This program requires an application and students must be admitted into the program before completing the registration on this site. The application will open on Wednesday, January 15 on the FLI website: Future Leaders Institute

Founded in 2014, The Future Leaders Institute (FLI) offers an overnight philosophy camp for thoughtful high-school students to discuss big ideas in a collaborative environment while making friends and enjoying summer in coastal New Hampshire. Award-winning faculty Nick Smith (UNH Philosophy) and Eden Suoth (Oyster River Social Studies and Fulbright Scholar) bring interdisciplinary and highly interactive learning approaches to immerse students in social and political philosophy and coach them to apply these powerful tools to current issues.

The theme for 2025 is Law and Justice. We will discuss debates related to whether humanity is progressing toward justice, the objectives of punishment, remorseful vs. remorseless offenders, liberty vs. equality in law, freedom of speech, race and class in criminal justice, white collar crime, and the role of artificial intelligence in surveillance and crime control. Daily sessions will include debates and original Ethics Bowl case studies, as well as evening discussions, films, and games related to daily themes.

Cost: FLI is very generously supported by the Responsible Governance and Sustainable Citizenship Project (RGSCP). Thanks to this support, FLI is FREE for all accepted participants. Students are expected to cover costs to get to and from UNH, but once here the scholarship covers housing, food, tuition, field trips, and other entertainment. A little “pocket money” is nice but not essential. We request a $200 deposit to secure a place in the program, and we will refund this deposit once the student completes the program. We ask for this deposit because space in the program is limited and highly sought-after. Students who accept the offer but withdraw at the last minute can deprive other deserving students the opportunity to attend. If providing this deposit creates a financial hardship, please email nick.smith@unh.edu.

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The 2025 dates: Sunday, July 27 to Sunday, August 3rd, 2025

Registration Closes: June 15th