American Legion California Boys & Girls State
American Legion California Boys & Girls State is a weeklong, coeducational hands-on civics program where rising seniors build and run mock city, county, and state governments, campaign for office, and pass legislation. The 87th session runs June 20-27, 2026 at California State University, Sacramento.
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ALA California Girls State
ALA California Girls State, run by the American Legion Auxiliary, is a weeklong residential program for rising senior young women to learn the operation of government by campaigning for and holding mock city, county, and state offices. The 83rd session runs June 22-27, 2026.
TeenPact California
TeenPact Leadership Schools' California program brings students to the State Capitol in Sacramento for a hands-on multi-day class in the legislative process, including a mock legislature, bill-writing, parliamentary procedure, and a public speaking workshop.
ACLU National Advocacy Institute – High School Program
The ACLU's National Advocacy Institute high school program brings students ages 15-18 to Washington, D.C. for a week of direct training in civil liberties advocacy, campaign strategy, and grassroots organizing led by ACLU attorneys and organizers.
Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl
The Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl, hosted by UC Santa Cruz's Center for Public Philosophy, brings Bay Area high school teams together to collaboratively deliberate on contemporary ethical and policy dilemmas rather than debate adversarially. The regional serves as an official qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl.
United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)
The United States Senate Youth Program sends two student delegates from every state to a fully-funded Washington Week of briefings with U.S. senators, cabinet officials, and military and judicial leaders. Delegates must be nominated by their high school principal based on demonstrated leadership in student government or civic organizations, and each receives a $10,000 college scholarship.
San Francisco Youth Commission
The San Francisco Youth Commission is the city's official youth advisory body, made up of 17 commissioners ages 12-23 who advise the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on budget and policy decisions affecting young people. Commissioners are selected through a written application and interview process.