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4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall 
East Lansing, MI
48824-1039
USA
Phone: 517-432-7575
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: msue4h@msu.edu
Disclaimer & Indicia

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4-H Citizenship

Are you ready to get to work?

Active citizens are the building blocks of our democracy, and Michigan 4-H recognizes the importance of developing good citizens among our youth. A democracy is only as strong as the citizens that make it up, and strength comes from having the knowledge, skills and attitudes to work for a common good.

There are a variety of ways to introduce young people to concepts of civic engagement or strengthen the citizenship skills that they already practice. The most direct way is to create a citizenship club, the central focus of which is exploring issues of citizenship and civic engagement and taking action in the community. Alternatively, any existing group—from a rabbit-raising club to a theatre troupe—can incorporate these ideas into their activities. Indeed, one of the components of a model 4-H club is “involvement in the community.”

What makes a responsible citizen?

Being a responsible citizen means different things to different people. Some consider a good citizen to be someone who has strong character, donates to charity and volunteers to help others; others say a good citizen is one who takes an interest in understanding social issues and concerns; and still others would describe a good citizen as one who has the skills and knowledge to actively influence decision-making and public policy. Because of these diverse ideas of what it means to be a good citizen, it is important to consider a broad definition of citizenship, including the knowledge, skills and attitudes that a good citizen should have. Therefore, we can say that a good citizen is competent in the following areas:

• Character – moral and civic virtues, such as a concern for the rights and welfare of others and appreciation of diversity;
• Knowledge of government – an understanding of the structure and processes of government and community organizations;
• Community service learning – the ability to plan and participate in service projects to address problems;
• Public policy – the skills, knowledge and commitment to influence decision-making and public policy; and
• Issues – an awareness and understanding of public issues, how they are connected across local, national and global levels, and how one affects and is affected by them.

What do youth do in citizenship programs?

Young people are involved in citizenship and civic engagement programs primarily to make a difference.  Engaging youth groups in citizenship activities shows an interest and commitment to community improvement. There are a variety of ways that youth can be involved in making positive change by:

• Doing volunteer work.
• Planning and performing community service activities.
• Forming relationships with other adult and youth organizations.
• Learning about issues of public importance and how they affect and are affected by them.
• Attending local government meetings.
• Influencing public policy by writing petitions or policy briefs, participating in nonviolent demonstrations, organizing public education and advocacy campaigns and voting.  
• Participating in 4-H Capitol Experience to learn how state government works.
• Attending the annual 4-H Citizenship, Leadership, and Service Conference to learn more about how to put citizenship into action.
• Making their communities better places to live.

What do youth get out of citizenship programs?

By participating in activities and programs that emphasize citizenship, young people gain new knowledge and skills that they can put to use in enriching their own lives and the lives of others. Learning about and experiencing citizen rights and responsibilities, government, and public issues gives youth the confidence and ability to be an active member of their communities. Many other benefits to youth have been linked to civic engagement:

• Appreciation of work done for the common good and social responsibility
• Understanding of community issues
• Improved academic performance
• Individual recognition through possible scholarships, state and county level awards, banquets, pins and certificates
• Development of youth and adult partnerships and bonds with adults
• Increased career development and better job placement
• Increased interpersonal development and the ability to relate to culturally diverse groups
• Ability to get involved in government
• Empowerment and motivation to make change!

4-H Citizenship Resources

Michigan 4-H Youth Development has several resource guides that include plenty of detailed, user-friendly activities to help get youth involved in citizenship. These guides can be used as whole units on citizenship, or individual activities can be pulled to address specific topics. Citizenship activities appropriate for all age groups can be found in the following resource guides:

• Civic Engagement: After-School Activities for Citizenship, Leadership and Service
  This resource guide is designed to be used by Extension 4-H professionals to help after-school staff and volunteers develop and deliver civic engagement programs for youth in grades 3 to 6. The activities can be adapted for younger or older youth.
• 4-H Citizenship: Government Is Us! – A Civic Engagement Curriculum for Youth Groups
  This curriculum helps teens develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become active citizens and practice what they learn in their local communities. The learning activities guide youth and adults to think about what citizenship means, develop a sense of caring for the common good, explore public issues and government, and take action to make lasting change. The activities have been designed for an adult or teen facilitator to use with 13- to 19-year-olds; some activities may be adapted for use with younger participants.
• Citizenship - Public Adventures Curriculum
  Teens channel their energy toward solving real problems in their community. Youth change a piece of the public world, discover the possibilities of democratic citizenship and build a commitment to taking action in new and exciting ways. They plan and conduct a project that will create, change, or improve something that is valuable to many people. Designed for youth in grades 4 through 12.

References

• Billig, S.H. (2000). Research of K-12 school-based service-learning: The evidence builds. Phi Delta Kappan, 81, 658-664.
• Carnegie Corporation of New York and The Center for Information and Research on Civic
  Learning and Engagement. (2003). The Civic Mission of Schools. New York: Carnegie Corporation.
• Education Commission of the States. (2006). Developing Citizenship Competencies from
  Kindergarten through Grade 12. Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States.
• Westheimer, J., & Kahne, J. (2004). What kind of citizen? The politics of educating for
  democracy. American Educational Research Journal. Vol. 41(2). 237-269.

Contact Information

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

Cyndi Mark, Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI  48824-1039
USA

Phone: 517-432-7602
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: markc@msu.edu

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Last Updated: February 12, 2008
Last Reviewed: December 10, 2007