Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership

En Español

Youth Ages 14 – 18 & Adults

November 13-15, 2026

Upham Woods, N194 County Rd N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Registration

Registration now open!

How do I register?

Identify a team of youth and adults who intend to work together after the conference.

1. Team Member Registration

Open online from May 5-October 4, 2026. Registration will be open in 4HOnline with a direct link. Each participant must register individually.

2. Submit health forms

Youth Health Forms Also available in Spanish
- UW-Madison Health Form (only required for youth participants. If registering online, this will be done online)
Return completed and signed forms to pydadminteam@extension.wisc.edu. fax to 608-265-6407; or mail to UW-Extension PYD, 3500 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705

3. Required Forms and Consents

Youth who register will be asked to consent to the following forms during registration. Some of the forms are optional. They are also located below so that you can view them ahead of time. The forms are:

Youth Assumption of Risk (Spanish version)
Youth Code of Conduct
Youth Hold Harmless, Indemnity and Release
Youth Recorded Media Release (Spanish Version)

Electronic Payment: if you are NOT paying by credit card, you can skip the payment screen by selecting “pay by check” on the payment screen.

Questions on registration? Reach out to pydadminteam@extension.wisc.edu

You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make this event more accessible. Please contact Joe Maldonado at joe.maldonado@wisc.edu Make your request as early as possible, no later than October 4th, 2026. There is no added cost to you for these services.

Adult Information

All adults register through 4HOnline. Adult volunteers who are planning on attending and staying overnight will need to enroll as Extension volunteers, which includes a criminal background check, agreeing to behavior expectations, and youth protection trainings to ensure a safe environment. As a volunteer for Extension, you are responsible for all youth at the event, not solely your organization’s youth. Adults who complete the process and are at least 21 are eligible to serve as cabin chaperones. Adults may not attend YPCL if background checks are not complete.

Volunteer enrollment will start on September 2. Instructions for enrolling as a volunteer through 4-H Online, including details about training and background checks, will be shared closer to September 2.

Questions on registration? Reach out to pydadminteam@extension.wisc.edu.

Notes on Registration:

High school students should register as youth participants even if they are already 18.
Anyone out of high school and 18 or older should register as an adult.

Payment

Registration cost is $200/person, which includes meals and lodging. Scholarships are available and can be requested when registering.

Program Description

What is YPCL?

The mission of the Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Conference (YPCL) is to advance youth voice in Wisconsin by increasing the capacity for youth and adults to share civic leadership in local communities, schools and organizations. We advocate for a youth voice and build mentoring, networking and learning opportunities.

Who should attend?

Teams of high-school-age youth (ages 14-18) and adults (21 or older) sharing decision-making roles in communities, schools and organizations (19 to 20 year olds are also welcome but should register as adults.) Groups are limited to 10 people with the preferred ratio of 5 youth to one adult (at least two adults per group of ten).

Can I lead a workshop?

Participating teams are encouraged to lead workshops and roundtables. This year’s workshops align with our theme ‘Remaining Rooted In Your Resistance’. Workshops can range in topic areas, but should incorporate the themes of policy, systems, and environment. Submit your workshop via Google form here. Submissions are due October 2nd. Priority is given to workshops that are led/co-led by youth.

Resource Tables

We are looking for organizations who are interested in providing resources (flyers, informational packets, swag) for YPCL. Your organization will need to provide a table to set up where you can provide information about your organization or mission to youth and adult attendees of the event. Per UW-Madison Policy, there may not be sales of items or any political campaigning/information included in these tables. Please submit your request for a resource table here: https://forms.gle/hMZyxJ4VhqgFNFzD8

Issue and Tactics Sessions led by Youth Groups Working in These Areas

Healthy Lifestyles – healthy eating, going green, alcohol and other drug abuse prevention
Interpersonal Relationships – social media/cyber issues, teen pregnancy, healthy dating relationships
Diversity/Multicultural Engagement – issues related to race, sexual orientation, gender, immigration status
Ending Bullying and Youth Violence – gang violence, school to prison pipeline, working for better juvenile justice
Youth and Adult Power – working together on issues in education and politics

Most of our workshops were led by teams participating in the conference and we are looking for more for 2026. Do you have a workshop to share?

This year’s workshops align with our theme ‘Together we Rise’. Workshops can range in topic areas, but should incorporate the themes of policy, systems, and environment. Submit your workshop here: https://forms.gle/wwD5nPcpuoQK8D5R6. Submissions are due October 3rd. Priority is given to workshops that are led/co-led by youth.