Liberty Day

Liberty Day’s Capitol Visits program has been a staple initiative for the organization for years—and with good reason! With this project, Liberty Day and its partner organizations provide kids with the chance to immerse themselves in government in a unique way and/or to stump adults on questions about the Constitution and feel empowered by the experience.

Liberty Day has cosponsored Capitol Visits and other such experiences in 35 states and the District of Columbia, with annual programs for Liberty Day (March 16, James Madison’s birthday) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado, going back nearly a decade. We also work with the United States Congress, the FBI, and D.C. area schools for our yearly Constitution Day (September 17) event.

Empowerment of the Kids

Liberty Day Kids who visit a capitol, local post office, or other venue take part in a one-of-a-kind experience. With adult supervision, they quiz everyone they meet, from visitors and congressional staffers to police officers, congresspeople, and even state governors. They participate in tours, recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the house and senate floors, and much more!

But most importantly, the Liberty Day Capitol Visits empower kids.

Whenever Liberty Day brings kids to capitals, post offices, university campuses, and elsewhere to quiz, each one gets to experience something much like they're the TV show Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

Sometimes, it’s the kids who are the experts! One fifth grade girl was quizzing a Colorado state legislator who got several questions wrong. At the end of the conversation, the legislator asked, “Don’t I get a sticker?”

The girl put her hand on her hip, pointed her right index finger at him, and said, “You should know this—it’s your job.”

Participating kids really get a kick out of the experience, especially when they seem to know things other people don’t!

“We questioned them [on the Liberty Day 24 Q&As] and they were easy, hard, and medium questions and we gave them prizes every time they got it right. It was cool,” praised Laura, a 10-year-old Liberty Day Kid. “Some of them knew usually the easy ones and stuff, but a lot of them didn’t know and they learned more.”



	Our Capitol Visits program, one of Liberty Day’s longest-running traditions, gives kids an extraordinary opportunity to experience government and politics first-hand. Working in partnership with a school or service club, Liberty Day provides “Liberty Day Kids” with the chance to venture to their state capitol, local post office, a university, or another venue in an enjoyable, fun, empowering visit. Visitors to capitals recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the floor of the legislature, receive recognition from state government leaders, distribute books to everyone they meet, and more. Read on to learn more about this exciting venture!		Adopt-A-School Program Volunteer Initiatives Celebration America Capitol Visits Individual Volunteering back to "Programs & Initiatives"


	Liberty Day’s Capitol Visits program has been a staple initiative for the organization for years—and with good reason! With this project, Liberty Day and its partner organizations provide kids with the chance to immerse themselves in government in a unique way and/or to stump adults on questions about the Constitution and feel empowered by the experience. Liberty Day has cosponsored Capitol Visits and other such experiences in 35 states and the District of Columbia, with annual programs for Liberty Day (March 16, James Madison’s birthday) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado, going back nearly a decade. We also work with the United States Congress, the FBI, and D.C. area schools for our yearly Constitution Day (September 17) event. Empowerment of the Kids Liberty Day Kids who visit a capitol, local post office, or other venue take part in a one-of-a-kind experience. With adult supervision, they quiz everyone they meet, from visitors and congressional staffers to police officers, congresspeople, and even state governors. They participate in tours, recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the house and senate floors, and much more! But most importantly, the Liberty Day Capitol Visits empower kids. Whenever Liberty Day brings kids to capitals, post offices, university campuses, and elsewhere to quiz, each one gets to experience something much like they're the TV show Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? Sometimes, it’s the kids who are the experts! One fifth grade girl was quizzing a Colorado state legislator who got several questions wrong. At the end of the conversation, the legislator asked, “Don’t I get a sticker?” The girl put her hand on her hip, pointed her right index finger at him, and said, “You should know this—it’s your job.” Participating kids really get a kick out of the experience, especially when they seem to know things other people don’t! “We questioned them [on the Liberty Day 24 Q&As] and they were easy, hard, and medium questions and we gave them prizes every time they got it right. It was cool,” praised Laura, a 10-year-old Liberty Day Kid. “Some of them knew usually the easy ones and stuff, but a lot of them didn’t know and they learned more.”			At Liberty Day, we know that everyone we work with has a passion for this country and everything it has to offer. We share your commitment to certain ultimate goals and objectives that your organization has developed. That is why we believe in forming and cultivating a partnership with your group to make each and every program a success that everyone involved is eager to return to. When we work with other organizations in the effort to open up the hearts and minds of kids to our nation’s foundations, we’re partners in the effort. Over the course of our 14-year history, Liberty Day has successfully collaborated with Optimist, Lions, and Kiwanis Clubs, along with schools and government organizations. Here’s how it works: The partner organization first contacts the capital and a local class or two and arranges for a visit. They then purchase the materials for each student and chaperone—usually consisting of the Liberty Day Constitution booklet with Q&A flashcards, Liberty Day Kids stickers, and Liberty Day Kids t-shirts. Liberty Day ships the materials, provides endorsement letters and other key aids, and helps with the arrangements based on the agreement made between Liberty Day and our partner organization. Liberty Day and our partners frequently arrange for a guest speaker, such as a legislator, to visit the students in class shortly after the day of the capitol visit. That’s it in a nutshell. With these simple steps, the Liberty Day Capitol Visits provide students with a rare chance to experience government first-hand and become empowered as they quiz others about the Constitution and receive recognition from their local or national legislature! Interested in bringing Liberty Day’s Capitol Visits program to your state capitol? E-mail President Andy McKean or call us toll-free at 866.718.3434 today! Are you a member? Ask us about our exclusive membership benefits!

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