Held in Philadelphia from July 19-25, 2026, the Young People’s Continental Congress brought together students and teachers from across the country in a study of America’s founding era and democratic ideals.
National History Day® (NHD) i Hala Stolarska are proud to celebrate the 27 student-teacher teams who participated in the third Young People’s Continental Congress (YPCC), held in Philadelphia from July 19 to 25. Carpenters’ Hall, the home of the nation’s First Continental Congress in 1774, engaged National History Day as its lead educational partner to produce a one-of-a-kind program for students and teachers from across the United States and its territories.
Aby uczcić 250.t anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 27 teams, each consisting of one high school student and one teacher, traveled to Philadelphia to participate in the third YPCC. This year’s YPCC delegates represent diverse communities across the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Department of Defense (DoDEA) schools in the Netherlands and Puerto Rico.
In preparation for the summer institute, student-teacher teams completed online learning modules throughout spring 2026 on the Continental Congress and how our founding ideals evolved throughout U.S. history. Once in Philadelphia, teams experienced a week of special programming, including field learning opportunities at Carpenters’ Hall, Independence National Historical Park, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. During sessions with lead historians and museum professionals, students and teachers participated in discussions about how the ideals of the founding era have continued to be debated and refined over the last 250 years.
Delegates then co-created and signed a joint declaration of their aspirations for American democracy, just as their historical counterparts issued the Declaration of Colonial Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
“Inspired by the ideals of 1776, we, the delegates of the 2026 Young People’s Continental Congress, pledge to advance liberty, equality, opportunity, and democratic participation, strengthening the bonds between generations and working to build a more just, prosperous, and hopeful future for all Americans.”
Declaration of Aspirations, the 2026 Young People’s Continental Congress
