FAQs

LEAD is for high school students ages 13–19. Students in 8-12th grade during the 2022-23 school year are eligible to attend.

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Students are split into committees and caucuses, and each group is purposely made up of students of all ages, so no one group has any advantage over another during debates on Friday.

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Deciding which year to start sending a student is up to parents. While making this decision, we encourage you to consider the maturity level of your child and whether or not he or she is ready to handle a rigorous schedule and challenging curriculum.

We love it when parents volunteer with LEAD! We have multiple volunteer opportunities available, see here for more details. 

No. We do require students to dress professionally for the Capitol, but it’s ok if your student doesn’t own a suit. A blazer is recommended but not required. If guys do not wear a blazer, we do ask them to wear a tie.  

At LEAD, we’re equipping young people to be leaders in all spheres of life, which is why our program offers a unique combination of worldview study, leadership training, and legislative experience. We use a legislative simulation as a setting for students to develop valuable leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills. We also help students see that understanding the legislative process is valuable for each one of us, regardless of what kind of career we pursue, because the Capitol is the People’s House. 

Your registration fee covers all meals, lodging, transportation to and from the Capitol throughout the week, and all the seminars and hands-on training during the week of LEAD. 

We’re happy to help! Shoot us an email at lead@mfc.org or call (612) 735-9109. You can also download our mail-in registration form here.

LEAD understands that students may, at times, be unable to attend after they have registered. All refund checks are mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after LEAD. Due to costly administrative commitments, the fee deadlines and refunds will be as follows:

July 5, 2023 – Deadline for partial refund – Refund will be the amount paid minus $100 administration fee. No refund after this date.

July 6, 2023 – Full registration payment due

July 6, 2023– Last day to register  

NOTE: If a student is dismissed as a result of disciplinary action or leaves to go home for any reason (illness, etc.) during his or her week at LEAD, no refund will be issued. Likewise, no one may attend in his or her place.

Yes! LEAD offers a two-tiered Early Bird discount, as well as a family discount and refer a friend discount. For more information, please contact the LEAD office. We also offer need-based financial aid to students who apply by April 21st. 

We do! Contact us for more details.

Yes. All students, staff, and volunteers will be staying in the dorms at the University of Northwestern. We room students with other students (typically three to a room) and crew members with other crew members. You may request a roommate when you register. LEAD assigns dorm rooms on the basis of biological sex. 

Yes! Click here for more information on group rates.