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4-H Capitol Experience 4-H Capitol Experience is an annual 4-day conference that focuses on civic engagement and public policy. More than 100 teens from around the state converge on Lansing, Michigan, to experience state government in action! Since 1982, Michigan teens have had the opportunity to learn how they can get involved with influencing policy issues. After choosing a current issue, participants interact with legislators, state agency staff, lobbyists and other resource people to learn how policy is made. Through educational experiences, teens will:
Teens who attend 4-H Capitol Experience have the opportunity for an in-depth meeting with someone who works either in or is involved with state government. In addition, simulations and activities are incorporated to reinforce and apply what is learned about government. At the end of the conference, the teens leave with the charge to share what they have learned with others and get involved with other leadership and civic engagement activities in their communities! About the 2009 Conference
The conference begins with registration on Sunday, March 22, 2009, from 3 to 4 p.m. and ends on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. Tours and agency visits will take place at the State Capitol and surrounding area. Who Should Attend: High school students at least 14 years old and adult participant-chaperons who are interested in gaining skills and knowledge to develop their leadership, citizenship and community service skills and apply what is learned in their communities. All participants must have pictured identification. Cost: Registration cost includes all meals, lodging and material fees. Counties will be billed after the event. Cost: $275 4-H members, $285 non4-H members Registration Deadlines: Cancellation Policy: Once selected by the State 4-H Office to attend, the cancellation policy is as follows:
Application Process: Participants who have attended in previous years will be considered based on space available. Space is limited to 100 teen and adult chaperon-participants. Pre-Conference Activities: Participants are asked to complete a pre-conference activity to learn about citizenship at the local level. Examples of pre-conference activities include attending a local government meeting, interviewing the director or staff member of a non-profit organization or researching a local issue. All selected participants are asked to write a letter to their representative and senator indicating their interest in meeting them at the conference. Post-Conference Activities, News Releases & Photographs: At the end of the conference, participants are charged with returning to their county 4-H program to get involved with local public policy issues. Types of activities include giving an educational presentation on the conference to 4-H clubs, researching a local issue and presenting it to the county commissioners, city councils or township boards or participating in a service project. After the conference, please work with your county delegation to carry out a local project.
A Web link to post-event news release and county delegation photograph of participants and their legislator(s) will be e-mailed to counties for distribution to local media immediately following the event. View general photos from the 2008 4-H Capitol Experience event. Application Process Each teen or adult participant-chaperon attending will need to complete an application. Contact your county Michigan State University Extension office for more details.
Registering Youth aged 18, 19 or 20: In keeping with the new Michigan 4-H Youth-Adult Policy for 4-H Overnight Events, any youth aged 18, 19 or 20 at the time of the event who is a registered 4-H member and who attends an event as a participant must not be housed with or share bathrooms with younger, unrelated youth unless he or she has completed a background check including one reference check and a criminal history check. The background check should be completed no more than once a year, unless circumstances warrant more frequent checks. When county staff are registering a 4-H member 18, 19 or 20 years old on the MSU Extension 4-H Workshop Registration System, they will be asked If a background check has been completed for youth in this age bracket. The state 4-H office will accept and process registrations only if a background check is completed. Staff Information For help in recruiting and managing this program, 4-H staff can obtain background and promotional material, registration information and deadlines for the online application on the 4-H Capitol Experience Information for 4-H Staff Web page.
You can visit a variety of Michigan government and institutional sites on the World Wide Web to learn more about Michigan, the state's history and society. A few such sites are listed below:
Learning Materials More information on learning materials available to support these activities can be found through the MSU Bulletin Office or on the Michigan 4-H Mall Web site. Training & Events For upcoming training and events in this area, check the 4-H Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU Extension Calendar and the 4-H Exploration Days web site. Contact Information For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or: Cyndi Mark,
Ph.D., Program Leader Phone: 517-432-7602 Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Michigan State
University
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