Abstract
In this qualitative case study, the concept of civic imagination is employed to empirically analyze its development and impact on students’ civic thinking, dispositions, and participation at a youth action civics camp. Findings reveal a categorical range that represents participant civic imaginations—the conceptual citizen, the observant citizen, and the imaginative citizen—which describe how these young people understand the civic sphere, social context, and their perception of place. Engaging in civic inquiry, incorporating students’ lived experiences, and having difficult conversations related to power and civic engagement helped participants develop more complex civic imaginations. Although two participants struggled to cultivate a complex civic imaginary, each gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of political life and was better able to envision their role in it. One participant exemplified the power and potential of a complex civic imaginary’s impact on civic learning.