The Village of Homewood is introducing a new youth civics academy to give Homewood residents ages 10-14 an inside look at how local government operates through hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes experiences.

The one-day program will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Homewood’s Municipal Campus, 2020 Chestnut Road. It will be open to students who will be entering fifth through eighth grade and attending a Homewood or Flossmoor school during the 2026-27 school year, Homewood Communications and Engagement Manager Antonia Steinmiller said. 

Students will have opportunities to interact with representatives from the police and fire departments, public works, as well as finance and Community and Economic Development. Participants will take part in activities designed to demonstrate how those departments serve the community, Steinmiller said. 

The academy is limited to 20 participants. Registration closes July 29 or when the program reaches capacity. A pizza lunch and T-shirt are included, she said.  

For those interested, sign up here.

According to Steinmiller, village officials have been looking for a way to connect with younger residents for some time before developing the new program.

“We just needed to figure out the right approach,” Steinmiller said, adding, “we really feel like we’ve landed on something special with the Homewood Youth Civics Academy.”

Steinmiller said she worked alongside Brooklyn Boykins, a communications intern, to refine the concept and create the details of the program to make it unique and enjoyable. 

According to Steinmiller, students entering fifth through eighth grade were selected because they are old enough to understand how local government works while still being young enough to be excited by interactive experiences.

Unlike the village’s adult civics academy, the youth program will revolve mostly around hands-on learning rather than classroom-style lectures. Each department will spend about 15 minutes introducing its role before students engage in activities and demonstrations. Participants will spend about 75% of the day outdoors, Steinmiller said. 

The village hopes the academy will become an annual summer tradition. This year’s event is being treated as a pilot program, with organizers planning to gather feedback and make improvements before offering it again, she said. 

“We hope students […] come away with a better understanding of the people and departments that help keep Homewood running every day,” Steinmiller said.