YMCA Youth in Government Program Opportunities at Shannon Forest Christian School

South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government Middle School Model Legislature

The Middle School Model Legislature conference is a three-day, two-night conference designed to provide hands-on experience to teach the legislative process.

The overall goal of the program and conference is to teach the mechanics of the state legislature, and to teach the importance of active participation in democracy.

Students in the Middle School Model Legislature serve as representatives and senators. Students submit bills which go through the legislative process including debate in committees, and the House and Senate. Student legislators use the actual committee rooms and House at Senate chambers at the Statehouse in Columbia.

The 2011 conference will be Wednesday November 17-19, 2011

Cost: $60 dues, $125 for room and board in Columbia

South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government High School Model Legislature and Court

The High School Model Legislature and Court is the largest program offered by the Youth in Government program.

40 schools statewide participate in this four-day event each year.

Students take over the South Carolina Statehouse, the committee rooms in the Blatt and Gressette Buildings, and courtrooms in the South Carolina Court of Appeals and South Carolina Supreme Court. Students spend the months prior to the conference preparing by researching topics and writing bills, and researching bills written by other students. Other teams of student attorneys work in teams to prepare their trial cases, and write briefs and prepare oral arguments for their appeals cases.

The 2011 conference is Wednesday November 16-19, 2011

Cost: $65 dues, $185 for room and board in Columbia

South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government Middle School Model United Nations

The Middle School Model United Nations program is a one or two semester curriculum implemented in the schools with direction and leadership from the YMCA Youth in Government staff.

The program culminates in a two-day Model United Nations conference in April.

Student participants work in small groups to study a particular country, and write a proposal that is presented at the MUN conference.

High school students provide leadership for this program.

The Middle School Model United Nations Conference is held at YMCA's Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC.

High School students from across the state of South Carolina apply to be part of the High School Resource Staff.

Cost: $180 for room and board in Black Mountain

Goals:

• Promote global awareness
• Public speaking
• Mentoring from High School students (go a day earlier for training)

CONA - Conference on National Affairs

The state of South Carolina, along with 33 other states and the District of Columbia, send 25 to 20 delegates to Black Mountain, North Carolina. The Delegates from South Carolina must apply and be accepted to go to CONA.

The objectives of the program are:

1. To gain an awareness of National concerns and issues.
2. To increase understanding of Federal Government and its relation to State, National and International matters.
3. To have and use a means for communicating concerns about National Affairs to appropriate persons and groups at Federal Government levels.
4. To develop increased understanding of needs, responsibilities and opportunities.
5. To work creatively together with young adults and adults.
6. To help youth and adults to better understand and strengthen their values for living through the Christian objectives of the YMCA.