What is CYLC, and how long has the organization existed? The Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), an independent, educational organization, was founded in 1985 and is located just outside of Washington, D.C. in Vienna, VA. Our mission is to foster and inspire young people to achieve their full leadership potential. To date, over 200,000 young people representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American territories and over 100 countries have participated in CYLC programs.

How is CYLC funded? CYLC is a tuition-based, self-supporting organization, with many students securing financial support from local business, civic, community and leadership organizations. The CYLC online, interactive Student Fundraising Guide helps students identify funding sources and outlines steps for a successful fundraising effort.

Does CYLC have any political affiliation?No, the Congressional Youth Leadership Council is a nonpartisan, educational organization.

What is NYLSC? Sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the National Young Leaders State Conference (NYLSC) curriculum focuses the attention of the attendees on taking an introspective and highly personalized assessment of their leadership skills and abilities. This leadership conference challenges each participant to step forward, in a manner that is decisive and confident, to grasp the concepts of leadership that will be taught and to act upon his/her dreams of making a difference in the community while maintaining the courage of his/her convictions. The theme of the conference is A Ripple of Hope, and as such, attendees will work towards building a working toolkit of strategies to help them successfully dream, create and implement their plans that will change how they view their role as community leaders.

Who participates in NYLSC? NYLSC accepts outstanding 6th through 9th grade students who demonstrate maturity, academic excellence and leadership potential. Students are separated into groups at the Conference based on grade level. Students who are interested in attending and would like to be considered on their individual merits should contact the Office of Admissions.

Why isn’t my state included in the National Young Leaders State Conference? Currently, NYLSC runs over fifty different sessions in different locations representing 32 states and the District of Columbia. If your state isnt represented and you are interested in attending NYLSC, please contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

Where can I get a sample schedule? Please click here [PDF, 1.1MB] to view a sample schedule, which is provided to demonstrate the pace and composition of a typical session.

Once I submit an Enrollment Application and tuition payment, what happens? Is a space guaranteed? Once you have been invited to attend the NYLSC, you should follow the guidelines below to ensure that you are enrolled in the program. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

• You and your parent should complete the online Enrollment Application or the personalized application located in the invitation you received in the mail and return it along with full tuition payment to our Office of Admissions.
• Once your application and tuition are complete, we will review availability. Should NYLSC be full, you will be placed on a wait list and payment will not be processed.
• If you are accepted, we will send an acceptance letter with a detailed packet of information within approximately four weeks.

What is the Student Code of Conduct? Click here to read the complete Student Code of Conduct.

What does NYLSC tuition cover? Tuition covers the expenses incurred by CYLC in planning and implementing the program. Included in the tuition costs are lodging, all meals and a daily snack, scholar journal, curriculum materials and compensation for the faculty advisors. The only costs not covered by the tuition are transportation to and from each specified location for each particular state conference and any personal spending money used for souvenirs, snacks and other incidentals.

How do I apply for a Scholarship? If you received a letter and other materials in the mail regarding your selection to attend the National Young Leaders State Conference, click here to view all available scholarships.

Where do I find my Student ID to access the online scholarship application?Your Student ID can be found in the letter and on the Enrollment Application you received in the mail. If you have enrolled in the program, your Student ID can also be found in your acceptance materials. When entering your Student ID, be sure to include the dash. (Ex: 1000000-10000000).

Does CYLC offer financial assistance? The Congressional Youth Leadership Council is proud to offer a limited number of scholarships to students. Through the scholarship program, CYLC opens the door for young leaders who deserve the opportunity to participate in NYLSC, but who require financial assistance.

Because CYLC scholarship funds are limited, we have created a Student Fundraising Guide to help you defray tuition costs. The fundraising guide helps students secure support from their local business, civic, community and leadership organizations to finance conference participation.

If there is a limited number of spaces in NYLSC and applications are processed in the order in which they are received, what if no spaces are available by the time I am able to accrue full tuition through fundraising?We recognize that fundraising may delay the submission of your application, so we encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions once you initiate fundraising efforts. While we cannot guarantee a space in the conference, your call will make us aware of your fundraising efforts and intent to attend.

