Camp MoveOn:
Local & Regional In-Person Trainings
Movements are built by engaging many, many people in meaningful targeted action. But that can only happen if there is a very clear structure that keeps people coordinated and moving in the same direction. One standard building block of campaign structure is the leadership team—our MoveOn Councils. Camp MoveOn is an in-person training designed to build and strengthen these local organizing teams.
In the summer of 2009, we trained over 500 MoveOn members at three regional Camp MoveOns—participants went on to lead our health care campaign in the fall and winter of 2009. The goal of Camp MoveOn is to build strong MoveOn Council leaders who are committed to organizing MoveOn members in their communities for progressive change.
Upcoming Trainings
Post a local training
- To post a local training on your council page: click here.
Local trainings already being planned
- To find out about local trainings already being planned, check your council page: moveon.org/team
- If there are no in-person trainings coming up, talk with your Regional Coordinator or Field Organizer about how to plan one, and until then, get trained from home! Check out MoveOn videos and written training guides here.
Current Regional in-person trainings
- Asheville, NC: September 25
- Portland, OR: September 25-26
- If there are no in-person trainings coming up, talk with your Regional Coordinator or Field Organizer about how to plan one, and until then, get trained from home! Check out MoveOn videos and written training guides here.
For Participants
Why Attend a Camp MoveOn?
Over the last year, MoveOn members organized powerful local campaigns for healthcare reform—mobilizing over 225,000 people. How did we do it? A big part of our success came from Camp MoveOn, a series of grassroots organizing trainings that debuted in summer 2009.
But, if we've learned anything since President Obama took office, it's that the fundamental changes we all want for America will be impossible until we end the stranglehold that big corporations and lobbyists have on our democracy. So, we need to build an even more powerful movement to kick corporate lobbyists out of DC, hold our elected officials accountable, and fix our democracy to make Washington work for the 98% of us who don't have corporate lobbyists.
Logistics
Details differ depending on which Camp MoveOn you attend, but most trainings are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Meals are provided throughout the training.
Other resources available to help you attend a Camp MoveOn include:
- Homestays: To defray costs, we can arrange for you to stay with a local MoveOn member while you attend the training.
- Travel Scholarships: Funds are available to help attendees who could not otherwise attend get to and from the training.
Who should participate?
Camp MoveOn Curriculum
Camp MoveOn attendees focus on developing a wide range of organizing skills by participating in sessions that include presentations, group discussions and practice. Some of the organizing skills emphasized at Camp MoveOn include:
- Recruitment
- Public Narrative
- Media Outreach
- Strategic Planning
- Meeting Facilitation
Attendees also learn more about the resources and structure of the MoveOn Council Network and have the opportunity to give feedback on the trainings and organizing model. Most importantly, every Camp MoveOn participant helps to determine the local organizing strategy for our national campaign.
Questions?
For Organizers
2-Day Regional Camp MoveOn Program Materials
- Basic Orientation Call for all participants in a Regional Camp MoveOn (Word document)
- Day before Camp MoveOn: Day-Long Train-the-Trainers (Word document)
- Full Camp MoveOn Regional Training Participant Guide (PDF, Word)
- Sample Ground Rules (Word document)
- Evaluation forms to be amended for specific training needs (Word document)
Camp MoveOn Day 1: Intros, Story & One-to-Ones (agenda and materials)
- 1Hr: Registration and Breakfast
- 45min : Welcome and Goals of the Weekend Trainers Agenda (Word document)
- 45min : Organizing with MoveOn Trainers Agenda (Word document)
- 15min: Break
- 1 Hr 45min: Intro to Public Narrative & Story of self:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- Power Point
- 1Hr: Lunch
- 1 hr 35min: One-to-Ones (Click Here for other resources on this topic)
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- 15min : Break
- 1hr 50min: Story of Us:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- Power Point
- 30min : Close and Evaluation
Camp MoveOn Day 2: Story of Now, Strategy & Council Building (agenda and materials)
- 1Hr: Breakfast
- 30min: Intro & Review
- 1 hr 45min: Story of Now:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- Power Point
- 30min : Break
- 1hr 30min: Strategic planning:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Reference links: Community Power Mapping Guide, Current Campaign Page
- 1hr: Lunch
- 1hr: Action Skills Trainings:
- Delegation & Accountability:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- Facilitation: (Click here for all resources on this topic)
- Trainers Agenda (Word version here)
- Handout 1: Principles (Word)
- Handout 2: Techniques (Word)
- Handout 3: Challenges (Word)
- Media:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Worksheet (Word)
- Tech (Ask your Field Organizer.)
- Delegation & Accountability:
- 1 hrs 45min: Council Building Planning:
- Trainers Agenda (Word)
- Participant Guide (Word)
- 45min : Council Commitments, Closing Ceremony & Evaluation




