Plenty of kids dream about being President of the United States when they grow up.
But at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, the foundation is laid for that goal to become a reality for a select group of young people.
The Future Presidents of America camp, held at the presidential site for a week each summer, brings young people from throughout Indiana together to focus on leadership. With a mission of developing individual confidence, civic literacy and good citizenship, the innovative program aims to reveal the exceptional qualities of character that make for great presidents and leaders.
Limited to students ages 13 to 16, the camp focuses on the qualities that make for great presidents — whether that was in the past, for leaders today and what it might be like in the future.
“It was eye-opening. There were a ton of diverse ideas. It wasn’t just politicians or strictly business leaders. It was a good mix of leaders from all kinds of fields,” said Logan McCleese, a southside resident who attended the camp in 2021. “Hearing their different perspectives on leadership on the local level, the federal level, how you can make a difference individually, that was eye-opening.”
Maggie Sears was inspired to take part in the camp to further her education in history and government. Those were her favorite classes while at Perry Meridian High School, and the program seemed like fun.
Administrators at Perry Meridian thought that she’d enjoy the program and recommended she apply to it. The only problem was she had to send in her application in one day.
“Within about 24 hours, I just agreed to do it,” she said.
The experience, during the summer of 2017, was life-changing.
“All of a sudden, very influential people in Indianapolis were in and out of the (Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site) talking to us,” she said.“I remember being star-struck the entire time.”
Since her time at the Future Presidents of America camp, Sears has graduated from Perry Meridian and is now in her senior year at Indiana University. Of course, she is studying political science and history, with her sights set on a graduate degree in those areas.
“I didn’t need help realizing that I was interested in that content. What I needed help with was realizing there were real adult people out there who find value in that too,” she said.
The Future Presidents of America camp came to life in 2015, as leaders at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site realized that programs were missing a certain subset of young people in leadership training.
“We found that we educate the (kindergarten through fifth grade) audience, and there are a lot of opportunity to learn civics for young professionals. But that late middle school, early high school age seemed to be missing,” said Roger Hardig, a Greenwood native and vice president of education for the presidential site.
For five days in the summer, students from all over the region come to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site for a whirlwind course in leadership.
Each day features guest speakers to talk about their development as leaders. Past speakers have included Congressman André Carson, former Sen. Joe Donnelly and Janet Holcomb, First Lady of Indiana.
But beyond politicians, people such as former Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings and Jim Morris, vice president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, have given perspective on leading people.
“They come in and tell their stories of how they got to where they are,” Hardig said. “What’s fascinating is that, none of these people ever walk in and said, ‘This is how I dreamed it, and it came to fruition.’”
Other aspects of the camp deal with networking, as well as the science of public speaking. Organizers build a theme around each day, such as one of the week’s favorites — “Poise and Policy.”
They have participants go through an etiquette lunch, to experience what an official plated meal is like.
“If you get into a leadership position, and you have to host a dinner or a formal meal, knowing how not to embarrass yourself and feeling like you’re assimilated into where you’re supposed to be is important,” Hardig said. “It’s applicable civics.”
Since being founded in Indianapolis, two other presidential sites have taken the model and used it in their own areas: the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, and Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee.
More than 200 participants have gone through the Indianapolis program, many having gone on to prestigious universities and made major contributions in their communities.
“What is really great about this camp is, you do not have to be interested in history, interested in social studies, but I think you have to be interested and curious about yourself and leadership,” Hardig said.
McCleese, a southside native and graduate of Perry Meridian, is now in his first year at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
His interest had always been in politics and civics — which made him an outlier among classmates.
“I’d always be a social pariah because I was glued to the news rather than Spongebob,” he said. “Sitting in history class, instead of paying attention, I was scrolling through NPR.”
McCleese’s goal had always been to go to West Point, and one major requirement for applying is a recommendation from a member of Congress. At that point, he had no connections to anyone in politics. He thought the Future Presidents of America program could be a way to make some inroads.
The summer camp proved to be a great networking tool.
“I got to meet my representative, Congressman André Carson at the time, which paid dividends forward and I got nominated by him, and now I’m here,” he said.
To anyone thinking about enrolling in the camp, McCleese would recommend it.
“Even if they don’t see some kind of political career, just because of the connections you make both with individuals at the site, as well as leaders within your own community with the insight they give,” he said. “It’s very diverse — how can you be a person of character and have an impact on your community.”
AT A GLANCE
Future Presidents of America
What: A youth leadership camp with a mission of developing individual confidence, civic literacy, and good citizenship, revealing the exceptional qualities that make great presidents and leaders.
When: June 26-30
Who: Young leaders age 13 to 16
Cost: All selected recipients receive a full scholarship.
How to apply: bhpsite.org/future-presidents-of-america
Questions: Contact Roger Hardig, VP of Education, at [email protected] or (317) 631-1888, or contact Jennifer Hodge, Gracia Johnson Floyd Presidential Fellow, at [email protected] or (317) 631-1888.
