2026 13th Annual
NATIONAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE
Event Dates
June 21st – June 23rd
Location
Omni Shoreham Hotel – Washington, DC
What is NAC?
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Advocate, drive positive change, and help expand STEM access across the country at the 2026 National Advocacy Conference. The 13th annual conference is building on its 2025 success at in its new home, the Omni Shoreham.
To change our culture to value STEM, we must get our policy makers in our nation’s capital engaged, first by knowing about, and then by supporting, robotics and STEM education. If we aren’t there telling them about our experiences, who is? And who could explain the value and impact of STEM better than the students involved?
SASA’s expert staff members will teach you how to advocate while focusing on how to build and leverage relationships with elected officials to advance both STEM programs and your team/school’s goals. You will start with a hands-on and practical introduction on the skills you’ll need to be an effective advocate for STEM at all levels of government. We will train you on advocacy best practices and give you time to prepare and organize your talking points so you are ready for your meetings with your Representatives and Senators! This conference will be valuable for those who have attended NAC in the past, as well as new advocates just starting to think about affecting local, state, and federal policy. If this is your first time meeting with your Senators or Representatives, we will focus on relationship building. If you’ve already formed a meaningful relationship, we will introduce you to other techniques to continue advocating for robotics and STEM initiatives.
This conference is for students, mentors, and parents on U.S. robotics teams or other STEM related activities. Students can attend on their own with a parent or chaperone, as an entire team, or with another team. You do not need to be a SASA member or participant in a partner program to attend. All non-member registrations include a SASA membership expiring 1 year after NAC registration.
Students will gain a tremendous amount of self-confidence and public speaking abilities as they learn, prepare, and lead meetings with Senators, Representatives, and their staff. Hear what past attendees had to say about the event here.
We look forward to seeing you had NAC 2026! For more information on how to register please review out “How to register” video here. Review this webpage for all event details and contact us at [email protected] for any questions you may have.
Conference Registration Rates
Rates are per participant and are due in full upon confirmation. Become a SASA member today to be eligible for discounted rates.
CLICK HERE to become a SASA Member and get discounted rates!
| Price Tier | Member | Non-Member* | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAC 2025 Attendee Rate | $315 | N/A | Available to NAC 2025 attendees until 8/31/2025 |
| Early Bird Rate | $335 | $370 | Available until 12/31/2025 |
| Regular Rate | $355 | $390 | Available 01/01/2026-03/31/2026 |
| Last Call Rate | $385 | $420 | Available 04/01/2026-05/16/2026 |
| Late Rate | $450 | $450 | Available After 05/16/2026 |
*Non-Member rate includes one year of membership*
Early Registrations Incentives
Members registered prior to 1/01/2026 will receive:
Signed Game Piece • SASA T-Shirt • Invitation to an exclusive reception
What is included in my NAC registration?
- Digital briefing booklet of relevant materials
- Breakfast and lunch on Monday
- Refreshments at reception on Tuesday
- Guide, contact information, and instructions to schedule your meetings with Congressional offices
- A day and half of training on advocacy fundamentals
Registration & Room Block Reservations
Group leaders wishing to hold a courtesy block of registrations and rooms for up to 15 days without deposit, please BOOK ONLINE by going to mysasa.org or call SASA at 248-419-1189. All holds will expire no later than 05/16/26. This event has limited capacity and space is on a first come, first served basis. Fully paid registrations will receive priority confirmation. Additional terms and confitions apply. Registrations are fully refundable until May 16th, 2026.
Group Registrations
If you are registering as a team, we suggest bringing up to 12 for the optimal group size for your Congressional meetings. You can certainly have more people attend, but you may not want to have the entire group over 12 in each Congressional meeting. You can also register an an individual if your team does not want to come, or you may be able to tag along with a nearby team. PLEASE COMPLETE ONE REGISTRATION PER GROUP ONLINE. For groups larger than 10 please contact the SASA staff at [email protected]
Refund Policy
Registrations are fully refundable until May 16th, 2026. Names of participants can be switched anytime until the event. Hotel rooms are fully refundable until May 16th, 2026. SASA must be notified of your intent to cancel at [email protected]
Member Pricing: To access member pricing please login to you SASA Member portal on JoinIt. If you have not set up your account, you'll need to do that before the link can be accessed. Reach out if you have any issues.
Access to NAC 2025 Attendee discount rate can be found in the post NAC 2025 email. If you cannot locate the email please contact us at [email protected]
EXPERIENCE
Saturday
- Event Check In
Sunday
- Event Check In
- First Timers Session(optional)
- Lunch on Your Own
- Main Session Day 1- Government Overview - Authorizing Legislation - Appropriations 101
- Photo at Capitol
- Dinner on your own
Monday
- Breakfast
- Main Session Day 2- Legislative Briefs - What is going on in DC?
- Lunch
- Main Session Day 2- Effective Meetings - Capitol Logistics - Panel Discussion Q&A - State Breakout Practice Session
- Rain Date Photo at Capitol
Tuesday
- Hill Meetings- Based on Your Team/State Schedule
- Congressional Reception- Conference Adjournment
*This is a sample agenda and is subject to change
PREPARATION AND MATERIALS
What Should I Bring?
