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About MUN
Answers to all your FAQs
Since 2001, the YMCA’s Youth & Government (Y&G) Model UN program has provided an unmatched experiential learning opportunity for middle school students in grades 6-8. By modeling the United Nations, participants can build skills such as problem solving, persuasive speech and writing, project management, and collaboration. Our program is rooted in the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, and believes in the importance of servant leadership and empathy.
Over the course of the program, participants will learn the history and purpose of the UN, improve their grasp of world geography, discuss and debate major international issues, and gain an appreciation for multiple world cultures.
In YMCA Model United Nations, our middle school ambassadors in grades 6-8 develop valuable skills such as:
- Cultural competency
- Evidence-based persuasion
- Planning and decision making
- A passion for teamwork and collaboration.
Students are challenged to take positions on and debate current-day issues from different perspectives as they dream up solutions to the world's most pressing problems.
We have 2 delegations meeting in midtown Sacramento and Grass Valley.
We welcome middle school students from any school.
If you've found our website from a google search and are looking for a delegation outside of the greater Sacramento area, there are over 65 across California. Visit the CalY&G website to learn more.
In the greater Sacramento area and onterested in starting a delegation closer to home? Contact us for more information.
Students from all schools are welcome. We currently have students from the following schools:
Alice Birney Waldorf School
Bridgeway Island K-8
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Forest Charter
Grass Valley Charter School
Merryhill Midtown
Natomas Charter
NP3
Nevada City School of the Arts
St Francis Elementary
St. Michael’s Episcopal Day School
Sutter Middle School
Yuba River Charter School
The program year runs from February through May.
The Sacramento Central Delegation meets on Wednesdays from 6:00p-7:30p.
The Grass Valley Delegation meets Thursdays from 6:30-7:45p.
Delegation meetings are led by volunteer advisors and high school volunteer Secretariats. During meetings, delegates have the chance to get to know one another, learn about the basic structures of the UN, hear from guest speakers, and hear about program leadership opportunities. They’ll also practice their public speaking skills during frequent debates and discussions about today’s top issues.
- (Sacramento Delegation Only) Sunday, February 4, 9:30a-1:30p, Kick Off Conference, Sacramento Central YMCA.
- Saturday, March 16, Regional Training Conference, Sacramento YMCA
- Friday, May 3-Sunday, May 5, 23d Model United Nations Summit, Camp Jones Gulch, Pescadero, CA (transportation provided)
Ambassadors attend a local coalition conference and two in-person regional conferences where they will interact with other Ambassadors from around California. At statewide conferences, Ambassadors will hear from keynote speakers, run for elected officer positions, receive training on their program areas, and put into practice everything they have learned throughout the program year.
Participation in Youth & Government programming constitutes an excused absence under the California Education Code. Ambassadors must attend conferences in full (no in-and-outprivileges).
Our program fee for 2024 is $780. Financial assistance is available.
We are committed to equal program access for all and are dedicated to ensuring the benefits of Y&G are available to every student in our community without regard to financial need. No delegate should ever drop out or refrain from joining because of financial concerns. If you want to do this program, we want you to do this program!
At a minimum, Ambassadors are expected to attend weekly meetings (1.5 hours) and attend the local conference, training conference, and full Model UN.
Beyond that, Y&G is what you make of it. Ambassadors interested in pursuing elected or appointed office within the delegation or at the statewide level will be expected to attend additional meetings (mostly via zoom for statewide offices) and may put additional time into preparing speeches, campaigning, or engaging with other delegations.
MUN teaches real-world advocacy skills and life skills like public speaking, research and writing, time management, project management, networking, and interviewing.
Participation in MUN prepares Ambassadors well who want to go on to our high school Model Legislature & Court program.
Colleges are familiar wtih Y&G and our program is highly regarded.
Y&G delegates report decreased apathy and increased interest in current events, civic affairs, and leadership.
Participation in Y&G may increase incidents of informed debate, informed voting, and the urge to join community organizations or to volunteer to improve your neighborhood, city, state, or country.
Y&G delegates also report higher than average rates of voter registration and turnout.
Occassional use of spirit fingers during classroom activities or non-Y&G meetings has also been reported.
There is no known cure for these side effects.
First off, we all wear nametags at meetings and conferences, so quite literally, no one is anonymous in Y&G.
But more to the point: #notanonymous is our Capitol Coalition philosophy reminding us that, despite what the internet age would have us believe, none of us is anonymous. The things that we say and do matter - for better or for worse. Each of our actions impacts the world around us. WE matter and our presence matters to the world. We are each important and valuable and we each bring an imporant perspective to the world.
Our delegates adopted its REDPIE values in 2021.
- Respect
- Empathy
- Dedication
- Purpose
- Integrity
- Encouragement
We strive to be caught living these values and improving our communities through our actions.
These Coalition values augment the YMCA values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility that are in the heart of everything that we do.
We're so glad you asked! As a program of the YMCA, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we gratefully accept donations that help us keep delegate fees low and maintain our commitment to ensuring that opportunity is a right and not a privilege.
Please visit the main YMCA website to learn more about our many programs that serve kids, families, seniors, and more.
A program of the YMCA of Superior California.
Learn more about our programs for healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility here.
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