More than one-third of United States high school students do not have a basic understanding of democratic citizenship and government; therefore, lack the skills to competently participate as an informed citizen.  Every year Warren County 4-H Youth Development Agents take a group of 4-H members to the Kentucky State Capitol to visit with their local legislators and to learn the process on how a bill becomes a law.  Since 4-H members were going to miss out on yearly 4-H Capitol Experience, the Mammoth Cave 4-H agents created a virtual 4-H Capitol Experience for over 375 youth.  The agents collaborated with the Representative Minter and Senator Givens, the Kentucky Historical Society, and Kentucky Capitol Tour Group to create a three hour virtual experience.  The youth was able to virtually tour the Capitol Building, Old Capitol Building, and the Governor’s Mansion.  They learned how to create a bill and made a quill pen.  

During the experience a pre-post and post-test given to the participants.  We discovered through the experience the 4-H members increased their knowledge about the legislative process and Kentucky history by:

45% increased their knowledge on what the Judicial branch does

45% increased their knowledge on how many judges serve on the Supreme Court

30% increased their knowledge on how many senators and representatives represent the State of Kentucky

After going through the program 91% of the participants want to participate in another virtual tour similar to the Capitol Experience

Warren County 4-H Youth Development Agents were the coordinating agents for this experience.