School-vacation weeks

Winter & Spring Break Camps

School's out — the growing doesn't have to stop. In winter, a week inside the United Nations. In spring, social innovation — ending with students deciding where a real gift goes. Full days 10–4, same as summer, built on argumentation, persuasion, public speaking, and writing.

See the weeks Get notified when dates drop

Two weeks a year

One in winter. One in spring.

Both camps run full days, 10:00am–4:00pm — the same hours as summer — at Academy 4 Social Civics Headquarters, One Beacon St (15th floor), Boston, steps from Government Center. Winter Break Camp runs Monday–Friday, February 15–19 (yes, including Presidents Day); Spring Break Camp runs Tuesday–Friday, April 20–23, because Monday is Patriots' Day and the Marathon. Registration opens soon — the interest list below hears first.

February 2027

Winter Break Camp

February 15–19, 2027 · Mon–Fri

$500 · Five full days, 10–4 — yes, we run on Presidents Day

This year's theme: The United Nations

A week inside the United Nations — how the world argues, decides, and does good together. Each day takes on one piece of the UN, and the week closes with a joint conference where every student speaks.

MonThe UN Charter — the founding, the document, and who wasn't in the room when it was written

TueThe Security Council — who decides, who can say no, and how you'd redesign it

WedUNICEF — the UN in a child's life, from conflict zones to refugee routes

ThuUNESCO — World Heritage sites: what's on the list, what's missing, and who decided

FriThe Sustainable Development Goals — 2030 is close; what comes next?

The week ends in a joint conference — a speaking-focused close where every student presents on the corner of the UN they chose.

April 2027

Spring Break Camp

April 20–23, 2027 · Tue–Fri

$400 · Four full days, 10–4 — Monday is Patriots' Day & the Marathon

This year's theme: Social innovation & entrepreneurship

Four days on doing good, well — what counts as doing good, how to plan it, how it's rewarded, and how to tell whether it worked. It all builds to students deciding where a real gift goes.

TueDefining doing good — what actually counts, and who decides

WedPlanning doing good — finding the need and the gap nobody is serving

ThuRewarding doing good — how tax law treats charity, from deductions to churches to the NFL

FriEvaluating doing good — did it work? Students present their case and make the real gift decision

The gift is real: on the last day, students decide where it goes and present why, using the criteria they built all week. Nobody "wins" — the decision is the point.

What they'll practice

Four skills. One finished project.

UN week or social-innovation week, the training is the same four muscles our whole program is built on — and every camper leaves with something real they made and presented.

ArgumentationClaim, evidence, warrant — students learn what an argument actually is, and how to build one that holds up when someone pushes back.

PersuasionEthos, pathos, logos, and how to read an audience — the difference between being right and bringing people with you.

Public speakingDaily reps in front of a friendly room: structure, presence, and real techniques for nerves — until speaking up feels natural.

WritingClear, punchy prose with a point of view — the skill behind every good speech, op-ed, and pitch they'll ever make.

Winter ends in a joint conference. The UN week is a speaking-focused week, and it closes the way the UN opens — everyone at the table: each student presents on the corner of the UN they chose, to the whole room.

Spring ends with a real gift. Students decide where a real gift goes — making, defending, and evaluating the case with the criteria they built all week. How the decision is made takes shape with the group, and nobody “wins”: the decision is the point.

Simple pricing

$100 a day. That's it.

$800for both weeks — winter ($500) and spring ($400)
(save $100)

Winter: Feb 15–19, Mon–Fri · Spring: Apr 20–23, Tue–Fri (Monday is Patriots' Day)
Full days, 10–4 — the same hours as summer — at A4SC Headquarters, One Beacon St, Boston
All materials, snacks, and personal feedback
A real capstone: winter's joint conference, spring's gift decision
The same 1:7 instructor-to-student care as summer

Join the interest list

Summer alumni save 25%

Did a summer week with us? Your 25% alumni discount applies to break-camp tuition automatically when registration opens. See the summer program →

Cost shouldn't decide this. Financial aid is available — and no student is ever turned away for cost. See aid →

Be first to hear

Registration opens soon. Be first in line.

The dates are set — Feb 15–19 and Apr 20–23 — and spots go to the interest list first. Leave your details and we'll email you the moment registration opens.

No commitment · $100 a day · $800 for both weeks · Alumni save 25%