YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
Youth in Government, also known as YIG, is a cool program for students in grades 7-12. In YIG, you get to be like a real state legislator, lawyer, judge, journalist, or even a member of the government's cabinet. You spend three days pretending to run a government in the Wisconsin State Capitol building.
Here's how it works: YIG kicks off in the fall. If you want to be a part of it, you can join a group at your school or YMCA, or maybe even start your own group with your friends. These groups, called delegations, meet often to get ready for their roles, learn about how the state government works, and practice writing and speaking skills.
Then, around early March, all the student delegates from across Wisconsin come together in Madison for the big YIG conference. It's like a giant meeting where they get to do a lot of cool stuff. They elect their own leaders, have debates about important issues, and come up with ideas to make the state better.
But here's the best part: In YIG, young people don't just watch from the sidelines. They are the ones in charge! Of course, there are adults like YMCA staff, teachers, and trained volunteers there to help out and give advice. But you get to be a leader, organizer, speaker, and decision-maker.
And it's not all serious stuff. During the conference, you get to stay at a nice hotel called the Best Western Premier Park Hotel. You can try different kinds of food on State Street, and there are fun evening activities like games, crafts, trivia, BINGO, karaoke, and even a talent show. So, YIG is not only about learning, but it's also a lot of fun!
PROGRAM AREAS
In the YIG program, there are different roles for students in various grade levels.
LEGISLATURE:
State senators (11th and 12th graders) and representatives (8th, 9th, and 10th graders) do several things. They make bills about topics they choose, take part in committee meetings and talks on the floor, and vote on which bills should become laws.
COURTS:
For judicial delegates (10th, 11th, and 12th graders), they have two jobs. They act like lawyers and judges. Each student gets ready for a case and talks about their side of it. They also get a chance to be on the bench and make decisions on cases.
MEDIA:
Students in the media group (10th, 11th, and 12th graders) work as a team. They look up information, report on it, and write stories. They make a daily newspaper, news releases, and broadcasts. They use both paper and digital formats for this.
LEADERSHIP CORPS:
In the Leadership Corps, 7th graders work in small groups. They make bills, argue in court cases, write media stories, and learn about all parts of the YIG program. It's a way for them to get experience in different areas.