Patriot Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the flagship arm of The Torch of Freedom Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible.
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A Patriot Academy-Leadership Congress is a three or seven-day leadership and political “boot camp” open to students ages 16 to 25 and held every summer in various state capitols throughout the country.
Students delve into the political process from the inside, as they file legislation, debate and pass bills, and campaign for office. In between legislative activities, they receive training in media skills, public speaking, leadership, current issues and America’s heritage–all from a Biblical worldview.
Conservative leaders from all areas of the political field mentor students through the process, sharing their experience and wisdom. Patriot Academy offers students the most realistic, condensed, and conservative political training.
The Regional Leadership Congress in Arizona, Idaho, Florida, Delaware, and Indiana are 3-day sessions, while the National Leadership Congresss in Texas is a 7-day session open to all qualifying students from around the country. Click here to read: Our History | What Our Students Say.
Students are housed at a hotel or dorm near the hosting state’s Capitol.
Everything but sleep happens at the Capitol. For your committee meetings, you’ll meet in a Capitol committee room.
You and other students will debate your bills on the main floor of the Capitol’s House or Senate chamber. Whatever you’re doing, it’s on location.
Regional Leadership Congress sessions are three-day events held throughout the summer June and July. The National Leadership Congress starts late July/early August every summer.
For all Leadership Congress dates: click here.
National Leadership Congress students: If you’re driving: Plan to be at the hotel by 2:30pm on Day 1.
If you’re flying: Your flight should arrive in Austin NLT 2:30pm on Day 1. Registration and room check-in is from 2:30-4:30 pm.
The schedule is tight–plan to be on time!
Regional Leadership Congress students: Plan to arrive at the host hotel NLT noon on Day 1. Registration and room check-in is from 11:30-12:30 pm.
The schedule is tight–plan to be on time!
A scheduled PA shuttle will be available to transport students from the local airport to the host hotel.
Once you’ve been accepted and filed our mandatory travel form, we can establish a pickup time.
A Patriot Academy-Leadership Congress provides a hands-on, student-led political philosophy, principles, and process immersion.
Students will experience:
Students will learn personal skills, such as:
Students will learn foundational philosophy for governance, including:
Students will hear about today’s most relevant issues from a Biblical worldview, including:
Students will receive practical advice and training from:
After a day of initial training and orientation, the schedule is typically: Breakfast, Devotional, Workshop, Committee Meeting, Lunch, Floor Session, Speaker, Committee Meeting, Dinner, Featured Speaker, Fellowship, and Sleep.
This is a general representation of a schedule. We start early in the morning and go until late at night, generally a 14-16 hour day.
Most students assume the role of a State Representative at the Leadership Congress, writing bills, participating in committee meetings and debating on the House floor.
Alumni may be selected as Chair of a committee. Senior students take the role of Senators. Each session is presided over by a student-elected cabinet, usually including a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House.
You must be a 3rd year student and at least 18 years old to be considered to be a Senator. A certain amount of preparation and maturity are also necessary for selection.
All qualifying applications for Senator will be reviewed on an individual basis. Those who apply to be a Senator may be selected to serve as a Representative or Senator.
Students must be 16-25 years old; age exceptions may be allowed under special circumstances.
You can contact us if you’d like more information. All age waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
To be effective in the political arena, we encourage you to learn to convince others to invest in the cause and principles you represent.
In order to give you the most realistic political experience possible, we ask that you make an effort to raise a portion of your own tuition. You can find fundraising tips on the Patriot Academy website by clicking on this link: tips on fundraising.
A $97 deposit is required when submitting an application for any PA-Leadership Congress. The $97 deposit is subtracted from your tuition fee. If a student’s application is not accepted, or the student withdrawals after acceptance the student will receive a $62 refund of the $97 deposit.
It’s never too late to apply! Applications received after the Academy is full will be placed on a waiting list. To qualify for discounted rates, please note the tuition submission “postmarked/paid online deadlines” by which time tuition must be paid-in-full.
For specific discounted tuition rates for each Leadership Congress, click here: Leadership Congress page. NOTE: Your spot is not guaranteed until tuition is paid-in-full and all registration forms are submitted. Partial scholarships are available as funds last. Students must attempt to fundraise before requesting a partial scholarship. All partial scholarship requests are reviewed on an individual basis.
Please contact us for more information.
Glad you asked! Click here to go to the application page.
We have 120 seats available for the National Leadership Congress in Texas, and approximately 50 seats available at each of the Regional-Leadership Congress. We encourage you to apply early!
One of the great things about a PA-Leadership Congress is the environment causes students to quickly build friendships and develop a “team” mentality. Just like in the real legislature, students end up finding their niche in a variety of roles.
Some students love debating at the microphone; others enjoy working on the process. Since the students run their own committee meetings and floor sessions, how you choose to get involved is up to you. We do ask, though, that you come willing to think, learn, and grow.
Some of our most hesitant freshman have found themselves so inspired by the experience that they couldn’t help but get involved and wound up becoming some of our strongest leaders.
Read what students have said about their time at Patriot Academy.
Upon acceptance, you will be emailed login information to access your student portal.
The portal will include information on how to file your bill, logistical information, and required preparation materials. It will also contain an “Insider Information” document, compiled by alumni with everything they wish they had known their first year at a PA-Leadership Congress.
The portal will include a code of conduct, dress code, and medical release form. In addition, all freshman students will be assigned a “mentor” to guide them through the entire preparation process.
All students must write and submit a bill. After you are accepted to the PA-Leadership Congress, you will receive information on bill writing.
You’ll be assigned a mentor, who will help you out as needed and review your completed bill before you submit it.
Each student enters as a Representatives or a Senator. The students of the National Leadership Congress elect a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House to preside over the PA-Leadership Congress for the following year.
The students of a Regional Leadership Congress will elect a Governor and Speaker to preside over the next year’s Regional Leadership Congress.
For example, the students of 2022 elected the cabinet leadership for 2023. The students of 2023 will elect the leadership for 2024. Information on how to file as a candidate, along with protocols for campaigning, are available to students in the student portal.
To meet this years cabinet leaders, please click here.
The Torch of Freedom Foundation
PO Box 586
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Monday - Friday
8 AM - 5 PM Central
