ABOUT
The Civics Immersion Experience, an initiative led by the Florida Debate Initiative (FDI), offers students a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of government and civic engagement through an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Participants engage in educational tours of key landmarks such as Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and the National Archives, gaining insights into legislative and judicial processes firsthand.
Moreover, the program features the opportunity for policy discussions and informal debates. Students also explore museums and national memorials, enriching their understanding of American history and culture. This initiative aims to advance civic literacy by providing a comprehensive understanding of civic institutions and processes. It promotes critical thinking through the analysis and debate of complex issues and encourages civic responsibility by fostering active civic life and community service engagement.
The Civics Immersion Experience inspires and equips the next generation of civic leaders through networking events, cultural tours, and advocacy training. It instills a lifelong commitment to civic engagement and public service, empowering students to confidently lead and contribute to our interconnected society.
DATES
The 2026 trip will take place April 6-10. We will begin accepting applications on Monday, November 24, and close applications on Monday, December 29, 2025.
WHO
Any Florida resident student currently in grades 9-12 may apply. Our application asks about academic performance, leadership experience, and disciplinary history. As students will be representing their communities and the state of Florida, it is important that all participants conduct themselves in person and online with utmost decorum. Applicants are encouraged to be mindful of their social media and overall electronic footprint.
Although we hope that all who attend enjoy and learn from this experience, we expect each lucky participant to bring what they learn back to their school/community--applying these lessons to real-world civic growth. This is why one of the questions asks just that. Be thinking about how you can serve as a junior ambassador for the Florida Debate Initiative, with a plan to create learning opportunities for others.
Florida Debate Initiative staff serve as chaperones for this event. Our staff are trained, fully vetted, and background checked.
SELECTION
A selection committee will review all completed applications. We will announce the 2026 cohort on or before January 5, 2026.
*There is a personal statement requirement for this application. You should have that written, saved as a PDF, and ready to attach to this application (or email it to info@floridadebate.org if you experience issues uploading). Although you may choose to scroll through this application. Please be sure to complete and submit it ONLY ONE time. Here's the prompt:
Upon return, all students will complete a service project. Please attach a brief statement explaining how this trip will enrich your life and how you can use the skills and knowledge you gain from the Civics Immersion experience to give back to your school or community via a service project.
All responses must be written in the student’s own voice and reflect their authentic thoughts and writing. The use of Generative AI is not permitted.
Event Details
Trip Dates: April 6-10, 2026
A cohort of up to 40 Florida high school students will fly from Orlando to Washington, D.C., accompanied and supervised by Florida Debate Initiative staff. Students will stay in a D.C.-area hotel, sharing a room with one or two assigned roommates. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, and all travel, lodging, meals, and tour admissions are fully covered by the Florida Debate Initiative.
Each day’s itinerary is tightly packed with learning activities.
Parents/guardians are responsible for arranging transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport and providing supervision of their child until check-in with FDI staff. The FDI provides qualified, vetted adult supervision. Students attend without parents.
A mandatory meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 7 pm with the 2026 cohort and at least one parent/guardian.
Non-School Sponsored Activity Notice: By submitting this application, both student and parent acknowledge that this event is not sponsored by your student’s school. The program is administered by the Florida Debate Initiative, with the support of the Florida Department of Education. Parents are encouraged to share the acceptance letter and itinerary with their child’s school; however, it is ultimately the school administration’s choice to designate the absence as “excused.”
Need help completing this application?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@floridadebate.org. If any changes occur to the information submitted in this application, please message info@floridadebate.org with updated information.
As you complete this form, you will be asked to provide email addresses. Do not use a school email (as many have prohibitive firewalls) and verify that all email addresses provided can receive mail; we use email to communicate with applicants and others– please check your spam folder and add info@floridadebate.org to your safe sender’s list.
