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Join Young America’s Foundation for our largest and most exciting spring program ever—the March High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch, held March 26–28, 2026, in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. This year’s conference features a brand-new schedule and expanded programming.
This special event will bring together hundreds of young leaders, top conservative speakers, and national voices for a high-impact celebration of America’s founding principles. Students will explore the ideas of 1776, confront modern attacks on freedom, and gain the confidence to lead boldly in their schools and communities during this historic anniversary year.
Throughout the three days, you will:
You will also journey to the Reagan Ranch itself—where President Reagan lived, worked, rode horses, split wood, and shaped the ideas that transformed the world. The Ranch stands as a living monument to humility, hard work, optimism, and love of country. Here, students engage firsthand with the ideas and character of one of America’s greatest leaders.
In a time when young people are told America is defined by oppression rather than opportunity, this conference will equip you with the knowledge, courage, and clarity to defend freedom confidently on your campus and beyond.
This is more than a conference—it’s the start of your leadership journey.
Begins: Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Ends: Saturday, March 28 at 9:00 p.m., Departure is on Sunday, March 29
A full agenda, including Ranch visit times, will be sent via email prior to the conference.
Travel Assistance:
Travel assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for students with demonstrated financial need. Please note that travel assistance is not guaranteed. Read the information below carefully:
If you have questions, please email [email protected].
⭐ FAQ’s
Please click here for the frequently asked questions.
Your $125 fee covers:
This program is open to all currently enrolled high school students nationwide.
The conference is held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103).
Plan to arrive at the Hilton between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.
Departure is on Sunday, March 29. Shuttles to Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) begin at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, and the last shuttle drop off is at 11:15 a.m. All students should depart the hotel by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 29.
Full time attendance is required.
Travel assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for students with demonstrated financial need. Please note that travel assistance is not guaranteed. Read the information below carefully:
If you have questions, please email [email protected].
Tuition waivers are available to those with financial need. If you are experiencing financial hardship, email a short essay to our conference team at [email protected] explaining your need, which conference you hope to attend, and what you hope to gain by attending.
Fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). YAF offers shuttles for registered students to and from SBA.
Los Angeles (LAX) and Burbank (BUR) are alternatives, but ground transportation is not provided.
Yes. Shuttles are available for students arriving at:
Young America’s Foundation provides shuttle transportation for students flying into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). Pick-up will take place at the baggage claim area.
Shuttles will run on Thursday (morning and afternoon) and Sunday morning. Exact shuttle times will be finalized once all travel information is submitted, approximately two weeks before the conference.
Please note:
Yes. YAF can pick up students from the Santa Barbara Amtrak station or La Cumbre Plaza for Santa Barbara Airbus riders.
Due to limited staffing, Young America’s Foundation staff cannot chaperone unaccompanied minors traveling by airplane or train.
Yes, students will be supervised by YAF staff members who will chaperone and stay in the same hotels for the duration of the event. Students are expected to behave appropriately or will be sent home at their parents’ expense. Parents and students must sign a liability waiver and responsibility pledge via Docusign prior to the event. Even if a student is 18, they are still expected to abide by all rules and curfew.
Limited. Short breaks occur each afternoon, but students must remain on hotel property unless supervised by YAF staff.
Parents are invited to attend the Thursday dinner banquet. RSVP information will be sent a few weeks prior to the event.
Yes. As with all YAF programs, students must attend all sessions out of respect for YAF’s speakers and generous supporters. Missing sessions without permission may result in being billed for the full cost of attendance.
Professional dress means wearing more formal attire—such as a suit, dress pants with a blouse or button-down, or a modest dress. Appropriate casual dress is more relaxed but still polished, like jeans without holes, a neat top, and comfortable shoes—avoiding items like leggings, sweatpants, or athleisure. For the Ranch, bring a jacket and wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Speakers will be added to the event webpage as they are confirmed. A detailed agenda and arrival guide will be emailed to participants at least one week prior to the conference.
More than 250 students from across the country will attend.
Yes! A tax-deductible gift of $2,500 enables YAF to host a student who could not otherwise attend.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Senior Development Officer & Events Manager Ilinca Biggs at [email protected].
If you need to cancel, please email [email protected] with your name and the conference for which you need to cancel. Registration fees are nonrefundable after March 6, 2026.
If you cannot attend and do not give YAF advance notice of your cancellation, you may be charged $2,500 because your reserved seat could not be given to another participant.
