2026 VSPN Freedom School Action Camp (FSAC)

Camper Application & Program Description

Link to application

Application deadline: Friday, June 12th, 2026 at 11:59pm (EST)  

LINK TO APPLY:  bit.ly/vspn-fsac-apply  

2. Program Description

2.1 Camp Overview

VSPN is excited to welcome a new cohort of young people building toward a freer world.

This program is designed to guide organizers to…

• surface material conditions & contradictions across Virginia;
• catalyze campaign development; and
• amplify youth mandates and emergent issue priorities

2.4. Campers

Those who attend can expect to…

1. Contribute to community-building spaces (such as training sessions, cohort communications, and 1:1s).
2. Engage in political reflection and synthesis,
3. Produce written and creative work for VSPN’s civic engagement publication , and
4. Take part in an evaluation of the overall project (including providing feedback that will be used to develop our next steps and data reporting).

2.5. Pods 

Our camp is designed around a “pod” system: groups of 2-4 youth organizers from the same, or aligned, organizations. Pods are designed to encourage accountability, relationship-building, and further political development.  Each pod will be required to designate at least one pod representative who can serve as a liaison/direct contact between your pod and VSPN staff team.

2.6. Reflections 

Those who join us will complete weekly reflections (written, audio, etc) that:

1. Identify key takeaways and contradictions in the study/session material
2. Connect political concepts to lived experience
3. Articulate implications for organizing

Camper reflections and session will feed directly into shaping VSPN’s overall political synthesis, our digital media (socials, email blasts, website), and other public-facing communications

3. Who you are

We are prioritizing applicants who are current students at George Mason University, University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, James Madison University, Norfolk State, and Virginia State University

AND

• are currently in active organizations or who have an interest in student power organization on their campus; and,

• Have decision-making power in their organization, group, or coalition
• Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and/or People Of Color led organizations and collectives

• Apply as a “pod” in a pair or trio with other comrades from their organization or coalition

4. Time Commitment:

Campers can expect to contribute about 30 hours over the course of the summer—including attending training sessions (60–180 minutes each), writing reflections, and participating in social gatherings.

5. How to apply

1. Please fill out our 2026 VSPN FSAC Camper Application by Friday, June 12th, 2026 at 11:59pm (EST)   to indicate your interest in working with VSPN this summer.
2. ASK QUESTIONS. Reach out to vastudentpower@gmail.com with any questions that you have during the application process

APPLICATION QUESTIONS ARE ON THE NEXT PAGE

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

Apply for our Freedom School Action Camp now ⬇️

1. Name*
2. Email*
3. Phone Number*

BEFORE CONTINUING, please read the program description for more information about our Freedom School Action Camp: bit.ly/vspn-fsac-about

Have you read the full program description?*

• YES
• NO

Part 1 - About You

We want to know more about you. Don't worry; this information will be used to help us make decisions about who is right for our cohort. It won't be shared with anyone outside of our staff team.

4. Age*
5. Gender identity*
6. Gender Pronouns (Ex: she/her, he/him, they/them, we/us/ours, etc.)*
7. Race, Ethnicity, and Heritage (select all that feel most relevant to you)*
8. Graduation Year?*
9. Where are you enrolled in school?*
10.  If you selected “Other” where are you enrolled?
11. Are you a first-generation college student?*

A first-generation college student is a student whose parent(s)  or guardian has not received a four-year college degree. See the following link to read more.

Part 2: About Your Organization

We want to know more about your organization (or group/collective) and the people you want to organize with for this training camp. This information will be used to help us make decisions about which pods are a good fit for our cohort. It won't be shared with anyone outside of our staff.

Applicants are applying as representatives of groups, organizations and coalitions.

Please note that by applying on behalf of an organization, group, or coalition, you are affirming the organization’s participation in the program.

12. Are you a member of a campus-based organization or coalition?*( If no, skip to question 18.)

• YES
• NO
• OTHER

13. Please provide the name of your organization, group, or coalition.*
14. Please provide a brief description of your organization, group, or coalition*
15. Based on the explanations of "active" and "inactive" below, what is the status of your organization/group/collective/coalition?*

• ACTIVE
• INACTIVE
  
  Active: meeting regularly (example: monthly meetings), planning and/or putting on events, planning campaigns
  
  Inactive: have not met regularly in over 6 months, no new members, not actively planning programming or events

16. Are you applying in a pair or trio?*

• YES, I am applying in a pair (2 people, including myself)
• YES, I am applying in a trio (3 people, including myself)
• NO, I am applying alone

17. List the names and emails of all other members from your organization who are applying to the Freedom School Action Camp as a pod.

• Pod Member #1 (First + Last Name) (Email)
• Pod Member  #2 (First + Last Name) (Email)

Part 3 - Camp Commitments

This information will be used to help us make decisions about who is right for our cohort. It won't be shared with anyone outside of our staff team.

18. We plan to host at least 9 remote trainings over the course of the action camp. They will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays between either 2:00pm -5:00pm EST or 3:00pm - 6:00pm EST. Which works best for you

• 2:00pm - 5:00pm EST
• 3:00pm -6:00pm EST
• Either
• None

19.  If you answered 'other,' please elaborate on any conflicting scheduling.  We understand people may not be able to attend all of the workshops, can you please list any time frames during these nine weeks you know you will be unable to attend?
20. Can you commit to regular attendance?*

• YES
• Other

21.  If you are unable to attend some of the workshops,  can you commit to meeting with your pod, staff/ volunteers to review the materials that were covered?

22. We plan to host a virtual fellowship orientation on Thursday, June 25th,  virtually. The time of the orientation is to be determined based on our cohort’s availability.

Please indicate which times on that date and time work best for you:* (Note: you can select multiple times)

23. We plan to host an in-person gathering on Saturday, June 27th (This is a tentative date. We are still working on logistics for this, and certain aspects are subject to change.)

Can you attend the in-person training?*

• YES
• NO
• OTHER (please specify)

24. VSPN remains committed to COVID-informed practices and will require high-quality masking, testing, and contact tracing for any in-person gatherings. Please indicate you've read and will either commit or reject our COVID-informed practices.

• I have read and accept adhering to these guidelines
• I have read and reject adhering to these guidelines

25. Do you have any questions/concerns regarding this in-person training?

Part 4: Questions + Answers

The following portion of the application will give us more insight into who you are and what you seek to get out of this camp. Try to explain your answers in 200 words or less when possible.

26. Thinking of VSPN’s priority issues (Education; Criminal Legal System; Bodily Autonomy, Defense & Liberation; Housing, Land & Labor; International Solidarity ) how do you connect to the work we do, or movement organizing, generally? What specific background or interest do you have in organizing? What brings you into this work? *
27. What ways do you hope this camp will help strengthen you and/or your org’s capacity to educate, agitate, or organize for meaningful changes*
28. What major goals would you like to have accomplished as an individual by the end of this action camp? As a cohort? As an org (if applicable)? How can VSPN staff + cohort members help you accomplish these goals?*
29. Are there any specific skills you’d like to learn or trainings you’d like to see throughout the summer?

Additional Questions

30. Do you have any accessibility needs we should be aware of?*
31. How did you find out about this opportunity?*
32. Anything else we should know about you?
33. Anything else you need to share with us? (files)

Submission Page

If you feel like the previous questions weren’t enough, submit something else that helps to get to know you! Art, writing, a film, your mixtape, etc. email to vastudentpower@gmail.com.