Educator Toolkit 2026-27 · Chapter 7 of 12
Resources and templates
Key links and customizable templates for outreach.
Reference
Key Resources
Everything lives at nysyag.org. These are the links advisors use most.
| Website | nysyag.org |
|---|---|
| Intent Form and state pages | nysyag.org (choose New York, Connecticut, or Rhode Island) |
| Contact | Drew Caldwell, Director of Youth Development dcaldwell@ymcanys.org |
| Book a call | outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/e4e92065147b46239bfa2b6e461febaa@ymcanys.org?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature Or use the booking link at the bottom of any email from Drew. |
| Mailing address | YMCA Youth and Government, 465 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205 |
| Program video | youtu.be/4ZdvqaiwQHU |
| @northeastyag | |
| Ask Gavel | The Youth and Government chat assistant, on every page of nysyag.org |
| NY Seal of Civic Readiness | nysed.gov/standards-instruction/criteria-earn-seal-civic-readiness |
| Bill Writing Guide, template, and Bill Books | On request from Drew, or your state’s page |
| Lesson plan series | Storybook County Lesson Plans (14 lessons) and Civic Seal Units (7
units with a Seal crosswalk), “Two Lesson Plan Series to
Download”: nysyag.org/educator-toolkit.html |
| State statutes | NYNysenate.gov/legislation CTCga.ct.gov RIWebserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes |
| Support the scholarship fund | Venmo @nysymca or PayPal: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AAQ7Y74Q4UTNE |
Email domain to allow
@ymcanys.org. Monthly advisor emails and every deadline reminder come from here. See “IT Guidance for Educators” for IT guidance.
Forms run on
Airtable. Registration, bills, rooming, and your delegation’s view links all use airtable.com.
Older links
Some school filters flag resources on our previous website. If a link gives a security warning, email us and we’ll send the file directly.
Reference
Customizable Templates
Copy, fill in the [blue brackets], and send. The Word version of this toolkit has these ready to edit.
Sample Parent/Guardian Announcement
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I’m excited to share that our school will take part in YMCA Youth and Government this year. In this nonpartisan civics program, students research a real issue, write a bill that changes state law, and debate it with students from across the state in the actual chambers of the State Capitol.
Students will meet [when and where] to write bills and practice debate. The State Conference is [dates] at [location]. [For overnight conferences: Students stay at the hotel with adult chaperones, and the fee covers lodging and all meals.]
The cost is [amount]. Financial aid is available, and no student is turned away for financial reasons. Each student registers online with a parent or guardian, and that registration includes the YMCA permission slip.
To learn more, visit nysyag.org or reach out to me with any questions. I’m excited for our students to find their voices.
Sincerely,
[Advisor Name]
Sample Student Interest Flyer Text
Want to write a real law?
Join Youth and Government! Pick an issue you care about, write a bill to fix it, and debate it in the real State Capitol with students from across the state.
No experience needed. You don’t even have to write a bill to join.
Interest meeting: [date, time,
room]
Advisor: [name]
Sample Permission Note for Class Time
Dear Parent/Guardian,
As part of our [class/unit], students will research a state issue and draft a bill using the YMCA Youth and Government format. Attending the State Conference is optional.
If you’d like your child to attend, please complete the online registration by [deadline]. If you have questions, contact me at [email].
Thank you,
[Teacher Name]
More templates
The principal email is in “How to Get Started”, the IT allowlist request is in “IT Guidance for Educators”, and celebration templates (announcement, social post, legislator invitation) are in “Celebrate Participation”.