Wisconsin 4-H is excited to announce that two statewide opportunities are opening up applications/registration starting today! Both the 2022 National 4-H Conference and the 2022 Citizenship Washington Focus programs will be in-person in 2022. Both programs are open to youth in 10-12th grades. The application process for National 4-H Conference will open today and applications will be due by January 2nd. Registration for Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) opens today in 4HOnline. Please see below for more information on each of these programs.
National 4-H Conference
National 4-H Conference is a working conference in which youth and adults—at the invitation of the Secretary of Agriculture—assist in the development of recommendations to help guide 4-H Youth Development Programs and other federal department activities nationally and in their communities. This event brings together youth, volunteer leaders, and state and county Extension staff members from across the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the Canadian Provinces. The Conference includes roundtable discussions and federal partner agency presentations and an opportunity for delegates to engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. At the same time, we want to ensure that the conference is a rich and meaningful experience for the youth and adult participants. At the same time, the conference is a rich and meaningful experience for the youth and adult participants.
National 4-H Conference delegates will:
- Participate in a round table topic of their choosing that will focus on key topics such as: leadership, agriculture, crime, and more.
- Participate in professional workshops.
- Meet with legislators from their State to discuss important issues relating to 4-H.
- Have a chance to network with youth and adults from across the country.
- Learn all about 4-H programming and think about ways to improve programming across the Nation.
- Develop an action plan that will be put to use in their own communities.
- Have fun!
Applications for National 4-H Conference are now available. You can find the link to the application here: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/files/2021/12/2022-Application-Natl-Conf.pdf. For more information on National 4-H Conference, please visit our website: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/opportunities/statewide-events-and-opportunities/national-4-h-conference/
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Citizenship Washington Focus, or CWF for short, is the premier weeklong 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. Delegates also participate in various educational workshops such as:
- Citizenship Toolbox: By exploring what it means to be a good citizen, delegates identify their own skill set to become active citizens and leaders in their communities back home.
- Congressional Issues: Delegates will have open discussions with different perspectives on real national issues in the government today.
- Bill Writing: Delegates learn the process of writing a bill in the House of Representatives and then write one of their own. They then will hold a mock House of Representatives meeting where they will discuss and either pass or deny said bills.
- Action Planning: By combining all the skills they have learned at CWF, the entire delegation will discuss what issues are prominent in their communities. They will then develop a plan to take back and implement positive change into their hometowns.
Registration for CWF is now open in 4HOnline. You can find full program information along with registration information on our website: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/opportunities/statewide-events-and-opportunities/citizenship-washington-focus/. The registration information letter is available here.
Questions? Contact Laura Vander Veen at laura.vanderveen@wisc.edu or call/text 608-931-8512.
