National Debt Workshop

Join us for a hands-on, interactive exercise that puts you in Congress’s shoes for two hours as we tackle the federal budget.

Working in small groups, you’ll debate spending cuts, tax changes, and national priorities. You will grapple with the same tough choices lawmakers face and see just how challenging it is to balance competing demands. Along the way, you may also discover surprising areas of agreement across political divides.

The event will be held at Camp Sacajawea in Lebanon Hills Regional Park, a unique four-season retreat center surrounded by natural beauty. With its lodge and gathering spaces, the venue creates an ideal atmosphere for thoughtful discussion, reflection, and connection, making the workshop experience even more impactful.

This program uses the Principles & Priorities budget exercise from the nonpartisan Concord Coalition, trusted nationwide to spark constructive conversations. Participants explore trade-offs, weigh their personal principles against real fiscal realities, and learn how citizens with different viewpoints can still find common ground.

Whether you lean red, blue, or somewhere in between, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the federal budget, your own priorities, and a deeper appreciation for the power of working together.