Issue 7, June 2025

Civic Learning Council project to engage students with America's 250th

As part of the Day of Civic Engagement (Sept. 17, 2026), the Civic Learning Council (CLC), in collaboration with the Washington State Council for the Social Studies, has developed an America250 project to support elementary school teachers and students in learning about the founding of the nation and making connections to their own community's local history.

The classroom project focuses on symbols of our democracy both nationally and locally, and is designed to be flexible and engaging to:

Help students learn about our nation's founding by exploring symbols that represent the promise of democratic ideas in their community (beginning with a symbol that students easily recognize: the U.S. flag)
Explore the meaning of current and/or historical symbols unique to their own community
Provide an opportunity to partner with a local history museum or cultural center

Grants are available to support the purchase of materials, fieldtrip costs, or engaging a speaker from a local cultural center or other organization.

Museums and cultural centers can participate in the project by working with local schools to arrange classroom visits or field trips.

The CLC is a non-partisan organization created to promote and support the people of Washington in becoming more knowledgeable and engaged lifelong participants in democracy

CLC America250 Project

Engaging Young People in America250

Organizations around the state are encouraged to develop ideas to engage with younger people in the community around America's 250th. The question most ask is, "But how do we do that?"

The organization Made by Us has some ideas and tools to help. Youth250 is a nonpartisan initiative to capture young people's imaginations, ideas, and input for America's 250th. In addition to a toolkit, there is now the Youth250 Bureau, a group of 100 young adults from around the country who are available to assist organizations in engaging with young people.

Organizations can access several hours of FREE consulting services with an advisor from the bureau; advisors are from Generation Z (born 1997-2012) and have had training in human-centered design, history, consulting, storytelling and more.

The first step in the process is to get your organization's Gen Z Engagement Score to see how well you are doing in engaging with younger people in your community. Available support also includes:

Polling and Quick Feedback
Focus Groups and Ideation
Materials Review
Co-design Events and Programs
Creators, Panelists and SpeakersA

Youth250 Bureau

PRESENTATIONS

Upcoming Presentations

The Washington 250 team is scheduled to speak at several upcoming events. Click the links below for more information, and if you would like a presentation to your group, please contact us at info@america250wa.org.

July 9: Montesano Chamber of Commerce, Montesano

July 23: Gig Habor Super Business Group, Gig Harbor

Aug. 12: Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce, Arlington

Aug. 20: Marysville Rotary Club, Marysville

PARTNER NEWS

Ideas from our Partners

Need some inspiration about what you can do in your community for America's 250th? Check out some of our partner ideas.

America250 Radio Interview in Skagit County

Kim Kimmy, the regent for the Ann Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, gave an interview about America's 250th and the chapter's plans for participation with local radio station KSVR.

American Craft Series in Moses Lake The team at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center (Grant County) continue to come up with creative ideas for America's 250th. Another idea they have is a series of classes that celebrate and teach crafts such as basketmaking, weaving, and quilting.

Upcoming Partner Events

A statewide calendar of events is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out the following events:

June 19-20: Encampment on Thompson Creek

The Spirit of 76 Living History Association (Thurston County) will be in Yelm (Thurston County) for another living history event. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a,m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

AROUND WASHINGTON

KEY 2026 DATES

Don't forget to start thinking about your local plans for our key 2026 dates.

Day of Service: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Communities will organize local service projects such as helping digitize historical photographs at your history museum or participating in community cleanup events.

Independence Day: Saturday, July 4, 2026

Incorporate our official themes of America's 250th anniversary—We the People, Power of Place, and Sharing History—into your existing July 4th activities.

Washington Museum Day: Saturday, August 8, 2026

In collaboration with the Washington Museum Association, museums across the state will offer free or discounted admission and promote the “Out of Many, One” project.

Day of Civic Engagement: Thursday September 17, 2026

Communities are invited to plan activities to inspire civic participation such as hosting voter registration, meet-and-greets with civic leaders, or a civics-themed trivia night.

STATE COMMITTEE

State Committee Meetings

CORRECTION: The July meeting of the 250 State Committee will be held as originally planned. We apologize for the confusion in the previous newsletter.

Coming Up: 250 State Committee Meeting

July 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (PT) | Online

State committee meetings are quarterly and open to the public.

Previous Meetings

View on TVW

Missed a state committee meeting? Watch recordings of previous meetings courtesy of TVW.

Watch

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