Coordinators & Parents
Citizenship Washington Focus isn’t just another school sightseeing trip to Washington DC. Our “focus” is life-long civic empowerment and engagement for 4-H members. It truly is a program unlike any other you will find.
What makes CWF unique?
- National and local viewpoints
Using Washington, DC as a living classroom, youth learn about the history of our nation, the leaders who have shaped it, their role in civic affairs both nationally and locally, and how they can apply these invaluable lessons when they go home to bring about real change in their own communities and the world. CWF also brings together 4-H delegations from across the country to engage in civic discussions and problem solving, offering youth a viewpoint very different from their own.
- Licensed, collegiate facilitators
Youth are mentored and taught by highly trained and licensed facilitators. We are one of the only programs to utilize collegiate facilitators, many with 4-H backgrounds, who can best relate to and share experiences with high school age students.
- Safety and security
Youth stay at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, a facility uniquely designed with the safety, security, and educational needs of youth in mind. The Center is located on a 12-acre campus-like setting just one mile from the Washington, DC border. Unlike many hotels, no alcohol is allowed on the property, and security guards monitor the campus 24 hours a day.
- Exclusively 4-H focused
CWF is a 4-H tradition that dates back more than 50 years, and is the only such national citizenship and leadership program designed for and offered exclusively to 4-H members. And as a nonprofit organization, our Center is not about the bottom line. Our profits are put back to work in the 4-H movement nationwide, assisting 4-H in developing the next generation of leaders by supporting clubs and volunteers.
Testimonials
Here are just a few of the comments we’ve gotten about CWF from parents, club volunteers, county extensions workers and state leaders from all across the country:
CWF is an awesome trip!!! What a wonderful experience for our youth.
CWF is a wonderfully rich experience. The youth talk about this experience well into their adulthood.
CWF is a great program. For our county, youth look at it as a "chance of a life time" event. Even if they have gone or are going to DC, the experience 4-H gives them is like no other.
My 4-H club sent 4 members last year and they came back SOOO excited - one of them went to another club to talk about it and now that club will be sending 4 delegates.
I loved the CWF experience and am hoping my daughter will attend in a future year.
I promote CWF because I think it one of the most valuable experiences we offer to teens.
I think CWF is a wonderful experience - the cost is very reasonable because I have traveled with other groups and have paid $2500 for those trips.
I attended over 40 years ago and it was one of the best 4-H experiences I had and would recommend it to any member.