Youth and Government is a club at Old Saybrook High School that was started by Marie Therese Moroski three years ago. Over the course of the school year, members prepare their own bills and go to a Youth and Government conference in the spring to debate them.
This club is great for students who are interested in government and the legislative process, as well as students who just want to learn more about debating! Youth and Government can also be beneficial in teaching students critical public speaking skills.
Hannah Belknap, the president of the senate in this club, shares that Youth and Government can open up many opportunities for students who perform well at the conference through the YMCA. The YMCA is the program that Youth and Government is run through. Students with bills that are awarded at the conference, can receive openings in nationwide YMCA programs. Furthermore, club members can become officers in the conference program and possess positions like governor, President of the Senate, or Head of the House of Representatives.
According to a survey done by teleprompter.com, as of November 2025, 75% of high school students reported they have some form of severe public speech anxiety. Joining Youth and Government, can certainly help students with dealing with speaking in front of an audience, ensuring them to become better at public speaking and debate. Youth and Government requires its members to spend the school year creating a bill. Hannah Belknap also tells us that “creating a bill requires students to use many different skills such as researching, and using their creativity”. Both of these skills can be applied to projects and assignments students may pursue in many of their classes. Finally, when members of the club have prepared their bills and are ready to present them in Hartford, they have to use another vital skill-thinking on your feet. The students must try to find flaws in their opponents’ bills on the spot, and defend their bill to the best of their ability.
Ms.Torre Reilly the club’s advisor states that participation in the Youth and Government club can not only help with skills like communication, debate, and interpersonal skills but that joining can help with civics skills. Civics is a required course at Old Saybrook High School, and joining Youth and Government is an amazing way to learn more about the class before or while you’re taking the class! Also, bill writing is a skill not typically taught in classrooms, and can be great for students who are interested in writing bills or want to do something of that sort in their career.
Ms. Torre Reilly also shares one of the key takeaways from the club that members have. “Students who participate in the conference and club, can feel that their voice is significant and that even as young adults, they can make a change!” This could be very beneficial for students who feel like their voice won’t be heard or considered, or feel really passionate about an issue that they would like to change. Add more explanation here.
Additionally, Ms.Torre Reilly says that the “Youth and Government club is looking for interested underclassmen members. Anyone who is interested can talk to Ms.Torre Reilly or a club member!”
