How to enroll
Through a registered club. A club advisor registers the club, then each student completes program registration with parent authorization.
- Check the registered club list on the YG registration page for your school
- If your school has no club, enter your zip code on Find My Delegation to reach your District Director or a YMCA branch club
- Register for the program, then for the district and state conferences before each deadline
No club at your school? Find the delegation or District Director for your area.
Find my delegation ↗In plain words
A year-long civics program run by the YMCA. Students join a school club or a YMCA branch club, pick a section (legislative, judicial, state affairs, media, or governor's cabinet), prepare a bill or case, and compete at a one-day district conference in November. Then they attend the State Conference at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock: middle school Jan 29–31, 2027, high school Feb 25–28, 2027. Dallas-area clubs are in District 5; Fort Worth and Arlington are Districts 4 and 9.
Kids interested in law, politics, public speaking or journalism
Your kid wants to stay local. The State Conference is a multi-day trip to Round Rock with hotel costs.
What it takes
Step by step
- 1Find your school's YG club, or a YMCA branch club (Plano, McKinney and Richardson branches run clubs in District 5)
- 2Complete program registration with your advisor (it closed Oct 4, 2026; late fees apply after that)
- 3Register for your district conference by Oct 25, 2026
- 4Register for the State Conference by Dec 13, 2026
Where it leads
- Program registrationAug 15 – Oct 4
Late fees after Oct 4
- District conferenceNov 7 (Dallas) · Nov 14 (Fort Worth/Arlington)
One-day regional round
- Junior YG State ConferenceJan 29–31, Round Rock
Middle school
- YG State ConferenceFeb 25–28, Round Rock
High school
- YMCA Youth Conference on National AffairsApplications Feb 26 – Mar 14, 2027
National-level follow-on for high schoolers
Key dates
- 1 DAYSDistrict conference registration closesSun, October 25, 2026, 11:59 PM Central
- 14 DAYSDistrict 5 conference, DallasSat, November 7, 2026
- 21 DAYSDistricts 4 & 9 conference, Fort WorthSat, November 14, 2026
- 50 DAYSState Conference registration closes (middle and high school)Sun, December 13, 2026, 11:59 PM Central
- 97 DAYSJunior YG State Conference (middle school), Round RockFri, January 29, 2027
- 124 DAYSYG State Conference (high school), Round RockThu, February 25, 2027
Free prep
Add these dates to my calendar
Dates update on their own when an organizer changes them. Nothing about your child is stored.