Start Your Journey

Where students can learn to lead with purpose. Join us for the Winter and Spring sessions of the American Independence Youth Leadership Conference (AIYLC) sponsored by the MOWW.

Logo of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), featuring an eagle atop a shield with a gold emblem of a woman holding a sword and scales, and text reading "MOWW" and "Military Order of the World Wars."

Our Events and Activities

  • 2026 Nat'l Civics Summit

    July 12 to July 18

    A 7-day, 6-night youth civic educational experience in Washington, D.C.

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  • 2026 Phoenician Award

    Applications due November 1

    This essay contest is open to the top three students from both of our 2026 Youth Leadership Conferences. Students will be notified.

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  • 2027 Winter Conference

    2027 Dates TBD

    This 4-day, 3-night conference is hosted by Mr. Hiram Bell and Mr. Ken McCreedy of the General Meade, MD chapter of MOWW.

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  • 2027 Spring Conference

    April 22 to April 25

    This 4-day, 3-night conference is hosted by Ms. Rachel Townsley and Mr. Alan Dooley of the Hampton Roads, VA chapter of MOWW.

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A man in a NASA jumpsuit speaking to a group of students seated at tables in a classroom with white walls and green doors.
A group of people gathered around a display case in a museum, with red walls featuring framed pictures and informational plaques, and a large statue of a Native American warrior in the background.

What is

the AIYLC?

The American Independence Youth Leadership Conference is a four-day, three-night conference operated by a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides students with the opportunity to develop their own style of leadership by studying government (past and present), patriotism, and entrepreneurship.

Interactive lectures are led by skilled instructors and community leaders and supervised by a devoted staff of carefully vetted counselors. The conference dedicates 50% of class time to leadership, 30% to the U.S. government, U.S. history, and the U.S. Constitution, and 20% to the Free-Enterprise System and the U.S. economy.

The American Independence Youth Leadership Conference is sponsored by the Military Order of World Wars® (MOWW) and its Patriotic Education Program. Visit MOWW for additional Youth Leadership Conference® dates and locations.

  • High school is the perfect time to begin this journey. Students will be encouraged to develop their own leadership style, discover their voices, and prepare to take on greater responsibility in school, careers, and life. Leadership isn’t just a natural gift, it’s a honed skill, and we believe building it now will set the foundation for future success.

  • Learn from the courage and vision of America's founding leaders to inspire your own path of service. Patriotism is more than waving a flag—it’s about understanding the values and sacrifices that built our nation and continue to sustain it. By learning what it means to serve and strengthen their communities, students gain a deeper appreciation for their role as citizens and the responsibilities that come with freedom.

  • The free-enterprise system has been a driving force of innovation and prosperity in America. At the conference, students learn the basics of entrepreneurship, economic freedom, and personal responsibility. These lessons show how creativity and hard work can turn ideas into opportunites. Students gain insights into problem-solving, risk-taking, and resourcefulness—skills that not only prepare them for careers, but also teach them how to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

  • A classroom with a group of students seated at tables, listening to a man in a jacket speaking at the front. The room has beige walls, windows with blinds, and a staircase in the background.

  • Two girls sitting on a stage facing each other, with drawing supplies and paper in front of them, in a room with large windows and flags in the background.

  • Four students working on a leadership project at a table with papers, markers, and other materials in a classroom.

  • A group of students and National Park volunteer gathered outdoors in the Yorktown Battlefield, listening attentively about the final battle of the Revolutionary War.

  • A group of six students and one adult instructor posing in front of a poster about a proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with a white brick wall background and light-colored floor.

  • A group of students, wearing matching blue shirts, walking on a dirt trail through a green forest, headed to the Jamestown settlement.

  • Three young students wearing period-correct helmets and brown protective vests posing outdoors at the Jamestown settlement. The person on the left is making a peace sign, smiling, and the other two are smiling.

  • A Jamestown settlement employee dressed as a historical figure shows military artifacts to a group of young women in a historical setting with wooden beams and brick walls.

  • Group of people inside a traditional hut made of wood and straw, with animal pelts hanging on the wall, some looking at the fire pit on the ground.

  • Group of children and adults sitting and standing on a large fallen tree in a forest, smiling and posing for a photo, some wearing blue shirts, surrounded by green trees and dappled sunlight.

  • Group of people, mostly young women, viewing historical exhibit displays with text and artifacts at a museum.

  • A large group of people, mostly young, standing under a big tree near a brick building and coastal area with the ocean in the background, posing for a photo.

  • Group of people seated on benches outdoors, listening to a person standing in front of a large brick building with circular windows, surrounded by trees.

  • An older man wearing a cap, glasses, and a vest talks to a group of students in a classroom. The students are sitting at tables, listening to him. There is a window with blinds and a flag on the right side of the image.

  • A group of students and a teacher or speaker standing together in a classroom or assembly room with light-colored walls and windows in the background.

  • A classroom or meeting room with students seated around round tables listening to a speaker at the front. The speaker is a man standing near a whiteboard, presenting to the group. The room has windows, flags, and various supplies on the tables.

  • A young boy playing an acoustic guitar outdoors near a lake, with trees and a bench in the background, during a sunny day.

  • A classroom with students seated at tables and a teacher standing, giving a lecture or instructions.

  • A courtroom scene with a judge and six young people seated on a raised platform, with an audience watching. The judge is in historical attire, with a black robe and a wig, holding a paper. The room has three large arched windows providing natural light, and a dark wooden railing separates the court from the audience. The background shows white walls and a painting above the windows.

  • A group of people holding hands in a circle, engaging in a team-building activity in a room with white brick walls and a green door.

Contact Us

Interested in lerning more about AIYLC? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!