Summer Springboard
Middle School Future Changemakers
ON THE CAMPUS OF GEORGETOWN
FROM PROBLEM TO POLICY: DESIGNING A NEW UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL
THIS IS A ONE-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Middle School Future Changemakers
- Explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and examine their global impact through interactive discussions and activities.
- Participate in simulations, debates, and role-playing exercises to negotiate international solutions and respond to global crises.
- Build key skills in research, negotiation, public speaking, and critical thinking while exploring career paths in diplomacy, international relations, policy, environmental science, and nonprofit leadership.
- Collaborate in teams to develop community action plans, applying research and problem-solving skills to local and global issues.
- Engage with sustainability experts and visit local organizations in Washington, D.C., gaining firsthand insight into ongoing initiatives and careers in social impact.
- Design and present a new SDG proposal as a culminating project at the Global Summit, addressing real-world sustainability challenges.
Summer Springboard
Middle School Future Changemakers
About This Course
As future changemakers, students will jump into the world of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through hands-on activities and real-world challenges. They’ll explore the 17 existing goals, uncover how the United Nations tackles global issues, and investigate why these goals matter both globally and within their own communities. Through simulations, role-playing, group challenges, and creative problem-solving, students will work together to design Goal 18—a brand-new SDG for the future. By testing ideas, debating solutions, and presenting their work, students build confidence, collaboration, and critical thinking skills while stepping into the role of young leaders shaping a better world.
The experience culminates in a Global Summit, where students present their proposals and reflect on their roles as young changemakers. Along the way, they engage with sustainability experts, visit local organizations in Washington, D.C., and explore career paths in diplomacy, international relations, environmental science, policy, and nonprofit leadership. The program emphasizes practical problem-solving and empowers students with the tools to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students participate in simulations of UN negotiations, crisis role-plays, and debates. They design solutions to global problems, build community action plans, and develop a final SDG proposal to present at the Global Summit. Activities emphasize teamwork, research, and practical problem-solving skills.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
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Campus Page
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“The experience was very fun. The classes were well prepared and organized. The excursions planned were cool as well. Overall, the experience of this camp was amazing!”
– Alexis W. | SSB Middle School Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Middle School Future Changemakers
Meet Your Instructor
Amy Trenkle is a professor of education at American University and a middle school Social Studies teacher with DC Public Schools, where she has been teaching since 1999. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Social Studies/History and a National Geographic Certified Teacher. Amy holds a Master’s degree in International Education from George Washington University and a Master’s degree in American History from Pace University.
Amy believes strongly in experiential learning and place-based education. She often incorporates museums, historical sites, and real-world experiences into her teaching to help students make meaningful connections between history, global issues, and their own lives. She has served on several teacher advisory boards for local and national museums and educational organizations. In December 2018, Amy traveled to Antarctica as a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. With the National Geographic Society, an experience she believes deepened her commitment to global education and environmental awareness.
AMY TRENKLE
Summer Springboard
Middle School Future Changemakers
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 10, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 12 – July 17, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $2,898 |
| Commuter Tuition: $1,498 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Washington D.C. |
| State: Washington D.C. |
| Campus: Georgetown |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, UW Foster and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.