The following questions are most frequently asked by parents or students. If you are an educator or mentor, please click here for more FAQs.

What is CYLC and how long has the organization existed? The Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), a nonpartisan, 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 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 6^th through 9^th 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 isn’t represented and you are interested in attending NYLSC, please contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.