How and when will I receive notification that I have been either awarded or denied a scholarship?Scholarship applicants should expect notification by e-mail approximately two weeks after the scholarship deadline date has passed. Scholarship applicants who do not provide an operable e-mail address will receive notification by mail, approximately three weeks after the scholarship deadline date has passed. The scholarship deadline date is listed on the Tuition & Financial Assistance page.

How are students supervised? NYLSC is directed by an well-qualified and experienced full-time staff of educators including faculty advisors (who serve as educational facilitators and chaperones), operations support staff as well as program management. Students are supervised 24 hours a day at a student to staff ratio of 12-to-1. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each workshop or activity and room checks are conducted each night to ensure the highest level of security. Conference staff stay on-site and program management is available 24 hours a day in the event that a student becomes ill or has an emergency.

What safety measures does NYLSC follow?

• We greet students at the host hotel and encourage all students to contact their parents upon arrival if traveling without them.
• The student-to-staff ratio is 12-to-1.
• Students are supervised at all times.
• Our staff is comprised of highly trained and experienced faculty advisors.
• Staff are available 24 hours a day.
• 10 p.m. security checks are a part of each evening routine.

Where will I stay while at NYLSC?Students and staff reside at premium hotels and conference centers. They will remain at the conference site for the duration of the conference. Students will share a room with someone from their age group. Please confirm that your scholar has enrolled in the desired session before making any travel arrangements.

Can I request a roommate? If not, how are roommates selected? Roommate requests are not accepted. We randomly assign rooms and roommates prior to your arrival day. This is done to give scholars the opportunity to get to know peers from other areas of the country. We strongly believe that learning about - and from - other young leaders from all over the country provides a significant leadership development opportunity.

Can I book my flight directly through CYLC? The Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC) has selected WorldTEK, a travel management company, to serve as its official travel agency. We highly recommend that CYLC families contact WorldTEK to determine the lowest available airfares and arrange their travel. Click here to learn more.

What is the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan? Each student has the option of enrolling in our Tuition and Travel Protection Plan for an additional fee. This trip cancellation insurance is recommended and can be purchased during enrollment. If you would like to know more specifics about the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan, please call the plan administrator, Nationwide, toll-free at (866) 282-3987.

What is the pre-Conference assignment, FUEL? The first step of your journey includes assessing your strengths and opportunities for growth. To aid in this assessment, you must complete a pre-Conference assignment entitled Feedback for Understanding Emerging Leaders (FUEL).

When is the deadline to submit my FUEL form? Is the assignment mandatory? Please ask your mentors and peers to complete the survey no later than one week prior to your arrival at the Conference. You will see the results on the first day of the Conference. The assignment is mandatory for all scholars.

How many people need to complete my survey? All students must complete a self-evaluation form and select at least five mentors, (8th and 9th grade students must also select at least five peers) whom you know and respect, and ask them to complete a short survey. The mentors you select may be teachers, coaches, youth group leaders or other adult mentors you know. The peers you select may be friends, classmates, teammates or other people your age who interact with you on a regular basis. You will need to ask your mentors and peers to go to this web site: www.cylc.org/NYLSC/fuel. They will need to enter your Student ID number, which can be found in your acceptance letter. Please ask your mentors and peers to complete the survey no later than one week prior to your arrival at NYLSC. You will see the results on the first day of the Conference.

Can special dietary needs be met? Vegetarian options are always available, and kosher meals can be made available upon request. All dietary needs must be indicated on the special needs section of your application, and, if necessary, a staff member will contact you to discuss any special arrangements that need to be made for you.

What if my son/daughter loses something, or forgets to bring a personal item home after the Conference?All lost and found items are retained by conference staff for 2 weeks following the Conference. Items of higher monetary value are retained for 30 days after the Conference concludes. After 30 days, all items remaining are discarded or donated. We strongly recommend following the advice provided in the suggested packing list, which includes placing your child’s name on all personal belongings that he or she will be bringing to the Conference.

My question is not listed.If your question is not listed above, please click here to contact the Office of Admissions.