4-H’ers learn about government, history in Washington, D.C. – Oklahoma State University

Monday, July 11, 2022

Media Contact:
Trisha Gedon | Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

Historical past and civics books got here alive for a gaggle of Oklahoma and Kansas 4-H’ers who
took half not too long ago within the Citizenship Washington Focus journey.

Thirty-three membership members and 4 grownup sponsors made the bus journey to Washington,
D.C., June 16-25 the place they participated in academic workshops, wrote mock laws
and toured the nation’s capital.

Civic engagement is a part of the framework for the Oklahoma 4-H Youth Improvement program, and alternatives like this assist reinforce these studying conditions, stated
Cathleen Taylor, state management and civic engagement specialist with the state 4-H
workplace at Oklahoma State College.

“The aim of this journey is to study how our authorities works and the way 4-H’ers
can influence their communities via civic engagement,” Taylor stated. “Utilizing the medium
of Washington, D.C., our youth are proper in the midst of the place our authorities is
taking place.”

The group stopped at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the place they obtained a guided tour of
the battle websites. In addition they had a possibility to go to Philadelphia the place they noticed
the Liberty Bell and Independence Corridor.

“It was a number of enjoyable for our delegates to see the place our nation began and the development
of america,” Taylor stated.

As soon as the group arrived in Washington, D.C., they acquired all the way down to enterprise by attending
quite a lot of academic workshops. In addition they discovered the right way to write payments and different
laws.

Taylor stated some of the academic alternatives was when the delegation divided
into three teams and developed state motion plans to implement once they returned
residence.

“The youth had been charged with seeing an issue inside their neighborhood or state and
growing an answer or a strategy to fight the problem,” she stated. “Our group centered
on the right way to enhance and retain 4-H members, encouraging residents to help native companies
and meals insecurity. As soon as they developed their plans, they offered them to a different
state. Not solely did they need to work collectively and strategize in regards to the points, however
this train additionally gave them a possibility to work on their public talking abilities.”

All through their time in Washington, D.C., individuals visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Martin Luther King memorials, the World Struggle I and World Struggle II memorials, Lincoln
Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean Struggle memorials, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and
the Pentagon and Air Pressure memorials. In addition they went to the highest of the Washington
Monument for a chicken’s-eye view of the town.

“Whereas we had been on certainly one of our excursions, we noticed a presidential flyover of Marine 1. That
was fairly thrilling for the group,” Taylor stated.

Different actions included attending Spongebob the Musical at Toby’s Dinner Theater;
a go to to Capitol Hill and assembly with former Oklahoma 4-H’er Ricky Schroeder, who
addressed the group about how 4-H helped him get his present job within the Home of Representatives
Agriculture Committee; a presentation of Twilight Tattoo, a walk-through, live-action
efficiency in regards to the historical past of the U.S. navy; and a go to to the Smithsonian
Museum.

“Oklahoma and Kansas have been taking part in CWF for a few years, and it actually is
one of many premier alternatives obtainable to membership members,” Taylor stated.