Marin

For High School students

This program has the ability to change the lives of those who participate, creating youth that are stronger public speakers, better critical thinkers, and more persuasive debaters. Most importantly teens have the ability meet life long friends.

Youth learn how our government works, not by showing, but through doing. This six month program starts at our local YMCA, where teens gain general knowledge of all programs areas so that they may later select their specific roles, including: Assembly, Senate, Court, Press Corps, lobbyist, and more.

Every Wednesday evening in September at 7:00 p.m. you may drop in to see us in action. We will accept new participants until October 5th. Tuition includes lodging and transportation costs for all three conferences along with some meals. For more information contact Torrey Hughes at 415-460-1050.

A little about our Youth & Government Program

Each year the YMCA’s of California sponsor a program called Youth & Government for more than 2000 High School freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. The Marin YMCA annually sends a delegation of more than 30 students to a series of three conferences offered by the California YMCA Youth & Government.

Participating high school students begin working in early September to prepare mock legislation, to learn parliamentary procedure, to nominate and elect officers and to otherwise prepare themselves to assume the roles of legislators, lobbyists, media specialists, etc. A judicial program offers participants the experience of deciding important points of law by researching cases and presenting them at both the Appellate and Supreme Court levels.

The program culminates in February when Youth & Government holds the YMCA Model Legislature and Court in Sacramento. During the 5-day event, more than 2000 delegates hold mock legislature and judicial proceedings in the chambers of our State Capitol and Supreme Court.

The YMCA Model Legislature/Court is highly regarded by government officials. It is the only youth group that is given permission to use the actual Senate and Assembly chambers and each year delegates are addressed by the Governor and other key state leaders. Most importantly is the amazing bond you will share with teens from all surrounding high schools, experiencing a completely unique program that gives you a hands-on approach to government. 

It is not all work. We have a ton of fun. Training & Elections at Camp Roberts is a blast. We have evening events such as dances, game night and inflatable jump house night. This is an amazing program!