Philly’s grassroots unconference* hosted by the Ethical Society. You don’t need to be an expert, just come ready to collaborate and put your values into action.
*Unlike a traditional conference, CityCamp Philly invites anyone with an idea for social or environmental impact in Philly to pitch a session and help set the agenda.
- Sunday, November 15, 2026 · 9am–4pm*BYOB Mixer from 4–6pm
- Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 South Rittenhouse Square
Join neighbors, public servants, educators, environmentalists, tech enthusiasts, and anyone else who cares about the future of our city for an event where the people who show up decide what gets talked about.
Sessions people might pitch
Nothing is planned in advance. Pitches don’t need to be fully formed, but they should be creative, inviting, and ultimately fun! These are the kinds of ideas that end up on the agenda.
- Ants and Parks: Educating Philly about Public Park Ecosystems
- How Can OpenDataPhilly Help SEPTA?
- Building a Multiracial, Intergenerational Community Arts Space: Challenges and Tools
- Weird Philly Pop Up Micro-Museum Ideas: A Brainstorm!
About CityCamp Philly
CityCamp Philly is a participant-led unconference centered on one question: How can we make daily life better for Philadelphians?
Unlike a traditional conference, there will be no fixed sessions planned in advance. Instead, the people who attend will shape the conversations and activities throughout the day. Sessions can focus on many different ideas, needs, or challenges. They might explore art, healthcare, democracy, public spaces, emergency planning, or something else. The key is that each session should focus on improving daily life for people in Philadelphia.
CityCamp Philly focuses on dialogue and collaboration. No demos or memos. No product pitches or corporate agendas. You, the participant, set the agenda and all participants play active roles in respectful conversations, workshops, and discussions.
The day will look like this
- Welcome and instructionsStart the day with some grounding conversation about CityCamp and how the rest of the day will operate (with snacks and coffee).
- Pitch ideasPeople suggest an idea, question, or challenge they want to work on.
- Build the scheduleThe group discusses and votes on the pitched ideas to create the day’s agenda.
- Choose a sessionTwo hour-long blocks of several sessions happening simultaneously (with breaks).
- Lunch on us!A nutritious lunch will be provided for all attendees.
- Final session blockVote with your feet and join the last session of the day.
- Wrap up and next stepsClosing thoughts, reflections and suggestions on how to keep the CityCamp momentum going!
- Optional: BYOB mixerBring your beverage of choice to the Ethical Society and we’ll keep them cold all day before celebrating together!
You do not need to be an expert or have a finished idea. You just need to be ready to listen, share, and work with others.
CityCamp and the Philadelphia Ethical Society
Ethics are not merely table manners, they are the conditions that allow us to connect, innovate, collaborate and thrive.
CityCamp Philly is a program of the Philadelphia Ethical Society. As a 140-year-old hub for critical thinking, solidarity and arts in the city, CityCamp is well aligned with the ethos of our mission and its two core principles: “deed before creed” and “act so as to bring out the best in others, thereby bringing out the best in yourself.” CityCamp Philly is a full day to celebrate the diversity of voices in Philadelphia, dive deeper into these ideas, and build relationships with the people who are trying to build a more ethical city.
Questions
What is included in my ticket?
All tickets cost $25 and include access to a full day of conference sessions, lunch, snacks, and coffee. Space is limited. Please register if you are interested.
How should I design and pitch a session?
Designing your session for CityCamp should be fun and draw from your curiosity, creativity, and passion. Each session will be an hour long and should be conversational and interactive as you engage with the people in your room. Remember that you don’t need to be an expert in the topic, but you should be clear about what you want to talk about and how it helps our city. Bring props, come up with an activity, don’t be afraid to get a little weird and fun. That’s often how the most innovative ideas come to life!
For more detailed guidance on how to design your session, please read this article from our friends at CityCamp NYC. We will also be hosting a “How to pitch a session” Zoom call on November 5th where you can ask more questions.
Can I use tech during my session?
CityCamp Philly is not able to offer any AV/tech resources for your session. That means you won’t be able to project a presentation or show a video other than through technology you bring yourself. We do provide each presenter with large poster sheets, markers, and sticky notes to use in their sessions. For further questions, please email citycamp@phillyethics.org.
Accessibility and accommodations
We want CityCamp to be usable by everyone who wants to take part. Service animals are always welcome. The conference is delivered in English and uses technical terms.
If you have any accessibility question or request, please email us at citycamp@phillyethics.org by November 1, 2026. Requests after that date are welcome, and we will do what we can, but we cannot promise to fill them.
Code of Conduct
CityCamp is committed to hosting safe and open spaces for all. By participating in this space, you are committing yourself to our Code of Conduct.
Health policy
If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. We strive to create a safe environment for everyone. (Please see our refund policy for questions.)
Refund policy
Contact us to request a refund. We will try to honor all of your refund requests at citycamp@phillyethics.org. Please send refund requests by November 1, 2026. Please note that some ticketing fees are nonrefundable. You can read the refund and transfer terms in full.
I’ve registered, what’s next?
Thank you for securing your spot at CityCamp Philly! You should have received a confirmation email with more details about the day. While you wait, please start to think about any sessions you’d like to pitch and the CityCamp team will provide more guidance soon.
Our full terms and conditions, privacy policy, and data protection details are published with our registration page.
Come help set the agenda
Registration is open. Bring a question, a challenge, or just your curiosity about the city.
Please reach out to citycamp@phillyethics.org with any questions.