INDIANA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT
INDIANA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT
Teen Model State Government Club
Students won’t just read about government, they will be the government! In this model government program, students in grades 6-12 will go through government simulations. They get to elect their own peer leaders, debate their own bills, and build a vision for a better tomorrow. Middle school students become part of the legislature and work on public speaking and debate, parliamentary procedures, writing, evaluating, and ranking bills. High school students can join the legislature, the Judicial Program, Legislative Oversight, or Media Corps. Youth & Government builds young leaders through hands-on experience and teaching the YMCA's core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility. Join us as we build tomorrow's leaders one young person at a time!
The YMCA's Youth Government Program enhances development of the American democratic process for young people through participatory training in the theory and practice of the Indiana State Government. Youth in the program learn about the legislative process, how to write and research bills, and how to participate in elections. Their work culminates in teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature. Some teens have made bills into laws!
During the 2025-2026 school year more than 250 students are expected to be gathered across the state to share their vision for building a better tomorrow as a part of the Indiana Youth and Government Program (INYaG). As senators, representatives, attorneys, and members of the press, INYaG students learn firsthand how democracy works. Join INYaG and watch your students grow and thrive in our one of a kind, hands on, democracy in action program.
TRI-COUNTY YMCA
Youth and Government for Grades 6-12
We are excited to start this program at the Tri-County YMCA! Join us for our Welcome Meeting on Sunday, August 24 at 1:30 PM EST to learn more about this program! The Indiana YMCA Youth and Government Program is an exciting opportunity for youth to step into shoes of the individuals who run our State Government! This program provides students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to study and debate public issues, learn the different parts of our state government, and participate in events that shape growth, public speaking skills, social skills, leadership skills, and more!
Middle School Model State Government Experience
Indiana Youth and Government is an exciting opportunity for youth to step into the shoes of the individauls who run our State Government! At this middle event, students will learn the legistlative process, how to research and debate public issues, how to present and rank bills, as well as meet students from different schools and devleop social skills, leadership skills, and more!
- Middle School Model Government Experience:
Date: Sunday, December 7th, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Indianapolis, IN
High School Model State Government Conference
Indiana Youth and Government is an exciting opportunity for youth to step into the shoes of the individauls who run our State Government! At this high school event, students will learn the legistlative process, how to research and debate public issues, how to present and rank bills, as well as meet students from different schools and gain critical skills, like social skills, public speaking skills, leadership skills, and more!
- High School Model Government Experience:
Dates: February 27th - March 1, 2026
Check-in Time: 11:00 a.m. (ET)
Location: Indianapolis, IN
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES - High School (H.S) students research and present bills which are debated in committee and within the actual House and Senate chambers in the Indianapolis statehouse in a 3-day conference. Middle School (M.S.) students participate in various locations across the state in a 1-day conference.
JUDICIAL - Prepare a Brief and present an oral argument before the Youth Supreme Court (H.S. only).
MEDIA CORPS - Prepare a conference newsletter and slide show, conduct interviews, and manage social media accounts for Youth and Government (H.S. only).
LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS - Campaign to run for Governor, Lt. Governor, Chief Justice, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, House Speaker President Pro Temp, or Senate President Pro Temp (H.S. only).
COMMITTEE CHAIRS - Lead committees through bill revision and passage (H.S. only).
The Indiana YMCA Youth and Government Program touches on the following civic educational goals (foundations and functions of government, and roles of citizens), as well as builds history and social studies literacy through hands-on learning:
•c.6.5, 8.2.1- Identify and explain essential ideas of constitutional government, which include limited government
•C.6.6, 8.2.2- Explain the concept of a separation of powers and how and why these powers are distributed, shared, and limited in the constitutional government. 15.2.3-Analyze and compare major functions, responsibilities, and relationships of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, as written in the 1816 and 1851 Indiana Constitutions.
•C.6.11: Describe the primary and general election process for local, state, and national offices, including those used to select congressional and presidential office holders.
•C.8.2.3- Examine ways that the national government affects the everyday lives of people of the United States.
•8.2.4- Compare and contrast the delegated, reserved, and concurrent powers (division of power or federal system) contained in the United States Constitution.
•8.2.5- Compare and contrast the different functions of national and state government within the federal system by analyzing the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution.
•8.2.6- Recognize and explain the relationship between the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States.15.2.4, 15.2.6- Give examples of how citizens can participate in their state government and explain the right and responsibility of voting. Analyze the service of people from Indiana to national offices such as presidency, vice-presidency, Judiciary, and legislature including their ideas about the relationship between the 3 branches of government
•8.2. 7- Explain the importance of responsible participation by citizens in voluntary civil organizations to bring about social reform.
•8.2.8- Explain ways that citizens can participate in the election process [political parties, campaigns, and elections) at the national, state, and local levels.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
We're here to help!
Have questions about Indiana Youth and Government? For more information about our program, please contact Tarry Kerkhoff, Tri-County YMCA Delegation, at tarry@tricountyymca.org or call us at 812-367-2323. Stay tuned in with all the exciting things happening at the Tri-County YMCA by visiting our Facebook and Instagram pages.
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