RailCamp

2025 RailCamp Scholarship Applications are Being Accepted

NOTE: RailCamp 2020, RailCamp 2021, and RailCamp 2022 were cancelled due to COVID-19

G. Lawson Clark RailCamp Scholarship

What is RailCamp? RailCamp is a fun week long overnight camp for high-school students in railroads and rail history, preservation/restoration, and safety. RailCampers explore and experience real railroad facilities and equipment. The camp includes one day each of interpretive demonstration, roundhouse and locomotive shop operation, career orientation, wood and metal workshop restoration, and railroad operations. RailCampers get hands on activities in small groups (each RailCamp only has about twenty-four participants). It’s a full week of railroading adventure.

RailCamp is organized and sponsored by the National Railway Historical Society.

Where is RailCamp? RailCamp is held in East Newark, Delaware (RailCamp East) and Tacoma, Washington (RailCamp West). Lodging and meals are provided as part of the Program.

When/where is the slot for the RailCamp Scholarship being sponsored by Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS? 2025 Camp: (Specify in your application if you have a preference for either camp).

RailCamp East Dates Summer 2025 – Headquartered at University of Delaware in Newark, DE.
RailCamp West Dates Summer 2025 – Headquartered at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA

Additional Information about RailCamp? Visit NRHS RailCamp Web Site. A brochure is also available here.

What is included in the G. Lawson Clark Scholarship? Tuition, meals, and lodging at the camp are included in the scholarship for the student only. Transportation to and from RailCamp and all other expenses are NOT included.

The G. Lawson Clark Memorial RailCamp Scholarship was set up as an annual scholarship by the Chapter’s Board of Directors in 1998 as a tribute to a long-time member and supporter of our organization. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage young people to have an interest in railroads and their importance in America, past and present. The scholarship is awarded annually in the spring to a high-school student, usually from the Washington, D.C. area, that shows an interest and aptitude in railroads and history.

For information about the G. Lawson Clark Memorial RailCamp Scholarship, please contact:

President
Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS
1325 G ST NW STE 500
WASHINGTON DC 20005-3146

phone: 202-627-6978 or email us using our Contact Us form.

Application Requirements for DCNRHS' RailCamp Scholarship

To be eligible for/apply for the Washington D.C. Chapter, NRHS 2025 G. Lawson Clark Memorial Scholarship to the NRHS RailCamp you must:

Be enrolled as a high school student (includes those entering grades 9-12 in the Fall of 2024 and May/June 2025) 12th grade graduates).
Live in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area (within 100 miles) or be nominated by a member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS
Demonstrate an avid interest in railroads.
Comply with the Terms & Conditions listed below (by applying for the scholarship you are acknowledging and agreeing to these).
Not have previously received a scholarship to the NRHS RailCamp.
Complete and submit an NRHS RailCamp application to the NRHS in accordance with instructions on the NRHS website NRHS RailCamp Web Site.
Mail a copy of the NRHS Application form to our President (contact information listed above) along with the following:
Submit an essay and a picture of yourself in a railroad setting. Essay should be at least 100-300 words which tells about your interests and experiences in railroads, railroad history, and rail preservation, and explains why we should award you the scholarship.
Provide your name, address, phone number, and a signed letter from your parent or guardian which states specifically that 1) you will be able to attend RailCamp if awarded the scholarship and 1) you and your parent/guardian(s) accept the terms and conditions below.
Please specify which camp and dates (or camps) the applicant is available. [NOTE: DCNRHS does not pay transportation costs or make any travel arrangements]5

Terms And Conditions

Applications must be postmarked by February 1, 2025 and received by February 8. 2025. All applications for the scholarship will be evaluated by the Washington D.C. Chapter, NRHS.
One winner will be chosen. The winner will be notified in about two weeks. All decisions are solely the right and discretion of the sponsor and are final.
The Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS is the sponsor of the G. Lawson Clark RailCamp Scholarship. However, the NRHS National Organization makes the final determination as to whether or not an individual student may be admitted to RailCamp and their decision is final. National NRHS does not make this determination until after April 1.
The Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS does not discriminate against any applicant for this scholarship based on race, religious affiliation or lack thereof, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or handicapping condition. Membership in NRHS is not a prerequisite to win this scholarship.
If you are the winner of the RailCamp scholarship, you will be required to write and submit to us a report on your week at RailCamp so that we may share it with other members in the Chapter and future prospective RailCampers. The report, which we will also use on our web site and in our newsletter, should be at least 800 words and include several pictures from your trip. An example is available on this web site. The report is due by September 18, 2025. Failure to do so will result in you being required to reimburse the Chapter for the scholarship money.
If you are the winner of the RailCamp scholarship, you grant permission to the Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS to use your name and image in our publications and on our web sites as the winner of the scholarship.
The Chapter reserves the right to not award a scholarship if it determines there are no worthy applicants or candidates, camp costs when announced are excessive, or if RailCamp is cancelled. The decision of the Chapter is final.
The Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS will forward payment for your scholarship along with your name and completed application to NRHS RailCamp.
Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS is not an operator of NRHS RailCamp. By accepting the scholarship applicants hold Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS harmless from all liability and issues that could potentially arise from attending the camp.

RailCamp Scholarship Winners

RailCamp Articles

My Week At RailCamp East 2023

by Nathan McConnell I have loved trains my entire life and some of my favorite memories include times I have spent visiting and riding trains.

RailCamp 2018 Report

The Experiences of Logan Dahir By Logan Dahir Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus

RailCamp 2017

By Cadence Hinnant [Ed. Note. The following is the report on RailCamp 2017 from this year’s winner of DCNRHS’s G. Lawson Clark RailCamp scholarship. RailCamp

NRHS RailCamp East 2015 from a Camper’s Perspective

By Cody McElroy NRHS RailCamp EastJuly 5 – 11, 2015Story and photos by Cody McElroy – reprinted from The Timetable – September 2015.[Editor’s Note: Each year, DCNRHS

RailCamp 2011

By Mitchell Smithbauer Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

2010 Railcamp Report

by Adam Chilcote RailCamp 2010, the week I had been waiting for since April, when I found out I was fully sponsored by the Washington DC

2023 RailCamp Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Nathan McConnell our 2023 G. Lawson Clark RailCamp Scholarship Winner

2022 RailCamp Scholarship Winners

DCNRHS was prepared to award a scholarship in 2022 but unfortunately RAILCAMP 2022 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 National Emergency. We look forward to applicants in 2023.

2021 RailCamp Scholarship Winners

DCNRHS was prepared to award a scholarship in 2021 but unfortunately RAILCAMP 2021 was cancelled due to COVID-19 National Emergency. We look forward to applicants in 2022.

2020 RailCamp Scholarship Winners

DCNRHS was prepared to award two scholarships in 2020 but unfortunately RAILCAMP 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 National Emergency. We look forward to applicants in 2021.

2019 RailCamp Scholarship Winner

Unfortunately in 2019 we had no applicants.

2018 RailCamp Scholarship Winner

Every year the Washington D.C. Chapter of the NRHS is pleased to sponsor a worthy high school age youth to attend NRHS RailCamp. In 2018 we sponsored a camper to RailCamp East, operating out of Newark, DE, June 24 – June 30. Congratulation to our winner Logan Dahir.