Who? College students–this includes you if you are dual enrolled, just graduated high school, just graduated college, or are in graduate school of any kind!
DC-area interns, you can attend dinner sessions COMPLETELY FREE! Use this link to apply for part-time attendance.
What? A week-long program where you hear from conservative leaders, meet other conservative college students, and learn more conservative ideas that you will your whole college career
Where? The JW Marriott in Washington, DC–just steps away from our national monuments
When? July
How Much? this $2,500 program is only $150 for you, including meals, your hotel for 5 nights, conference materials, and tons of swag
You should arrive at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004) between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22. The conference starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. Parking is not provided so if you plan to drive, please plan accordingly. While parking is available from the hotel ($60 per night) you can find more affordable options in the local area.  You will receive more detailed arrival information when the conference gets closer.
Monday: Registration from 3-5pm, dinner banquet at 7pm
Tuesday-Friday*: Breakfast at 8am, speaker sessions from 9am-12pm, lunch from 12-1pm, speaker sessions from 1-3pm, breakout sessions from 3-4pm, and a dinner banquet at 7pm.
Saturday: You must check out of the conference with YAF staff by 10am and out of the hotel at the front desk by 11am.
You can safely store luggage at the front desk at any time before or after the program so you can explore the city.
*Please note that optional activities will be available each day, and the exact agenda may differ slightly within the aforementioned hours. You will be emailed a full agenda one week prior to the event start.
After each speaker, you will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with them.
All conference sessions are mandatory out of respect for the supporters who help subsidize the cost for you to attend.
You can use this link to request flight reimbursement.
You do not have to have your flight booked or apply for the conference before applying for aid.
Please note that travel assistance is not guaranteed and is allocated on a case-by-case basis. If you are not dependent on full financial assistance, we recommend purchasing your ticket as soon as possible to lock in the lowest fare.
Tuition assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for those with demonstrable financial need. If you have financial need, please email a brief essay (no more than a page) to Jaime Hahn at [email protected] with some language regarding your financial need.  We cannot consider your request until we receive this essay.
You should fly to Washington – Reagan National Airport (DCA) because it is closest to the conference site, but you can also arrive at Washington – Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore Washington International airport (BWI) which are further from the conference site. Taxis are expensive from both airports, so you may wish to use public transportation.
Daytime sessions: Business casual attire. This means no t-shirts or shorts for men and no clothing of inappropriate coverage for women. If you’re on the fence, choose something else.
Dinner sessions: Professional attire required, including suit jackets for men.
Optional activities: Casual attire appropriate for the activity is fine, but please ensure you are adequately covered to be respectful of speakers who may join.
We do not provide students with transportation to and from the airport for this conference, but it is simple to arrive at the hotel via Metro. You can also schedule a Super Shuttle van ride. More information and directions will be sent to you when the conference approaches.
You will not have much free time in Washington since we provide you with a comprehensive program. You are free in the evenings after dinner (at about 9:30 p.m.) and many students go out and enjoy the town at that time each night. If you wish to have more free time in Washington, you need to come early or stay late.  Young America’s Foundation is not able to make these arrangements for you.
Yes. More information on extending your reservation before or after the program will be sent as soon as possible. Young America’s Foundation is only responsible for your accommodations during the specified times (Monday-Friday nights). You may want to arrange for extra time in Washington before or after the conference on your own.
Students will have one or more roommates of the same sex roughly around the same age for the week at the hotel. The registration form allows you to request roommates, and we will do our best to accommodate those requests.
Under no circumstances will we room two people of opposite sexes together. If you wish to room with a relative of the opposite sex, you must make your own reservation for the week.
More than 400 full-time students are expected to attend the conference from all over the country, and hundreds of Washington-area interns will also join us for dinner each night.
DC-area interns, you can attend dinner sessions COMPLETELY FREE! Use this link to apply for part-time attendance.
Yes! Your generous tax-deductible gift of $2,500 will allow Young America’s Foundation to host a student at this program who could not otherwise attend. You can designate a specific student you know to attend or sponsor a student who is receiving free tuition as a result of financial need. For more information about these and other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Young America’s Foundation Development Officer Ilinca Biggs at [email protected] or call 800-USA-1776.
You will receive information via email when the conference gets closer about what is on the agenda, and how to arrive at the conference site. Also feel free to contact Jaime via email at [email protected] with any other questions you have.
