The State Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) program was started in 2002, in conjunction with National Y.E.S.. Its purpose is to introduce high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors to their state government and the roles that future generations of voters will play. A special emphasis is also placed on the benefits of firearms ownership.

 

States that currently host their own state Y.E.S. programs are Alaska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Students from these states must attend his or her state Y.E.S. before attending National Y.E.S.

 

Alaska:  Contact the Y.E.S. coordinators at YES@ohfak.org for more information. Summit typically takes place in March.  **Note: This program is cancelled for 2013--please apply to national Y.E.S. program**

 

North Carolina:  Contact NRA Field Representative Doug Merrill at (828) 628-0410 or rmerrill@nrahq.org for more information.  Summit typically takes place in September.

 

Pennsylvania:  Applications are due March 14--get yours in soon!  The summit will take place April 25 - 29, 2013.  Contact Y.E.S. coordinator Charlie Fox at (570) 297-4642 or NRA Field Rep Kory Enck at (717) 689-3200 or kenck@nrahq.org for more information. Download the application by clicking here!

 

Oregon: Students who applied from Oregon for the 2013 national Y.E.S. program will automatically be applying to the Oregon state Y.E.S., which takes place at the end of May.  Contact Y.E.S. coordinator Katie Jones at (541) 672-0788 or markjonestrucking@msn.com.

 

Texas: Applications are due February 15--get yours in soon!  The summit will take place April 4 - 6, 2013.  Please contact Y.E.S. Coordinator Robin Dawson at (806) 670-4151 or Texas.YES.2013@gmail.com for more information.  Download the application by clicking here! 

 

Virginia: Applications are due June 5--get yours in soon!  The summit will take place July 12 - 14 2013.  First place winner will receive a trip to the national Y.E.S. program the following summer and $1,000 in college scholarships, second place winner will receive $500, and third place will receive $250.  Contact NRA Field Rep David Wells at (434) 696-2189 or dwells@nrahq.org for more information.  Download the application by clicking here!

 

The main goals of this program are to give these students the opportunity to develop an awareness and desire to participate in all levels of government, learn about their state's unique heritage and history, and obtain a better understanding of volunteer organizations and how young citizens can become involved in serving their communities.

 

Students spend four days in the state capital visiting with legislative and political leaders, and learning about their state's history by touring museums and historical sites. In addition, students are introduced to various career opportunities, relating directly or indirectly to their interest in firearms, such as law enforcement or military service. Careers in wildlife and conservation are also included within this scope. Students also practice their public speaking and debate skills through carefully designed group exercises.

 

How is a State Y.E.S. funded?

Funding for the program comes primarily through grants from each state's State Fund Committee. Funding may also be secured through state associations, local businesses and other sponsors or donors. The end result is that students attend Y.E.S. free of charge, though they are required to cover their own transportation costs to and from the program.

 

Why should you get involved?

The program teaches valuable leadership skills and promotes students to become involved as active citizens in their local community. State Y.E.S. allows more students to participate, thereby creating a larger grassroots base. Instead of reaching just forty students each year at the national level, multiple State Y.E.S. programs throughout the year could potentially reach hundreds or more annually.

 

How do you get involved?

First, touch base with your NRA field representative and let them know that you are interested in starting a State Y.E.S. in your area. Next, contact NRA Headquarters for an informational press kit, which includes materials to help you get started. You can also download the Volunteer's Guide to Starting a State Youth Education Summit. Follow the instructions in the guide to secure funding and schedule a summit in your state.

 

Contact info: Call (800) 672-3888 ext. 1342 or email yes@nrahq.org for more information.

 

 

As Alaska, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have watched their state Youth Education Summits (Y.E.S.) flourish into creative learning environments for outstanding students in their states, other states have struggled or not even considered starting their own Y.E.S. Why? Various reasons can hinder start-ups— not enough volunteers, funding, or time being the main culprits. I am here to tell you that starting a state Y.E.S. can be done and is worth the time and commitment involved in organizing one!

 

State volunteer Y.E.S. organizers, along with NRA Field Representatives, can attest to the immense impact a state Y.E.S. has on their students and communities. Not only are they teaching today’s youth about the history and mission of the NRA, but also cultivating communication and leadership skills that students will carry on with them for the rest of their lives. In addition, students are provided the opportunity to develop an awareness and desire to learn about their state’s unique heritage and history, and understand how young citizens can become involved in serving their communities. If you find you are interested in this mission and are willing to implement a Y.E.S. program in your state capital, you are on the path to starting a state Y.E.S. Here’s some bullet points on how to accomplish that goal:

 

Recruit Volunteers: Although planning a state Y.E.S. program is possible with one person, it will be much more successful with several volunteers who can share the work load.

 

Secure Funding: First-year state Y.E.S. programs need to have a sponsoring organization.  The national Y.E.S. organizer at NRA Headquartes submits a state Y.E.S. grant to each State Fund Committee (SFC).   Once the SFC approves the grant and is processed through The NRA Foundation, the sponsoring organization will receive the funds and the state Y.E.S. organizers will have access to the money they need to support the program.

 

Create an Itinerary: State summits last three to four days and include activities such as state capitol tours, museum tours and student speeches and debates.

 

Select Students: National Y.E.S. can provide you with the application process to get started on selecting a qualified group of 5-10 students.

 

Now that you see how easy it can be if your state hasn’t started a Y.E.S. program yet, what are you waiting for? Contact Your State NRA Field Representative and get involved today!