The National Council for the Social Studies contends: “The primary purpose of Social Studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.”  These skills, habits and qualities of character will prepare students to accept responsibility for preserving and defending their liberties and empower them to think critically, reason and problem solve. Thus, the civic mission of social studies is crucial and demands the inclusion of each and every student in Kentucky (Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies).

4-H members from Hancock, Breckinridge, and Meade Counties joined together via Zoom to experience Government in Action: 2021 4-H Capitol Experience. The learning experiences included a live tour of the Old Capitol Building and exploration of the Old Capitol’s history, Senate, and House of Representatives. Youth made a quill pen with the Kentucky Historical Society and toured the new Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, White House, and Mount Rushmore while exploring the history of these landmarks. Kentucky Representative, Josh Calloway, introduced our state government and the experience included a discussion about each county’s Representatives and Senators on the state and national level.

Participants completed a Qualtrics post-survey (4-H Common Measures evaluation) and results indicated the following:

-86% gained a better understanding of the history of Kentucky government

-100% are confident they can now identify an issue in their community and work together to address it

-100% indicated they will run for an office in a 4-H Club, visit a local fiscal court meeting, visit Frankfort or visit Washington, DC.

To prepare young people in the 21st century, Meade County 4-H is working to prepare young people who are civically engaged, socially responsible and culturally aware with programs designed to include a breadth of knowledge, not as isolated facts to be simply memorized, but as useable knowledge to be integrated into an understanding of the world (Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies).