EVENT SCHEDULE
9:00 – 10:00 AM
REGISTRATION & EXPO
10:00 – 10:45 AM
OPENING SESSION
11:00 – 11:45 AM
11:45 – 12:15 PM
LUNCH
12:15 – 1:00 PM
Teacher PD Session
1:15 – 2:00 PM
CLOSING SESSION
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Click the + to view the description and location of each breakout session.
Activate Your Civic Superpowers: Voting, Media, & Civil Discussion
Dive into a fast-paced session that unpacks why voting matters, how to spot misinformation (including AI-generated content!), and what it takes to practice real civil discourse during election season. Through civic quiz games, “Spot the AI” challenges, and live storytelling with Captain Activate, students will sharpen their skills while having a blast. Get ready for hands-on demos, audience participation, and practical tools to navigate today’s civic landscape with confidence.
Location: Tail Feather Lounge
Advocacy and Civic Leadership: How You Can Be A Changemaker
Students will learn about how local School Boards impact them and ways to make their voices heard. They’ll learn about the current literacy crisis and work to come up with actionable solutions along with high school peers.
Location: 1898 Club
Civic Leadership in Action: Building Stronger Communities Through Participation
This dynamic session empowers students to see themselves as civic leaders capable of shaping a more informed and engaged society. Through hands-on activities and dialogue with civic educators and scholars, participants will explore how leadership, collaboration, and participation strengthen democracy at every level.
Location: Northwest Lounge
Debate vs. Advocacy: Speak up, Stand up, Know the Differences
Debate and advocacy may seem similar, but they’re powerful tools with very different purposes. In this interactive session, students will break down what sets them apart, practice each skill through hands-on workshops, and learn when—and how—to use them to drive real impact. Come ready to sharpen your voice, strengthen your strategy, and turn your ideas into ACTION in your community.
Location: Section 134-135
Free Speech in Real Life: A First Amendment Lab
This high-energy, scenario-based session invites students to test their instincts about what speech is and isn’t protected under the First Amendment. Using real-life school and social media situations, students vote on each scenario and then hear a clear, accessible explanation of how courts approach student expression. The session offers an engaging introduction to constitutional principles and civil discourse for high school students.
Location: East Center Club
Making Money Choices That Matter
In this interactive session, students will learn how everyday financial choices can become powerful tools for shaping their futures personally and their communities. Through real-life examples and practical strategies, we’ll explore how to make decisions that align with the students’ goals and values.
Location: Section 122-123
PD Session: Empowering Civic Learning: Engaging Students in Democracy Beyond The Textbook
Location: North Upper Terrace
Purpose-Driven Leadership: Design Your Local Impact Roadmap
Effective purpose-driven leadership starts with translating your unique community perspective into action. This high-energy session equips students with practical service-learning skills to connect their strengths and values to a critical local need. Students will design a focused Service Roadmap and personalized project blueprint ready for immediate implementation, empowering them as civic leaders.
Location: Southwest Lounge
Real Decisions, Real Dollars: Shape Your School Through Participatory Budgeting
What if you had the power to decide how school dollars are spent? School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) turns that “what if” into reality, combining civic education with hands-on, real-world learning. In this session, students will explore how SPB empowers students to propose ideas, campaign for their ideas, and vote on how to improve their schools with REAL dollars.
Location: West Center Club
Run a Voter Registration Drive at Your High School
New Voters, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, invites students to shape, change, and build your future through the power of voting! High school students of all ages will learn how to host a highly impactful, nonpartisan voter registration drive at their school – while earning service hours, receiving a prize from New Voters and the AZ government, and making an impact that only they can.
Location: Southeast Lounge
Sharing Courageous Viewpoints Celebrating Civics in a Digital World
Students will explore “PBS LearningMedia” to connect the core ideas of the American Revolution to their own lives through creative media-making. They’ll discover how to use “PBS LearningMedia” resources to inspire a media project focused on the American Revolution and will learn the basics of podcast production—no special studio or equipment needed.
Location: Section 115-116
The Civic Shift: Discover Your Power As Arizona's Next Generation of Leaders
Be among the first to preview The Civic Shift, a new statewide initiative helping Arizona students connect their civic experiences to who they are as leaders and changemakers. In this dynamic session, students will explore the four civic competencies—Knowledge, Skills, Actions, and Values—through vibrant speakers and interactive reflection, helping shape what meaningful youth civic engagement looks like and offering real feedback to guide the future of the program. Stay tuned for August 2026, when students will be invited to join the Civic Shift platform and begin building their own civic journey.
Location: Section 103-104
PRESENTING PARTNERS