Each student or mentor should have:
- Business cards (at least 10 each)
- Informational one-page handout on your Team / School District (at least 10)
- See past examples [here]
- Umbrella/raincoat in case of rain
- Swimsuit
- Comfortable shoes and casual clothes for sightseeing in the evenings
- Dress Clothes as outlined below
- SmarTrip Metro Cards (We suggest purchasing in advance at www.wmata.com)
What Should I Wear?
Sunday and Monday: Team uniforms and comfortable shoes
Tuesday: Formal dress / business professional attire (suit and tie, pants suit, other business professional equivalent) for Capitol Hill Meetings. Pro tip: Wear two pairs of socks with dress shoes to avoid blisters from all the walking!
Meeting Scheduling
Meeting scheduling begins in May. The first step is confirming NAC attendees’ home district Representatives. In late May, attendees will receive an email connecting them with other attendees from their state to coordinate Senate meetings and any meetings involving Representatives where attendees have overlap. As a group, each state will determine who will be responsible for sending meeting requests. SASA staff will facilitate when needed. All attendees will be provided with template emails, office contact information, and a timeline of when initial requests and follow up should be sent. For states with over 20 attendees, SASA will lead communications with the Senate offices to ensure a meeting space large enough to support the group can be found.
TRAVEL and VENUE
Travel Planning
DC Airports: You can fly into any of the three DC area airports: Reagan (DCA), Dulles (IAD), or Baltimore (BWI). Reagan is the closest. Dulles or Baltimore may offer cheaper flights, but you may need a Shuttle Service to get from the airport to the host hotel. You should plan to arrive at the hotel by 8am on Sunday, June 21, 2026, if this is the first time you are attending the conference. Otherwise, plan to arrive by 12pm. You can make arrangements to fly out anytime on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, or later if you plan to stay in DC after the conference.
Destination Transportation: Reagan is the closest airport, just a quick cab, rideshare, or shuttle ride to/from the hotel. You also have the option to take the Metro from either DCA or IAD. The closest metro stop is the Woodley Park stop, which is about a 5-minute walk from the hotel. To view the DC Metro routes and schedules, visit https://www.wmata.com
Venue (Host Hotel)
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC 20008
$318.00 per room night (includes 15.95% taxes and fees)
Room Type: 2 Queen Beds (sleeps 4)
Amenities Include:
- Coffee shop on site
- In-room dining
- Full-service restaurant
- In-room refrigerator and coffee maker
- Outdoor, resort-style pool
- Complimentary fitness center
- WiFi Internet service
Check In: 3:00 pm / Check Out: 12:00 pm / Check In Age: 18
FAQ
What does the conference registration fee cover?
Conference Registration covers the one and a half days of training, breakfast and lunch on Monday, and the Congressional reception on Tuesday evening. The registration fee does not include the hotel cost, although we do have a discounted rate at the Omni Shoreham where the conference is held.
What is the Hotel Room Cost?
$318 per room night (includes 15.95% in taxes and fees)
Do I have to stay at the Omni Shoreham?
Although it is not a requirement to stay at the Omni Shoreham, we do recommend it because of the convenience of the proximity to our training rooms. Participants also get a special reduced rate.
Who schedules meetings with Senators and Representatives?
We provide step-by-step guidance to participants to schedule their meetings. If there are multiple participants from the same state or attendees have the same Representative, one participant will take the lead to schedule the meeting. We will help you and guide you every step of the way and will provide any assistance you may need. We want to make sure all participants have a great NAC experience.
Does my whole team have to attend?
Your team is welcome to attend but we recommend 12 people for the optimal group size for your Congressional meetings. We have had groups bring 20 students and some students come on their own, all are welcome.
Can I attend as an individual?
Yes, you are welcome to attend the conference on your own or with a parent. We will pair you with an experienced participant if you prefer.
Does the price include the hotel room?
No, the NAC registration price does not include the price of the hotel room.
Is this price per person?
Yes, the registration fee is per person.
Can parents and mentors attend?
Yes, anyone is welcome to register for NAC. Parents who do not wish to participate in the training but, would like the food provided by the event including breakfast and lunch on Monday and the reception on Tuesday can purchase a separate meal ticket while registering.
Do parents and mentors have to pay?
Yes, to participate in the NAC training and consume the meals we provide to attendees parents and mentors need to register. Parents who do not wish to participate in the training but, would like the food provided by the event including breakfast and lunch on Monday and the reception on Tuesday can purchase a separate meal ticket while registering.
Can my VEX V5 Middle School or VEX IQ student attend?
Yes VEX V5 Middle School or VEX IQ students can attend. NAC’s content is geared towards high school aged students we leave the decision
Can my FLL or FTC student attend?
Yes FLL or FTC students can attend. NAC’s content is geared towards high school aged students we leave the decision on if NAC is right for your student up to parents and mentors.
Is there any financial aid to attend?
No, there is no financial aid available to attend NAC.