Civic Youth Day teaches students the function of local (county and municipal) government.
The oldest Civic Youth Day program in Georgia is in Bartow County. This program is a jointly sponsored by the State YMCA and the Cartersville Optimist Club and is supported by the Bartow County, City of Adairsville, and City of Cartersville Governments. In 2011, the Bartow County Civic Youth Day program celebrated its 55th anniversary.
The objectives of the program is for students to:
- learn the importance of voter registration
- learn the campaign process
- learn the election process
- become acquainted with the daily activities of local government
In this program, high school students are elected (or appointed) to shadow an adult official on the day that is observed as Civic Youth Day. The objectives for adults are to:
- communicate their job responsibilities
- describe an average day
- explain any extra duties (night meetings, emergencies, parades, etc.)
- outline the chain of command
- indicate the term of office and the method of obtaining the position (elected or appointed)
- give a tour of the facility
- involve the student in daily activities if possible