the local and national level.
Close Up is a positive experience for students…
seeing themselves as having the power to influence the democratic process.
I learned that there’s a huge network of people with the same goals and drive as me…
and that our collaboration really could make a difference. It gave me hope for the future of our communities and our nation!