Civic Dispatch: Empowering Young Community Heroes
Image by Troy University Photographer
The Office of Civic Engagement at Troy University continuously creates immersive and captivating community experiences for all ages, including a fun summer experience for future civic leaders every year called Civic Heroes.
The Civic Heroes Summer Camp is led by Troy Civic Engagement staff, Coordinator Lauren Cochran, Jean O’Connor-Snyder Interns, and, a new addition this summer, middle school Junior Counselors.
Image by Troy University Photographer
“Civic Heroes' goal is to make civic education fun, exciting, and accessible for younger citizens” Lauren Cochran says.
From virtual to in-person, every summer, students enter into the amazing world of civics. For one week, students undergo civic superhero training, completing daily missions, learning about key American Government concepts and exploring good citizenship characteristics.
This summer marked the 4th year of the camp since the start in 2020. Each year, the camp is redefined, filled with new challenges and opportunities for students to dig deep and build connections to their community.
Students gather from all different communities in Pike County, building new friendships with each other, sharing different perspectives on their communities, and learning from each other.
During the week, students dive into topics of Honesty, The Constitution, Rights & Responsibility, Branches of Government, Courage, Voting, and other civic-centered topics, all while discussing community challenges and completing tasks that encourage them to work together to find solutions.
For example, throughout the week, students discuss community assets in their towns while talking through challenges and barriers for citizens living there. On the last day of the camp, students learn about using their voice through voting and then practice that powerful form of civic participation.
Students are split into groups and use the knowledge they've learned throughout the week to discuss and strategize ways to add new or improved assets to their communities that address the challenges or gaps/barriers they see that are present.
At the end of the week, students prepare a presentation on their ideas with their peers and vote on the asset they believe would be the most effective for the community.
Civic Heroes highlights that students are capable of coming up with big ideas. Lauren shares that students should be encouraged and given the opportunity to be civically involved in their communities. “Students have such an ability to think creatively. They’re hopeful; they believe in their ideas,” she says.
The interactive camp helps students see what they're capable of and empowers them to be the superheroes of their communities. Lauren describes that “Everyday people are heroes. You don't need money, a lot of knowledge or even high status to be a hero in your community.”
JOIP intern, Jayden McQueen, reflects on leading the camp this year, “Students know a lot more about their communities than what we think they do. It's exciting to see them engage with the material and in the future apply it in their adulthood.”
Civic Heroes opens the door for students to see the value in everyday simple attributes of a citizen. Jayden says, “The characteristics of a good citizen are qualities that everyone should have; it doesn't matter what they grow up to be. They don't have to be the governor to have courage or honesty; they can do this at home or at school.”
When discussing the meaning of community heroes, Lauren shares, “We sometimes fail to recognize what seems ordinary.”
Image by Troy University Photographer
Image by Troy University Photographer
Each day of the camp, students get to meet everyday community heroes and learn about the importance of their role within communities. This summer, students met a local business owner, student athletes, a veterinarian, police, and firefighters.
By meeting these extraordinary people living in their communities, students are exposed to valuable roles they may want to pursue in the future. They also see that, as Lauren puts it, “Small simple acts are what contribute to a strong and resilient community that benefits everyone.”
Civic Heroes tells every young individual that they too can be heroes and play a valuable role in their communities.
The Mathews Center is proud to support the Civic Heroes program of Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement through its Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program.