Leadership, Citizenship Leisure Ed. Capitol Experience is an annual 4-day conference that focuses on citizenship and public policy education. At the event, more than 100 older youth examine public policy issues and discover how various segments of government interact and affect people's daily lives. This event, which began in 1982, helps Michigan teens learn how state government works. They choose a current policy issue to examine from several points of view.
Participants see firsthand how the issue is addressed at the local level.
Lobbyists and advocates who represent one or more groups with a vested interest in the issue. The teens learn how lobbyists interact with the group or groups they represent and the legislature. Representatives of an executive-branch agency who deal with the issue at the state level. Participants learn how these agencies formulate and implement policies. Legislative aides who work with the issue.