Media Advisory -- 4-H Capitol Experience March 22-25, 2009
3/19/09
Contact: Michelle Lavra
517-432-1555, ext. 151
The Capitol, the Michigan Supreme Court, additional Lansing locations
Hours: Sunday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Monday, 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.; Tuesday, 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon
Media contact prior to event: Michelle Lavra, 517-432-1555, ext. 151, lavra@msu.edu
Media contact during event: Cyndi Mark, 517-282-2326, markc@msu.edu
Michigan teens from 28 counties will participate in the 27th annual 4-H Capitol Experience. This four-day conference focuses on civic engagement and public policy. The teens, along with adult volunteers, learn how they can become politically engaged and influence policy issues while interacting with legislators, state agency staff members and lobbyists.
Guest speakers Reps. Barbara Byrum and Paul Opsommer help kick off the event in the Beaumont Room of the Lansing Quality Inn between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. March 22. A legislative breakfast will take place March 24 from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 4-H’ers dine with legislators and discuss issues such as agriculture, crime and drugs, education, environment and energy, and jobs and the economy.
Other events of interest:
** Jobs and the economy legislature simulation, 8:50 to 10 p.m. March 22
** Supreme Court tours, 1 to 3 p.m. March 23
** Capitol tours, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. March 23
Michigan 4-H involves more than 236,000 young people and 31,000 adult volunteers, and it operates through a partnership between county governments, Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to citizenship activities, 4-H youth are involved in a variety of programs in areas including entrepreneurship, environmental education, healthy lifestyles, personal development, and science and technology.
Because Michigan 4-H (the state’s largest youth development program) is part of MSUE, proposed budget cuts to MSUE could have a major impact on the 101-year-old Michigan 4-H program.
For a complete schedule of Capitol Experience events, contact Michelle Lavra or Cyndi Mark. To view a 2005 video clip about Capitol Experience, visit http://av.anr.msu.edu/4h.wmv.
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