Summer is for Civics at the Kennedy Institute

BOSTON-For summer camps and schools, libraries, and enrichment programs looking for fun and unique outings and activities this summer for their K-12 students, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate invites you to explore their “Senator for a Day” interactive civic education programs. The Kennedy Institute’s offerings for kids are available all summer as both online Zoom activities and for groups visiting the Institute’s beautiful, one-of-a-kind, full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate chamber.

Educational experiences at the Kennedy Institute use immersive role play and simulation to teach civics and inspire the next generation of leaders. Led by highly trained, nonpartisan instructors from the Kennedy Institute, students of all ages take on the role of a U.S. senator from a state of their choosing and help debate, shape, and vote on legislation on top issues of the day such as immigration reform, voting rights, environmental justice and the Green New Deal, and updating the Electoral College.

For students in kindergarten through 3rd grade, the Kennedy Institute also offers the “Welcoming Words” program introducing children to the history of the Statue of Liberty and the welcome that she offers to diverse neighbors coming into American communities. Students then get to create their own special welcoming art and collages.

“No matter what the time of year, we find that young people love and get so inspired taking on the role of U.S. Senators and learning—by doing—about the researching, thinking, debating, and compromising that go into producing legislation,’’ said Caroline Angel Burke, Vice President of Education, Visitor Experience, and Collections at the Kennedy Institute. “Over and over again, we hear from our students who come in-person what an exciting and unforgettable experience it was to be right there on what looks and feels exactly like the floor of the United States Senate in Washington.”

Nathaniel Kraft, an 11th and 12th grade social studies teacher at Lowell (MA) High School, said after a visit earlier this spring: “Every time I take a class to the Kennedy Institute, the students come out more informed about our country's government. They love the opportunity to be in the Senate Chamber debating real issues impacting our country.’’

Added Tia Costello, an 8th grade teacher at Amesbury (MA) Middle School: “We are fortunate to have this tremendous resource nearby to give our students a hands-on experience on how a bill becomes a law in the Senate, something that is not possible to do in the actual Senate in D.C. Our students left not only with a better understanding the process, but also with a feeling of reverence for this esteemed body.’’

In recent years, summer camps, enrichment programs, library and church groups, and summer-school sessions from public and private schools have all made the Kennedy Institute, located right next to Boston Harbor on Columbia Point, a much-loved field trip or online experience for their campers and students.

The Kennedy Institute welcomes online visits from students and campers in all 50 states and will make every possible effort to accommodate time-zone differences to schedule sessions.

A list of available programs and how to register for them may be found at https://www.emkinstitute.org/resources/visit-request-form

Online and in-person visits are available to be schedule between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays anytime through Labor Day. Visits are free for students enrolled in Massachusetts public schools, $5 per student for Massachusetts non-public-school students and online student visitors from all 49 other states, and $6 per student for in-person visitors coming to Boston from the 49 other states. Many scholarships for discounted or free admission are available.

Since it opened in 2015, the Kennedy Institute has welcomed more than 100,000 students for in-person and online civic education programs and classes. The institute will begin accepting requests for 2022-23 school year bookings for its K-12 classes and programs beginning on Tuesday, May 17.

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