High School Summer Leadership Camp

Preparing students for a successful school year!

Every summer over 3,000 students participate in one of the many leadership camps offered by the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL). For high school students, summer camp provides an amazing opportunity to learn valuable skills, create lasting friendships and prepare for the upcoming school year. Some of the topics include:

  • Communication skills

  • Positive teamwork

  • Problem-solving

  • Decision making

  • School climate

  • Empowerment

  • Self & Social Awareness

  • Self & Social Management

  • Self-Efficacy

  • Social Engagement

The Association of Washington Student Leaders offers a total of eight camps as part of our summer series for high school students. Summer Leadership camps take place at the Cispus Learning Center in Randle (three hours south of Seattle) or at Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA).

2026 Summer Program Camp Dates

  • Each year, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation sponsors two high school juniors or seniors from 50 states and the District of Columbia to attend the United States Senate Youth Program - an all-expense- paid, week-long tour of Washington, DC, and to receive a $10,000 scholarship. The Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) administers the program in Washington State. Through the AWSL, AWSP sponsors nine-week-long High School Summer Leadership Camps for student body officers, class officers, and other student leaders.

    A selection process is identified and implemented at each camp session. Two students from each camp are selected as finalists for the US Senate Youth Program scholarships, and other students who apply. In the fall, AWSP appoints a committee to review the 18 nominees from all the camps, along with selected finalists from the online applications, who then interview each finalist and select two as the delegates for Washington state.

    Only students entering their Junior or Senior years are eligible for nomination. The state winners will travel to Washington, DC, on dates set by the Senate Youth Program.

    Attendance at AWSL high school summer camps provides Washington students with an opportunity to apply for the United States Senate Youth Program and Scholarship. Each AWSL High School Summer Program chooses two finalists and two alternates to be forwarded to the state nominating panel, and that panel will choose two nominees and two alternates for the Senate Youth Program the following spring. Please visit the individual camp pages for their application and nomination procedures.

    Guidelines:

    • Students can apply once per year for the USSYP (either through the HS Summer Program they attend or through the online application outside our summer programs).

    • If students do not apply through their summer program for the USSYP they may apply through our online application.

    • If students apply through our summer programs and are not selected, they may NOT apply through the online application.

    • Students meet the criteria to apply for the USSYP.

    • The use of AI is not permitted in applications.

    • Any questions, please contact AWSL Director James Layman.

  • The Resident Counselor (RC) position is essential to our Middle-Level Summer Programs! The RC staff works with the adult staff (Team Counselors, or TCs) to ensure all delegates have a positive leadership camp experience. Being an RC is an opportunity to:

    • Serve middle-level students.

    • Gain practical teaching experience.

    • Work as a team with other Washington state student leaders. •

    Grow in positive, life-changing ways

    RC Applications are open! Apply NOW!

Summer Leadership Offerings