I am registering for myself, or on behalf of my minor child or ward (hereafter “child”), to attend a Young America’s Foundation’s (YAF) private event. I understand and agree that, as an express condition of participation and/or attendance in YAF’s event, I intend to be legally bound and will abide by the following terms & conditions.
A. Terms of Registration. All attendees must register themselves or their child and any guests they may be registering for using the real and true name for all parties and may be asked to present valid identification to verify the identity of the registrant and their guests. I understand and acknowledge that any actions intended to disrupt or undermine this YAF event will result in my or my child’s immediate ejection from the event. Disruptive activity includes, without limitation and in YAF’s sole determination, posting or sending inappropriate words, statements, or images, through social media or by and between event attendees. YAF reserves the right to pursue all appropriate civil & criminal remedies against disruptive attendees. Attendees removed for disruptive activity forfeit any registration fees and will be required to reimburse YAF at applicable actual costs of their attendance within ten (10) business days.
B. Acceptance & Attendance.
a. I understand that this event may have a limited amount of space and that my application may be subject to confirmation. I understand that all applications submitted prior to December 19, 2025, will receive a response on December 10, 2025, regarding acceptance. Applicants that apply after December 19, 2025, will receive notice within two (2) weeks of their application submission. I understand that in the event I have not been accepted I will be refunded via my original payment method.
b. Participation in this YAF event is made possible through the generous financial support of YAF’s supporters nationwide. As such, I or my child agree to attend all sessions of the March High School Conference. I understand that if I or my child fail to attend the entirety of YAF’s event without good cause, I agree to refund YAF the actual cost of attendance for the event, including hotel, food, transportation, and other costs incurred.
c. Acceptance and participation in this YAF event include reviewing and understanding the terms and conditions of YAF’s Responsibility Pledge, the terms of which are incorporated by reference. I understand that violation of the Responsibility Pledge may result in my removal or the removal of my child from the event, forfeiture of registration fees, and applicable reimbursement due to YAF.
C. Cancellation. Except in case of emergency, if accepted to attend YAF’s event, I must notify YAF March 6, 2026, of my or my child’s inability to attend or I may be charged $2,500 since it is too late to give my reserved space to another participant. I understand that the conference fee is not refundable if I cancel my participation after March 6, 2026.
D. Policy Focused Event. YAF’s event is intended solely for the promotion of conservative ideas, in accordance with YAF’s tax exempt mission. No political activity, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, is permitted at YAF’s event. No candidate stickers, pins, t-shirts, or other materials may be worn, displayed, or otherwise visible by members of the audience. I understand that attendees will not promote any other groups or organizations without express written permission from YAF.
E. Roommates & Lodging. If applicable, I understand that I or my child may be assigned roommates for the conference. A preferred roommate of the same sex may be requested, but YAF is not obligated to honor that request. I agree to notify YAF staff immediately if a problem with a roommate arises during the event. I or my child further agree to abide by all applicable hotel rules, as well as any rules or instructions from YAF staff as deemed necessary, in YAF’s sole determination, during any overnight event stay.
F. Consideration. In consideration for participation in this event or program, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is acknowledged, I agree to release and forever discharge YAF, its officers, employees, and assigns from all manner of actions, legal causes of action, claims and demands for or by reason of any damage, loss, or injury to person and property which has been or may be sustained as a result of my own or my child’s participation in this event or program.
Liability Release. I am fully aware that there are risks, foreseeable and unforeseeable, related to me or my child or ward attending this event or program, ranging from normal risks associated with any stay away from home, such as physical injury from a slip and fall or accident, food poisoning or allergic reactions, loss or damage to personal property, fires, disasters, terrorism or other incidents of violence, contraction of illness such as the flu, COVID-19, or legionnaire’s disease, which could result in a serious medical condition requiring treatment in a hospital or could possibly lead to death. For my own benefit or on behalf of my child or ward, our heirs, successors, and assigns, I knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, relating to participation in this event or program and I hereby forever release, waive, relinquish, and discharge YAF, its officers, employees, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, rights, damages, expenses, and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, and other losses of any kind, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, and I further promise not to sue YAF for any personal injury, disability, property damage or theft, or death which may result from participation in this program. These terms and conditions shall be construed under Tennessee law and should be interpreted by any court of competent jurisdiction to provide a release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible.
