Join ACE Summer Civics Camp
American Civic Explorers
Navigate American government with your team. Make real tradeoffs—nonpartisan and beginner-friendly.
Pick your role. Build a strategy. Make real tradeoffs.
Nonpartisan by design.Practice hearing and respecting different viewpoints.
Earn badges. Unlock ranks. Build your civic portfolio.
Quick signup
Share email or phone—whichever you check most. Takes about a minute. No experience needed.
Takes about a minute. No experience needed.
In partnership with the YMCA • Powered by Statecraft
Choose a role and lead a civic challenge.
Each role brings unique responsibilities and tools. Your team’s strategy shapes the outcome.
Executive Branch
Call the plays and balance tough national tradeoffs.
- Set the agenda
- Respond to crises
- Negotiate big deals
Congress
Build coalitions and pass the laws that shape the country.
- Draft bills
- Count votes
- Hold hearings
Media
Ask sharp questions and shape the public story.
- Investigate claims
- Publish headlines
- Track public trust
Advocates & Interest Groups
Advance priorities and influence the policy debate.
- Organize allies
- Pitch solutions
- Shift public opinion
What you’ll learn while you play.
ACE Sim blends civic knowledge, hands-on skills, and leadership habits you can use anywhere.
Civic knowledge
Understand how power moves in a constitutional system.
- Branches, checks, and balances in action.
- Civil liberties and real-world tradeoffs.
- How war powers and crises test leadership.
Civic skills
Practice the skills leaders use every day.
- Negotiation and coalition-building.
- Using data to make policy choices.
- Communicating across disagreements.
Civic dispositions
Build the habits of responsible citizens.
- Confidence to speak up and lead.
- Respect for multiple viewpoints.
- Responsibility for community outcomes.
Track progress and build a civic portfolio that shows your growth over time.
Each session celebrates teamwork, strategy, and civic leadership. A scouting-inspired badge-and-rank system guides you through civic mastery—and builds your portfolio.
Civic Initiative
Launch your first policy proposal and explain the tradeoffs.
Coalition Builder
Work across roles to secure a workable compromise.
Community Advocate
Use evidence and feedback to improve a policy outcome.
- 1ExplorerEarn your first badge by completing a civic challenge with your team.
- 2StrategistPractice democratic skills: negotiate, compromise, and deliver a workable plan.
- 3Civic CaptainLead with civic responsibility—then reflect on outcomes and what you’d improve.
YMCA values guide every mission.
ACE is built for schools and community organizations, in partnership with the YMCA. We practice values that help students lead with care and character.
We look out for each other and our community.
We speak truthfully and act with integrity.
We listen, disagree respectfully, and build trust.
We take ownership of decisions and their outcomes.
Why it matters
Democracy has to be learned each generation. ACE Sim helps students build real-world confidence, leadership, and community trust.
Nonpartisan promise
ACE Sim is nonpartisan by design. You'll practice hearing and respecting different viewpoints.
Questions students ask first.
Do I need experience in government or debate?+
No experience needed. ACE is built for beginners and gives you clear prompts and support.
Is ACE political or partisan?+
ACE Sim is nonpartisan. You’ll practice listening to different viewpoints and making respectful choices.
Who can join?+
Middle and high school students in YMCA programs, summer camps, or school/community groups.
Join American Civic Explorers and play ACE Sim.
Your choices shape the story. It’s fast, team-based, and designed for young leaders.
Finish strong
You’ll earn badges, unlock ranks, and build a portfolio that shows your civic skills.
Tap the button to start or continue your signup.
Communities weigh new youth advisory councils
Local leaders are debating how to include youth voices in civic decisions without slowing down policy timelines. The discussion highlights the tradeoffs between broad representation and efficient decision-making.
- Local government sets policies that shape schools, parks, and public services.
- Public input creates tradeoffs between speed, equity, and community trust.
ACE Sim helps teams weigh competing priorities and practice decisions that impact real communities.
If you were on the council, what tradeoff would you prioritize—and why?