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29 ORGS · 207 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
approach

Experiential Civic Education

methodology: experiential_education

By engaging youth and communities in immersive, hands-on democratic practices and civic simulations, we cultivate lasting civic responsibility and leadership, because direct participation fosters deeper understanding, emotional investment, and internalization of democratic values more effectively than passive learning. This strategy centers on learning through doing—specifically, by placing individuals in real or simulated governance experiences such as student-run governments, participatory budgeting, Boys' State programs, or public forums for free speech. Unlike traditional civic instruction that relies on textbooks or lectures, this approach builds agency, identity, and commitment by making civic engagement tangible and personally meaningful. It is distinct in its emphasis on embodied practice as the engine of value formation and long-term behavioral change.

29
orgs running it
207
activities of those orgs
12
activity groups touched
who runs it

Organizations running this strategy · 29

what it looks like in practice

Activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above — what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Administer educational contests for students AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Organizes an annual Americanism Essay Contest for students, recognizes winners such as Katie Chong, and runs a Poppy Poster Contest.
  • Advocate for veterans, patriotism, and national security AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    advocacy
    Advocates for patriotism and honor through community activities, promotes strong national security, and supports continued devotion to service members and veterans; has secured hundreds of benefits for veterans.
  • Conduct ceremonial and memorial observances AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Coordinates the annual Valhalla Memorial Day Parade with a ceremony and open house, hosts an annual Veterans Day ceremony at Valhalla Monuments including a flag retirement ceremony, and participates in a flag folding ceremony at Rosary Hill Home for terminally ill patients on Independence Day.
  • Conduct fundraising and donation drives for community organizations AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Collects pull tabs from canned products and directs proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley.
  • Deliver youth leadership and civics education programs AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    capacity building
    Operates a week-long citizenship and leadership program for high school juniors focused on New York State government, sponsors ALA Empire Girls State for high school girls, and organizes the American Legion Boys State program, sponsoring six students in 2022.
  • Fund scholarships for students with military connections AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    grantmaking
    Offers a $1,000 scholarship to high school seniors in New York State who are descendants of Legionnaires or children of service members who died in the war on terrorism, awarded annually during the Department Convention.
  • Organize social and recreational events for veterans AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Organizes social events including BBQs, ward parties, and catered dinners for patients at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System in Montrose and at the Post Home in Valhalla.
  • Provide food support to veterans AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Hosts an annual food pantry drive at ShopRite Thornwood for VA Montrose, collecting nearly 10,000 pounds of food in a single event, and provides monthly financial support to the VA Food Pantry.
  • Provide veteran reintegration and recognition programs AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Runs a Welcome Home Program for veterans, conducts Poppy Drives, and provides birthday gifts to residents of the New York State Veterans Home.
  • Support military personnel and veterans through outreach initiatives AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    direct service
    Operates a Chefs Helping Vets program to support veterans and sends troop boxes to military personnel deployed overseas.
  • Support youth development through scouting and leadership structures AMERICAN LEGION ADOLPH PFISTER POST 1038
    capacity building
    Charters and supports Valhalla Troop 1 of the Boy Scouts of America and organizes a youth leadership structure with elected and appointed officers who manage operations and activities.
  • Conducting humanitarian missions to Ukraine Committee for Governor George E Pataki Leadership and Leaning Center
    direct service
    Organizes and carries out on-the-ground relief missions to Ukraine, delivering food, medical supplies, hygiene items, modular housing units, and industrial heaters. Between multiple missions, delivered over 200 tons of aid and more than 1,000 heaters with generators, providing heating for an estimated 250,000 people.
  • Funding production of public education documentaries Committee for Governor George E Pataki Leadership and Leaning Center
    grantmaking
    Finances the creation of documentary films for public education, including funding for the production of "Out of the Darkness," which explores New York's recovery and rebuilding after September 11th.
  • Hosting fellowship programs for emerging leaders Committee for Governor George E Pataki Leadership and Leaning Center
    direct service
    Organizes and hosts a fellowship series that brings global guest speakers together with college-aged students to discuss current issues and events, aimed at educating and empowering emerging leaders.
  • Running the Footballs for Freedom initiative Committee for Governor George E Pataki Leadership and Leaning Center
    direct service
    Organizes and promotes the Footballs for Freedom campaign, including a nationwide van tour to collect and deliver 500 American footballs from U.S. teams to Kyiv, Ukraine, as a symbolic gesture of solidarity.
  • Administer youth scholarship programs THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK
    grantmaking
    Awards multiple scholarships to Legion Family members and high school seniors in New York, including the Richard M. Pedro Memorial Scholarship, Albert M. Becker Memorial Scholarship, and Oratorical Contest scholarships, with awards ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.
  • Advocate for veterans' recognition and policy change THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK
    advocacy
    Engages in advocacy efforts including passing resolutions and coordinating national campaigns, notably achieving the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis on March 3, 2026.
  • Conduct member leadership training (Legion College) THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK
    capacity building
    Operates American Legion Family College to train members in leadership and organizational skills, with a 2026 session at SUNY Morrisville that enrolled 104 participants and graduated 94 Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, and Sons of the American Legion.