G. Assumption of Risk. I assume all risks and hazards incidental to participation in the above mentioned function, including transportation to and from such activities, and do hereby release and waive all claims against YAF, its directors, officers, staff, employees, volunteers, representatives, agents, and speakers whether they be foreseen or unforeseen at the time this waiver is signed. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS MY SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID EXPOSING MYSELF OR MY CHILD TO FOODS THAT WE MAY BE ALLERGIC TO AND TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS RELATING TO POTENTIAL ALLERGIES, INCLUDING HAVING ANY MEDICATION SUCH AS AN EPINEPHRINE PEN (“EPIPEN”) ON MY OR MY CHILD’S PERSON AT ALL TIMES AND NOTIFYING YOUNG AMERICA’S FOUNDATION STAFF OF CONCERNS. I understand that YAF makes no promises or guarantees that an accommodation will be made for my or my child’s allergy, even after notifying YAF of said allergy. As such, I recognize that if I or my child consumes food or beverage at a YAF event, I assume the risk.
H. Emergency Medical Treatment Consent/ Property Damage. I grant permission for emergency medical treatment to be performed upon me or my child in case of sickness or injury and have indicated any special medical needs or allergies in the space provided below. All expenses incident to hospital care shall be my responsibility. I also accept responsibility for any property damage to the program facilities that I or my child may cause.
I. Data Usage. By sharing your information with YAF, you agree that we may use your information to contact you about this event and other activities, such as educational materials or opportunities to attend future events, as disclosed to you at the point of collection, or in any other manner that advances our educational purposes. This includes, without limitation, adding your e-mail address to receive YAF emails and receipt of telephone calls and text messages to your cell phone. You affirm that the cell phone number provided at registration is your own or that of your minor child, and that YAF may call and/or send text messages to this phone number to provide information regarding your application or registration for this event, as well as future YAF events and programming. You understand that message and data rates may apply to any such messages. We may share or transfer your information with our affiliates and any other organizations or entities for similar purposes.
J. Severability. If any provision of this waiver is held to be invalid or unenforceable that provision will be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent possible, and the remainder of the waiver will have full force and effect.
K. Understanding and Acceptance. By including my name on this form and allowing my child to participate in this Program, I confirm that I understand and have had a full opportunity to review these terms and conditions. I have had the opportunity to have these terms and conditions reviewed by a legal counsel of my choosing. In the event of any dispute between the Parties regarding any ambiguity or inconsistency in this terms and conditions, the adjudicating body will use a neutral construction not favouring either Party. I understand and agree that these terms and conditions constitute the full entire agreement between myself and YAF and supersede any prior oral or written understanding or agreement. No modifications, alterations, or amendments may be made to the terms and conditions unless done in writing and agreed to by both parties. I accept these terms freely, I declare my intention to bound by the terms, and I acknowledge it shall be construed broadly to provide a full release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.
L. Consent and Release for Use of Likeness. YAF uses real photos, videos, and quotes from students for promotional purposes. By attending this YAF event on your own behalf or on behalf of your child, you irrevocably consent and authorize YAF and its affiliates, employees, related companies, and contractors, to record, film, photograph, broadcast, or otherwise capture during the event and related events your likeness, image, voice, or any other indicia of identity in any media whatsoever and to distribute, use, broadcast, or disseminate into perpetuity such media for any purpose whatsoever without any further approval from you or any compensation of any kind to you. The images in all media will constitute YAF’s sole property, and YAF will have the right to use your likeness, image, voice, or other indicia of identity, including, but not limited to, the right to produce, publicly perform, transmit, exhibit, publicly display, print, reproduce, televise, broadcast, transfer, modify, distribute, create derivative works of, and otherwise use for any lawful purpose, in whole or in part, in any location throughout the world through any means or medium or format without limitation, any Subject Matter, all without prior inspection or further consent or approval by the undersigned of the finished product(s) or of such use, together with irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide and royalty-free rights, title and interest in and to any and all results and proceeds from any such use.
M. Exclusive Broadcast Rights. You further agree that you will not record, reproduce, or transmit from the place of performance, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, any portion of, or the entirety of, any YAF event in the absence of the specific written permission of YAF. YAF retains the exclusive copyright to all materials that may be distributed at the event, unless otherwise noted, and all video or audio recordings of all YAF events.
Registrations are subject to approval by YAF.
