June 24-30, 34 4-H youth from Minnesota joined youth from across the United States in Washington D.C. to get a hands-on experience exploring citizenship and social responsibility in our nation’s capital.
4-H Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is held every summer at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Through a series of speakers, committee work, field trips and social events, youth are given the opportunity to explore, develop, and refine skills needed to be an outstanding leader on both a local and national level. CWF participants get a behind-the-scenes look at our nation’s capital, meet members of Congress, hear from motivational speakers, and participate in educational workshops and assemblies that increase their individual commitment to citizen involvement and build lifetime skills for success. Through CWF, youth strengthen their communication, leadership, and citizenship skills, and learn about the democratic process and the importance of becoming active and engaged citizens and leaders.
“CWF provides a unique opportunity for youth to learn about civic engagement at the national level while exploring Washington, D.C.,” said Jacquie Lonning, Extension 4-H Citizenship state program director. “By engaging in these activities at the national level, our youth get a unique opportunity to explore how their actions can affect change beyond the state of Minnesota. Additionally, they get the opportunity to meet other youth from across the country.”
Participants take what they learned back and get actively involved in a project or activity that will benefit their communities, such as volunteering at a nursing home, becoming a tutor, serving as an official youth board member, assist in developing a community garden, etc. They may also develop and deliver a presentation describing their CWF experience, what they learned, and how it changed their ideas about citizenship.
Gregory shared, “It was fun. You get to meet people from all over the country who are passionate about 4-H and then become friends with them. Plus, you also get to see things from a national perspective which is also really eye opening.”