Time to enroll students for Youth in Government

Historic City News readers with 9th – 12th grade students who are motivated to learn more about how our state government works will want to sign up for the “Youth in Government” program, sponsored by the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. The program provides students with the skills and confidence necessary for inspired leadership.

Parent and Student Informational Meetings will take place at The Palencia Club, 600 Palencia Club Drive on Thursday, September 5 and September 12 at 6:30 p.m. Weekly meetings will continue at The Palencia Club each Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. September through February.

Since 1957, Florida Youth in Government has brought the best and brightest high school students to the State Capital for General Assembly in Tallahassee, to debate in the actual Senate and House chambers to learn responsible leadership in the American democratic process and to experience law making first-hand through five program areas: Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Lobbyist and the Press Corps.

This student driven national program allows student to learn legislative protocol, formulate arguments and practice debate techniques by learning to “debate ideas not people”. In the weeks leading up to the General Assembly, they will learn to draft, research and present a bill in order for it to become State law. Students will have an opportunity to travel to Tallahassee February 19th – 21st to present the bill they have worked on.

Over 700 Florida students experienced Youth in Government in Tallahassee last February.

Involved students are routinely rewarded with scholarships, college credit, community recognition and most importantly the self-awareness and confidence to be leaders. Junior Youth in Government for Middle School students will begin February 27th.

The cost of the program is $60, which includes a tee shirt, all materials, transportation, overnight lodging and meals at YMCA’s Camp Wewa for the Fall District Conference, with additional fees for the Tallahassee trip.

Registration form may be downloaded from http://www.firstcoastymca.org/explore/youth_in_government

For more information, please contact Leslie Cook at (904)278-9622 or visit Florida’s First Coast YMCA at firstcoastymca.org or the Youth in Government website at floridayig.net.

The Y is a powerful association of men, women and children from all walks of life joined together by a shared passion: to strengthen the foundations of community. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. All the work we do are through three areas of focus – for youth development by nurturing the potential of every child and teen, for healthy living by improving the nation’s health and well-being and for social responsibility by giving back and providing support to our neighbors.