For the past 30 years, the National Student Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan, education organization, has welcomed outstanding middle school and high school students from across the U.S. and around the world to explore their academic and career interests and develop essential leadership skills during exciting and interactive summer programs at the National Student Leadership Conference. Now, it’s your turn to join them.
Middle School Highlights
Explore Your Interests
At the NSLC, you will participate in interactive, fast paced, hands-on activities designed around the subjects you’re most interested in.
Discover Your Potential
You will learn about future academic and career possibilities as you go on exciting trips and tours and engage with professionals from within your field of interest.
Develop As A Leader
You will develop the knowledge, confidence, and practical leadership skills required to achieve your goals and become a leader in your school and community.
Benefits of Attending
NSLC middle school students:
- Participate in hands-on simulations
- Learn practical leadership skills
- Receive a letter of recommendation
- Prepare for high school and beyond
- Join an international alumni network
American University
A climate of sustainability
American University was the first university in the nation to be carbon neutral.
A patriotic color scheme
The university’s colors are red, white, and blue; however, when the school originally opened its colors were blue and orange.
Commencement in the Cold War
President John F. Kennedy gave his famous “A Strategy of Peace” speech at American University’s commencement ceremony, calling for a nuclear test ban treaty with the Soviet Union.
Programs
Engineering
- July 5 - July 10
- July 13 - July 18
Film & Animation
- July 5 - July 10
- July 13 - July 18
Medicine & Health Care
- July 5 - July 10
- July 13 - July 18
U.S. History & Government
- July 5 - July 10
- July 13 - July 18
Trips & Tours
An important part of the NSLC middle school programs is seeing the sites around our nation’s capital. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and educational trips.
Students are escorted on all field trips and stay within their TA Group or other supervised groups.
Trips may include:
Engineering
NASA | National Building Museum | National Zoo | Capitol Hill | Air & Space Museum | Museum of Natural History
Film & Animation
ARTECHOUSE | Animation Studio | The Smithsonian Institute | Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR and MLK Monuments
Medicine & Health Care
American Red Cross | Museum of Health and Medicine | National Zoo | Smithsonian Institution
U.S. History & Government
Mount Vernon | Gettysburg Battle Field | U.S. Capitol Tour | U.S. Supreme Court | National Archives | The Smithsonian Institute | Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR and MLK Monuments
Leadership Development
At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to our Middle School programs include:
- Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Intrapersonal Communication
Tuition
Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.
Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.
| Type | Tuition |
|---|---|
| Commuter* | $1,995 |
| Residential | $2,395 |
*Commuter students are provided three meals a day. Housing is not included. Commuters check-in each morning between 7:00-7:30 AM and are picked-up each night between 8:00-8:30 PM.