Encampment for Citizenship

The Encampment for Citizenship (EFC) is a non-profit organization that organizes residential summer programs for young people of widely diverse backgrounds and nations. It provides youth with a compelling experience in democratic living, with emphasis on critical thinking and social action. Through this transformative experience, young people become more informed and sensitive about the key social and political issues of our time and committed to active citizenship and involvement in their community as justice seekers.The EFC was founded in 1946 by Algernon D. Black of the New York Society for Ethical Culture and civic leader Alice K. Pollitzer and was sponsored by the American Ethical Union. Youth participated in EFC leadership programs for 50 years, from the 1940s until the late 1990s. The program was relaunched in 2013 through the efforts of dedicated alumni.