Fifth- through ninth-graders learn about civics and provide a rich resource for Baylor faculty research during the annual Baylor University iEngage Summer Civics Institute. Having launched in 2013, the one-week summer day camp is hosted by Baylor School of Education through a grant from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation. iEngage was named the 2022 recipient of the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education, presented by the National Center for State Courts.
The camp’s curriculum teaches children about civic action and political participation. Campers meet local civic leaders and office-holders before developing their own action plan for civic change. During the weeklong camp, they learn about government and other civic-related topics by playing digital games on iCivics.org. The camp originated from faculty research tied to Baylor's collaboration with iCivics, the organization founded by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
“iEngage focuses on the structure of government and what it means to be an active and engaged citizen and how to work with communities and organizations,” said Dr. Karon LeCompte, associate professorand iEngage co-founder. “The iEngage program is designed to help middle school students learn how to make a difference in their schools, neighborhoods, and communities, even as young people.”
Attendance at Baylor iEngage is free through funding by Baylor and the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation. The program curriculum is furthering its impact by expanding to new locations. TCU in Fort Worth has hosted an iEngage summer institute since 2016, and Indiana University’s Columbus campus hosted its second iEngage camp in 2024.
“The iEngage Camp has proven to us that youth are interested in community issues,” LeCompte said. “They know they have a voice, and they care about making a difference.”
Since its beginning, more than 1,500 students have participated in iEngage, more than 125 Baylor future teachers have worked at the camp and more than 50 professional teachers have been leaders. Baylor Education faculty and graduate students have conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research on civics education, technology, and teacher preparation, resulting in more than 50 research publications, including some studying the effectiveness of iCivics online games for teaching civics concepts to primary and middle school students.
Like iEngate on Facebook