CWF is a week-long 4-H citizenship program for 4-H’ers, thousands of which come to Washington D.C. each summer, to learn about the democratic process, their role as citizens, and experience our nation’s capital. The 2025 South Dakota Delegation will travel to CWF June 14 – 20, 2025.
Typical CWF Activities
- Workshops and discussions with teens from around the U.S. on how to create change in your local community.
- Typical Memorials and Monuments visited: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
- Typical Smithsonians visited: National Air and Space Museum, National American History Museum, National Museum of Natural History
- Other typical locations visited throughout the week: United States Capitol Tour, White House (outside), Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, Supreme Court Building, Library of Congress, Union Station, Twilight Tattoo at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Holocaust Museum
Transportation
For the 2025 CWF trip, we are planning on flying and using the bus transportation that CWF provides. The plan is to fly out of both Sioux Falls and Rapid City into Washington D.C.
Who can participate?
4-H’ers ages 15-18, as of January 1 of the trip year are eligible to attend CWF. Contact the 4-H Educator for your county to determine other county-specific steps to apply for CWF. Counties give their selected CWF youth delegates initial instructions and forms in January to send to the State 4-H Office on/before February 18, 2025.
County Selection Process
CWF youth delegates are selected at a county level based on local policies and procedures. Delegates must be able to perform the following essential functions of the trip with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Age-appropriate social and intellectual skills to actively participate in all activities
- Physical stamina to walk long distances and endurance for participating in a 16-hour day
The State 4-H Office and the National 4-H Council coordinate registration, transportation, lodging, some meals, activities and events for the South Dakota delegation.
South Dakota 4-H’ers wishing to participate in CWF need to contact their 4-H youth advisor to find out if their county has CWF delegate reservations. If yes, then youth and their families need to complete the application steps that the county and state 4-H offices require.
What does CWF cost?
The cost for the 2025 CWF trip is $3,500.00 per youth delegate (transportation, lodging, and most meals). Some Leader Associations provide scholarships. Youth delegates should plan to bring approximately $300.00 in spending money.
Non-Refundable Payment Schedule
- January 13: The first payment of $2,000.00 is due to the State 4-H Office with the county’s completed reservation form.
- February 18: CWF delegates’ completed forms and the second payment of $750.00 is due.
- April 1: The final $750.00 payment is due to the State 4-H Office.
Chaperones
Responsibilities
- Representing SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development per the South Dakota Code of Conduct; serves as a role model; provides a safe and caring environment for all youth delegates
- Boarding the airplane in Rapid City or Sioux Falls at the assigned location.
- Ability to chaperone all youth delegates within the framework of the trip’s itinerary
- Willingness to listen to ideas from all youth and provide appropriate feedback
- Enforcement of rules and expectations for all youth to ensure appropriate behavior per the South Dakota 4-H Code of Conduct, the specific trip’s Code of Conduct and the South Dakota 4-H Dress Code
- Participate fully in the trip activities, providing supervision and guidance to all youth delegates from the trip’s start to its’ finish
Qualifications
Adults, age 21 or older, who have a strong interest in youth development, are experienced at chaperoning youth and are a:
- SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor; or
- SDSU Extension Field Specialist; or
- Registered South Dakota 4-H Volunteer without restrictions.
Preference will be given to applicants without children on the trip.
Application
- If you meet the Qualifications and can assume all of the responsibilities listed above during 2025 CWF, fill out the coach and chaperone interest form. The interest form needs to be filled out on or before January 13, 2025.
