Event Overview
Your Crash-Course in Defending Freedom
- Meet lifelong friends who won’t cancel you over a disagreement
- Meet your conservative heroes
- Discover ways to debate liberal ideas in class
- Explore the nation’s capital with your friends
- Spend 4 nights in a DC-area hotel with only one roommate
- Talk one-on-one with YAF staff about how to be the voice of conservative ideas on your campus
- A $1,000 value at only $100 for you
- Your hotel and meals covered during the program
- Plus, your flight can be free too (more info in FAQs)
Who? High school students who want to celebrate and learn the greatness of the United States
What? A 4-day program featuring your conservative heroes, friends from around the country, and a tour of the National Mall
When? July 5-8! What better way to celebrate our independence?!
Where? Most of the programming will take place at our national headquarters in Reston, VA. A twilight tour of the National Mall will also be included
How much? this program costs $1,500 per person to put on, but you only pay $100–including your hotel room, meals, and swag
Click here for all the details
Young America's Foundation
11480 Commerce Park Drive
Reston, VA 20191
Burt Folsom
Distinguished Fellow at Hillsdale College, Historian, and Author
Burt Folsom has been a college professor at many places, especially Hillsdale College in Michigan, where he still serves as distinguished fellow. He has written ten books. These books include The Myth of the Robber Barons, which is published by Young America’s Foundation and will soon be in its ninth edition. He has also written…
Full Bio
Riley Gaines
Riley Gaines is a recent graduate from the University of Kentucky where she was a 12x NCAA All-American swimmer. This past year, Riley competed and tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at their NCAA championships. Since directly experiencing the injustice of allowing men in women's sports, Riley has been outspoken on why this issue is…
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Alexandra DeSanctis
Staff Writer, National Review
Alexandra DeSanctis is a staff writer for National Review and a visiting fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. She was previously a William F. Buckley Fellow in Political Journalism with the National Review Institute and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
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Emily Jashinsky
Commentary Writer, Washington Examiner
Emily is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner. Prior to this she was spokeswoman for Young America's Foundation. She is a graduate of The George Washington University (GW) where she studied political science and creative writing. During her time at GW, Emily served for two years as president of the school’s YAF chapter. Under Emily’s tenure,…
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Abby Roth
Creator of Classically Abby
Abby Roth is the creator of Classically Abby, a YouTube channel and lifestyle brand that teaches about classic living and traditional values. Abby is a classically trained opera singer with a Masters Degree and Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music. Abby transitioned to YouTube from opera when she realized the importance of…
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Grace Jo
North Korean Defector & Human Rights Activist
Grace Jo was born in North Korea, a place where she almost starved to death as a child. Two of Grace’s brothers died of starvation. Grace’s father was tortured and starved to death, he passed away when North Korean agents transferred him from a detention center to a jail and his “crime” was that he…