Teens Learning and Leading

Youth in Government is a national program of the YMCA that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized model-government programs.

Students from every corner of the U.S. have the opportunity to immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement and to, quite literally, practice democracy.

Youth in Government students gain confidence; leadership skills, develop the art of public speaking and the ability to accept defeat without discouragement. They learn to organize ideas clearly, concisely and persuasively. Students have a better understanding of the workings of the government; foster an understanding of other's problems and understand the concept of unity as it applies to the political process.