We just received an envelope in the mail this afternoon telling us that dd was nominated by one of her teachers to represent her school at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) in Washington DC this fall.

Has anyone had a child do this before? Is it worth the money? It seems like a huge honor for dd to be nominated, but then sometimes things look better than they really are and it is pretty expensive (nearly $2000 not including travel to and from DC and she would have to fly). The itenerary looks amazing and she would get to do and see things that I could only dream of doing and seeing (parents aren't allowed).

I'm hoping to get some feedback here before we get too interested and dd gets her hopes up too high.

By Luvn29 on Monday, June 9, 2008 - 07:03 pm:

Well, Emily was nominated last year, but we just can't afford it. I hate it comes down to money, but it's a very expensive trip. To be honest with you, I have a hard time figuring out just where all the money goes when you think of all the kids paying that amount...

I do feel it is a huge honor and would be a great experience, though! Congrats to your dd!

By Jtsmom on Monday, June 9, 2008 - 07:20 pm:

No experience here, just a big CONGRATS to your DD!!!

By Reds9298 on Monday, June 9, 2008 - 08:52 pm:

Ditto on the big congratulations! I've not heard of this, but I also wonder why it is so expensive. How long would she be staying there for heaven's sake? If that doesn't even include airfare, I'm wondering where all of that $ goes.
That would be a big question for me. Also, why aren't parents allowed to attend? It seems to that parents would be encouraged to attend. Who is the chaperone? What's the set up? Is there a fundraiser or assistance program for that award? It seems to that me that many of the nominations would have a $ issue, making them forfeit the nomination that is supposed to be an honor, which sort of defeats the purpose, no?

I sound like it's *my* daughter, don't I?? To me, all the details and justification for where the money goes would be my first consideration before deciding a)if it's a safe situation for my dd, b)if I had the $ or c)if it's worth it. There are many questions I would have before I even got around to the $, or whether $ wasn't an issue at all.

By Tunnia on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 08:47 am:

From what I'm reading she would be there 6 days. The paperwork says that she would get a VIP tour of DC, seminars on historic and government issues, listen to speakers (they provided a long list of impressive past speakers such as Newt Gingrich and Janet Reno) among other events. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and lodging are included in the price. Basically, it's all inclusive once you get there. They even address the subject of security and it all sounds good. Unfortunately, the money is an issue. We are not in the position to just fork over $2000+ at the drop of a hat, but if this were a program that was worth it we would make the effort. There are a few scholarships, but our income would probably knock her out of the running. There is also fundraising, but I would need to email them for a list of ideas and a packet. We had not heard of it before yesterday either. I told dd yesterday that this trip would cost ten times what her week at camp cost this year. She is honored to have been selected, but she says she understands if we decide that it is too much money.

By Kate on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 09:06 am:

Well congratulations to your daughter! If I'm recalling correctly, she's about twelve, right? Frankly it sounds boring to me!! I have a twelve year old who would probably enjoy seeing a few things in DC, like the typical highlights, but seminars on historic and government issues?? Speakers like Gingrich and Reno?? She'd have zero interest and frankly so would I...and I'm a bit beyond twelve....

So I would take that into consideration as well....it's an honor, perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity for those things they have planned, but will she ENJOY it for $2000?? Will your money have been better spent taking the whole family somewhere more fun? Maybe even a trip to DC, but on your own terms?

By Happynerdmom on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 11:49 am:

I did find this:

Discussion of jrNYLC

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 11:51 am:

See, Kate, that's ultimately what my daughter decided. She thought the tours sounded great, but there were a lot of lectures she just didn't think she'd enjoy. We told her that we'd go as a family to DC and do things we'd all enjoy.

She was very understanding about the money issue.

Now that I think about it, they used another name for this for Emily's nomination. But it was exactly the same thing. Scholorships weren't an option for the trip, though fundraising was...

Student Ambassadors or something. I think sometimes they have trips overseas, but I bet those are more expensive.

By Marie on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 01:40 pm:

My Niece was nominated and she is going next month she lives in Arizona and I guess she is really looking forward to it. Congrats to you daughter I bet she would have a wonderfull time.

By Kay on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 02:46 pm:

It's very expensive - each of my three were nominated all during their high school years, but schedules and finances prohibited us from doing it. I'm sure she would have a wonderful time, if she is willing to fully commit to it. All of our kids have been to DC on personal trips, and they got a lot out of it, learning on their own.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 10:08 pm:

Ditto Kate. Still sound expensive to me. You could all take a DC trip as a FAMILY IMO for that price, and dump the Gingrich and Reno gig that would bore everyone to tears. DC tours aren't that expensive if I recall correctly...good ones maybe $100? I think that's what we paid.

Good advice from the others. Sounds like your daughter is being so mature about the possibility of it being out of your budget. I hope you make a good decision for your family and your daughter. I bet you would all have a great time together in DC for that price, although I'm not sure where you live. Good luck deciding and congratulations! Regardless of whether she goes or not, it sounds like a real honor.

By Tunnia on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 08:22 am:

Yes, Kate, dd is 12, but she is a bit different from most 12yo in that she would probably enjoy it and she is a very mature 12 in her thinking and beliefs.

I'm in agreement with you all that suggested that we take a family trip instead of sending her on this trip (hadn't even thought of that!). We could choose to see what we and the dks wanted to see rather than having that decision made for us and we ALL would get to see it rather than just one of us. After reading on here and on some other sites, including the JrNYLC site, I told dd that it wasn't likely that she would be going. While I think it's an honor for her to be chosen I don't feel that the trip is worth spending that kind of money on.

Deanna, we live in Georgia and DC is about a 14-15 hour drive away.

By Pamt on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 09:32 pm:

I think that these things are money-making schemes. I'm not saying that there is no honor involved at all. My DS has gotten several of these invitations and his friends haven't necessarily, so not all kids get them. However, I think that at the root of them is a way to make money. There is no way a trip to DC costs that much since most of the museums and attractions in DC are free!

FWIW, at DS's school the ninth graders go on a trip to DC. It's pretty expensive and we told him the same thing that others suggested. We can take the whole family for what it would cost him to go and that's what we'll do instead.