What does it mean to be a good citizen or leader? Are you being a strong civic leader for your club, community, country, and world? One way to enhance your citizenship skills is by becoming a St. Charles Parish 4-H Citizenship Ambassador and attending 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington, D. C. during the summer!

The St. Charles Parish 4-H program selects four 4-H members, every other year, who are currently 9^th – 11^th grade members to serve as St. Charles Parish 4-H Citizenship Ambassadors. As a 4-H Citizenship Ambassador, the 4-H members selected attend Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), which is a National 4-H Citizenship conference during the summer. During this conference, the 4-H Citizenship Ambassadors not only participate in an extraordinary leadership conference at the nation’s capital but also plan a parish-wide service-learning project to implement during the upcoming school year. After attending the conference, the 4-H Citizenship Ambassadors meet with the St. Charles Parish 4-H staff to plan the parish-wide service-learning project for the year. In addition to planning and implementing the service-learning project the following school year, the 4-H Citizenship Ambassadors present the results of their experience to a governing body (St. Charles School Board, Parish Council, or 4-H Foundation Board, etc.).

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is a week-long 4-H citizenship program that takes place at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, just 1 mile from the Washington, D.C. border. By participating in this program, youth have the opportunity to do the following:

• Strengthen their communication, leadership, and citizenship skills on a national level
• Understand the importance of civic and social responsibilities as they relate to the development of better citizens and leaders
• Exchange ideas, practice respect, and form friendships with other youth from diverse backgrounds
• Experience hands-on learning using the historical backdrop of Washington, D.C.

CWF participants also enjoy the following:

• A behind-the-scenes look at our nation’s capital and the chance to meet Members of Congress
• Motivational speakers, educational workshops, and assemblies that increase individual commitment to citizen involvement and build lifetime skills for success
• Activities that encourage new and lasting friendships
• An enthusiastic staff of young adults that work directly with them

Participants are immersed in the culture and history of Washington, D. C. through onsite workshops at its most spectacular sights. Destinations include, but are not limited to the following:

• The Capitol
• Mount Vernon
• Arlington National Cemetery
• Presidential and war monuments and memorials
• Smithsonian museums

The week’s signature event called “Night view” is a spectacular evening tour of our nation’s most historic sites. In between tours, youth participate in a leadership and citizenship conference held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. For more information on CWF, view the CWF Website: http://www.4hcenter.org/youth-conference-center-overview/educational-programs/citizenship-washington-focus/about/

To be selected as a St. Charles Parish 4-H Citizenship Ambassador, you must meet the following requirements:

• Must be an enrolled St. Charles Parish 4-H member in good standing
• Must currently be a 9^th – 11^th grade student
• Complete the application with all required signatures, which includes the following forms:
  • St. Charles 4-H Citizenship Ambassador Application (2 pages plus essay)
  • Louisiana 4-H Health Form, Code of Conduct, and Hold Harmless Form (Pages 1-5 and Page 9 in attached form)
  • CWF Media and Information Release/Code of Conduct Form (1 page)
• Submit the application to the St. Charles Parish 4-H Office by the specified deadline (The application should be typed and signed by member and parent/guardian.)
• Submit the deposit to the St. Charles Parish 4-H Office by the specified deadline

Important Note: Please make sure that you can attend if you are selected. If you are selected and decide not to attend, then you will forfeit your deposit.

Dates for the upcoming St. Charles 4-H Citizenship Ambassador Program are as follows:

Term: 2019-2020

Application Due Date: October 19, 2018

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Conference dates: June 28 - July 6, 2019