One of the fundamental purposes for education is to prepare youth for responsible citizenship. This includes caring for others and the common good, understanding how government, business, and nonprofit systems work, following current events, learning how to identify reliable information, listening to diverse points of view and having civil conversations, voting, and advocating for a cause. This toolkit includes background information and project ideas related to civic participation.
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In spite of the diverse roots that make up our country, some immigrants who come for opportunity and refugees who are forced to leave their homes are treated with disrespect or even cruelty. Young people have the opportunity to speak up and raise awareness of the beauty of diversity and value of embracing people of all backgrounds and situations. This toolkit guides youth, educators, group leaders, families, and community groups as they investigate the issue of immigration and refugees and prepare to take action.
Being outside, caring for plants and animals, and conserving natural resources are often a young person’s first experience with environmental stewardship. Young people looking to a sustainable future may learn about the wonders of nature, aging water pipes, environmental contamination, plastics in the ocean, overuse of natural resources, and air pollution. This toolkit shares resources to learn, connect, and take action now as environmental stewards to assure a sustainable future in harmony with the gifts of nature.
This toolkit guides youth, educators, group leaders, families, and community groups as they investigate the issue of advocacy for animals and prepare to take action. Contents:
Get to know the stories of people who represent a life of service. They may be veterans who chose to serve in the military or elderly friends who have served as activists or volunteers for different issues. Communities are stronger when people take action and work together for a common purpose. These activities, project ideas, and community resources prompt discussions and service that build respect for people of different roles, types of service, and generations.
There are many ways to be healthy and safe. We can build physical health with exercise and games, healthy food, and sleeping. We can maintain mental health with meditation, relationships, volunteering, and self-care. The health and safety of ourselves and others is important for a healthy community. These lesson plans, project ideas, and community resources help youth understand and advocate for healthy and safe choices for self and community, as well as learn about advocacy for good practices, disease research, anti-smoking/vaping, and mental health.
The promise of America is liberty and justice for all. While no two persons are the same, we should not let this divide us but unite us. As citizens of a fair and just society, we have the ability to take big and small actions to help us create a more equitable world. Leaders from our past and present provide guidance and inspire our world to listen and take action to work toward justice. This toolkit links to background information, activities and resources, and project ideas related to equity and advocacy.
The nonprofit sector assures we have the arts in the form of museums, theaters, ballet, and public art. Through the arts, people gain joy and explore and discuss the themes of life. Art may be an expression and communication tool to advocate for issues. This toolkit includes lesson plans, project ideas, and background information related to the arts. This toolkit includes lesson plans, project ideas, and background information related to the arts.
This toolkit guides youth, educators, group leaders, families, and community groups as they investigate the issue of kindness and prepare to take action.
Contents:
These videos, activities, ideas, toolkits, and discussion starters support a year of youth group engagement. The content may be used in any order.