Civic Engagement

What is it all about?

Discover what is important to you and to other people, set goals, take action and build a stronger community. Through this project, youth become active members of the community, investigating a public issue, learning about the roles of governing officials, and carrying out a plan to solve a problem.

Grow in Your Project

Beginner

Find out about active involvement in the community
Create ground rules for your group or project area
Learn different ways you can make decisions
Understand the difference between public and private
Look at the issues that face your community

Intermediate

Explore your interests
Write out your goals and pick a project in your community you might like to help or change
Write a mission statement
Create an action plan

Advanced

Put an action plan into motion
Record and evaluate the work you are doing
Celebrate your accomplishments
Share your story
Plan for the future

Member Resources

WeConnect Curriculum
1 level (grades 6-8)

True Leaders: Culture, Power, and Justice curriculum

True Leadership Curriculum
1 level (grades 6-12)

Mentoring: Leadership in Action curriculum cover

Mentoring Curriculum
1 level (grades 6-12)

Free Downloads

State and Local Governments Activity Library (self-directed games available for grades 6-12)
Community Marks the Spot Activity Plan (All grades)
Plarn Mats Service Learning Project (All grades)
Civic Engagement Project Sheet

Project Leader Resources

Free Downloads

State and Local Governments Activity Library (grades 6-12)
Youth-Adult Partnerships: a Training Manual (grades 6-12 and adults)
Youth Empowerment Solutions Curriculum (grades 6-12)

Youth Engaged in Learning about Leadership curriculum (grades 9-12)
The Freechild Youth Engagement Workshop Guide (grades 8-12)
Participatory Facilitation Techniques Workshop Curriculum (grades 9-12)

Statewide Events and Opportunities

Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership

Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Conference (YPCL) is designed 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.

Audience: Teams of youth ages 14-18 and adults (21 or older)

Learn more about YPCL

Citizenship Washington Focus

Citizenship Washington Focus, or CWF for short, is the premier week long 4-H citizenship and leadership experience. CWF brings 4-H delegations from all over the country to stay in Washington D.C., our Nation’s Capital! Participants learn about the roles of Senators and Representatives in the United States’ government and how these parts work together to form an effective Congress. Additionally, youth get to see and experience government in action by meeting with their State’s members of Congress and watching a House of Representatives meeting.

Audience: Youth in grades 10-12 at selection

Learn more about CWF

National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Conference annually brings 4-H youth and adults from around the nation to work towards strengthening and expanding the 4-H Youth Development program at the local, state, and national levels. National 4-H Conference is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. The National 4-H Headquarters is charged with sharing the recommendations that emerge from the conference with the Secretary of Agriculture, National Extension Program Leaders, and others who determine 4-H programs. At the same time, the conference is a rich and meaningful experience for the youth and adult participants.

Audience: Youth in grades 10-12 during the program

Learn more about National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Congress

National 4-H Congress is a five-day Educational Experience held in Atlanta, GA. Congress is the premiere nation-wide event for 4-Hers to network with others from around the country, Canada, and Puerto Rico. While at Congress, 4-Hers engage in leadership, citizenship, global awareness, and inclusion. Here are just some of the activities delegates will partake in while at National Congress: educational workshops, exploring the city, State and Congress-wide meetings, international events, community service, educational tours, world-renowned speakers, and more.

Audience: Youth in grades 9-12 at time of application

Learn more about National 4-H Congress

Take Your Project Further!

Investigate the departments in your county government and find out what they do
Interview someone from your local Chamber of Commerce or Economic Development Agency to learn about the goals for your community
Get to know the other people in your club and what they like to do for fun
Interview a neighbor and identify the similarities and differences between you
Create and carry-out a plan to help someone outside your family
Discover the history of your school or community
Tour city or state’s hall, Courthouse or capitol
Apply to be a page in the State Legislature, attend National 4-H Conference or attend National 4-H Congress
Attend Citizenship Washington Focus or Leadership Washington Focus
Contact your county Extension office to participate in 4-H County Council or county committees
Volunteer for a local, county, or state political campaign for a candidate you support
Interview a county official about his/her roles and responsibilities

Applying Project Skills to Life

Enhance Your Communication Skills

Give a presentation about the history of your school or town
Make an appointment with your state legislator and share your thoughts on an issue
Read newspapers or newsmagazines on a regular basis
Research a community issue and share your ideas with appropriate board or governing body
Give a presentation on the importance of citizenship and community involvement
Prepare a demonstration or presentation on your activities and involvement with citizenship

Get Involved in Citizenship and Service

Help pick up trash at the local park
Volunteer to be a tutor or a mentor in your school Complete a community service project that includes other project areas
Adopt and maintain a local park or road in your community
Develop a citizenship project that will help meet the needs of your community
Present information about your club’s service project at a countywide event.
Plan a special “Grandparents Day” and record stories of their school days.

Learn about Leadership

Organize friends to clean-up a neighborhood park
Ask your local nursing home residents how they would like to celebrate the next holiday and involve others to carry-out the plan
Get approval and then create and conduct a survey for students on a school issue; then share the results with the administration
Serve as a Youth Delegate to either your state Democratic or Republican Party Convention

Showing What You’ve Learned

Create a poster about the best things in your community
Create a video about your community and what visitors should know about it
Create a “Welcome to our School” kit to be given to new families
Map the resources for youth and families in your community
Create a notebook explaining the Bill of Rights and examples in your everyday life
Give a presentation about the Checks and Balances of the 3 Branches of Government and how they’re important to you
Report your exploration of an issue and define how each branch of government plays a role in its creation, interpretation and carry-out

Video record your group at a service project and interview members about what they did and what it meant to them
Research candidates for the next Governor election and put a notebook together sharing their stance on different issues
Create a notebook about the things you learned on a national 4-H trip and how they impacted you
Illustrate in a visual display the process of how a bill becomes a law
Create a visual representation about the different branches of government and how they work together

Adapted with permission from Wyoming State 4-H, Project Information Sheet, Civic Engagement. Retrieved from: http://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/projects/leadership-civic-engagement/civic-engagement.html.

Images on this page courtesy of Wisconsin 4-H and National 4-H Council.

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