4-H Capitol Experience

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4-H Capitol Experience

March 16-18, 2025
Lansing, MI

https://events.anr.msu.edu/CapitolExperience2025/

Registration for the March 18 Legislative Reception will open later this winter.

Youth in 9th grade through age 19 are invited to attend the 4-H Capitol Experience. You do not need to be a member of 4-H in order to attend the event, but all participants will be asked to enroll in 4-H Online upon completing their event registration.

Youth registrants will select an issue group according to their interests, which will be led by a teen facilitator. Issue groups will provide a space for youth to meet peers from across the state while talking about their ideas and what they learned. Youth will:

Meet elected officials
Hear from experts in policy representing a broad range of careers
Hear from young people who have made a difference in their communities
Discuss hot topics important to youth.

The 2025 registration fees will be $365.00, and include hotel accommodations at the Okemos Conference Center. Please contact your local 4-H Program Coordinator or local 4-H office to inquire about local funding opportunities. Scholarships may also be available through your local Farm Bureau office.

School Letter

Pick Up/Drop Off Letter

Issue Groups:

Each issue group will be facilitated by a teen steering committee member supported by an MSU Extension staff person. Issue groups will serve as networking and learning groups throughout the event. Participants can choose from:

Environment/Natural Resources
Health
Jobs & The Economy/Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civil Rights/Youth Advocacy
Education/Teacher Retention
Crime/Law Enforcement

Tentative Schedule

Sunday, March 16, 2025

1-2 Registration
2-3 Welcome
3-3:30 Legislative Simulation & Government Overview
3:30-4:30 Issues On The Line
4:30-6 Issue Group Icebreakers and bill idea brainstorming and selection
6-7 Pizza Dinner
7-9 Refining your issue; Writing your bill
9-10:30 Free Time - Pool Party
10-10:30 Steering Committee meeting
11:00 - Bed Check

Monday, March 17, 2025

7-8 Breakfast
8:30-9:00 Head to Capitol/Supreme Court
9:00-10:30 Capitol/Supreme Court tour
10:30-10:45 Photo
10:45-11:00 travel
11:00-12:00 Legislative Aide visits
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own (meet at Senate Lobby before heading out)
1:30 - 1:45 Meet at Heritage Hall to meet up with Issue Group
1:45-2 travel
2-3 Lobbyist visits
3-3:30 travel
3:30-4:45 Community Organization/State Agency visits
4:45-5:15 travel to Brody
5:15-6:45 Dinner at Brody and Lobbying
6:45-7 travel back to hotel
7-7:45 Lobbying
7:45-8:30 Bill Refinement
8:30-10:30 Free Time-Dance/Karaoke & Game night
10-10:30 Steering Committee meeting
11:00 - Bed Check

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

7-8 Breakfast
8-8:30 Prep for Legislative Reception
- Handshake & Elevator Speech
8:30-9:00 Head to Capitol
9:00-11:30 “Choose your own adventure” - Legislative visits, committee meetings, watch session
11:30-1:30 Legislative Reception
1:30-2 Travel to Hotel
2-4 Bill discussion and voting in both chambers
4-5 Governor - Bill signing or veto
5-6 Evaluation and certificates