By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (GRFPM) Education Department is hosting two Empower Young Voices: Community Leadership Camp sessions on July 30 and Aug. 2. These camps are open to students grades 6-8 and free to attend, though registration is required.
Government oddities and $10,000 bills
Dr. Richard Weld, Education Specialist for GRFPM, will be leading students, plus their accompanying adults, in a three-hour program of discussion and activities as they learn about becoming engaged leaders in their community.
“These camps are going to be both informative and fun,” Weld told WKTV Journal. “We’re going to cover some of the odder things about American civic sections and the government structure that people don’t know…and who is on the $10,000 bill.”
Encouraging students to get involved in their community and empowering them to use their voices is a main goal of the Museum’s Education Department and part of their general programming. In addition to the leadership camps, the Museum hosts an annual ArtPrize Create Art in Your Community program as well as a Use Your Voice program during National Writing Month or National Reading Month.
Ideas + passion + energy = empowerment
Empower Young Voices became a reality in summer of 2024 when the Museum partnered with various organizations throughout the Grand Rapids area that were looking for activities for youth. The success of those leadership camps inspired Weld to offer opportunities for public participation as well.
“The students are our future so we wanted to get them started sooner rather than later,” said Weld. “Talk about how you can know more about your community, connect to your community and use your First Amendment rights right away – they don’t start when you turn 18.”
Many youth are already dynamically involved in the world through reading and learning. Weld believes that channeling that knowledge is how the community will engage the next generation of citizens.
“The more we engage young people now, the better they are going to be engaged when they’re adults,” said Weld.
And engaged youth are empowered youth.
“A lot of young people don’t think that anyone is listening to them,” Weld said. “But that doesn’t mean they don’t have great ideas, it doesn’t mean they don’t have passion and energy. And they are more connected to their community than they know.”
The Museum’s leadership camps provide opportunities for youth to speak up about any concerns they have regarding their community – and to be part of the solution.
What to expect:
Camp participants can expect a museum tour as well as discussions about the structure of government, President Ford’s 25 years of service in Congress, his vice presidency and presidency, and how President and Betty Ford led by example through engagement in their own communities.
“That’s one of the things we want kids to take away from this is: lead by example,” said Weld. “Be the people you want other people to be.”
Students will learn specific examples of how they can lead and engage in their communities through school, social media and more.
“A lot of them don’t even realize how engaged they already are,” said Weld. “We talk about networking for adults, but kids have already started building their communities even when they’re young.”
How to register:
Registration for the Empower Young Voices camp sessions is required, and space is limited.
Empower Young Voice: Community Leadership Camp registration links:
About Dr. Richard Weld
Dr. Richard Weld is a graduate of Hope College (BA, Ancient Civilizations), Yale University (MA, Archaeology) and Purdue University (PhD, Anthropology).
He began his journey as a professional educator in 1995 as a technology co-teacher in Michigan public schools, before moving into museum education at the National WWII Museum. After four years teaching English as a second language at public and private schools in Japan, he returned to the museum field to work at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.
He is now with the National Archives, as Education Specialist at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, located in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
