For Students Interested in Getting Involved

The Minnesota Civic Seal is recognition for students who take their civic education beyond the classroom and into the real world. To earn the Minnesota Civic Seal, students in grades 9-12 choose an issue, complete and reflect on activities to earn points, carry out a Civic Action Project, and share their story in a Video Showcase.

1. Choose Your Issue

Every Minnesota Civic Seal journey starts with an issue you care about, whether it's mental health, the environment, affordable housing, or something happening in your own school or community. 

2. Earn Your Points

Students earn points by completing activities in five categories:

  • Democratic Engagement
  • Civic Knowledge
  • Media Literacy
  • Community Service
  • Bridge Building

To earn the Civic Seal, you will need to complete at least one activity in each category and 120 total points, including the points from your Civic Action Project.

3. Complete a Civic Action Project

The Civic Action Project is the heart of the Seal. It's where you take everything you've learned about your issue and put it into action to create a positive change. Projects can be completed on your own, with classmates, or in partnership with community members and organizations.

4. Share Your Story with a Video Showcase

The Video Showcase is the final step. It's your chance to reflect on what you learned, document your impact, and tell your story in your own voice.

What You'll Gain

  • Skills for college and career: leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication
  • Recognition: a Minnesota Civic Seal that shows colleges and employers you don't just care about your community, you take action to make it better
  • Real impact: the satisfaction of making a genuine difference on an issue that matters to you

Ready to get started?

Check out the Active Minnesota Civic Seals Delegations List or connect with the Minnesota Civic Seal Statewide Delegation to get started.

Questions? Email YouthVoice@ymcanorth.org.

For Educators

Bring the Minnesota Civic Seal to Your School

The Minnesota Civic Seal connects classroom learning with hands-on civic engagement. Students research, complete, and reflect on activities in five categories: Democratic Engagement, Civic Knowledge, Media Literacy, Community Service, and Bridge Building. This flexible "choose-your-own-civic-adventure" approach lets students pursue experiences that match their interests, schedules, and local opportunities.

Research shows that students who take part in meaningful civic engagement show stronger academic engagement, greater well-being, increased community connection, and stronger workplace-ready skills such as communication, collaboration, and initiative (Journal of Youth and Adolescence).

Program Goals

  • Empower students to identify issues they care about and take meaningful action
  • Build civic skills across five categories: Democratic Engagement, Civic Knowledge, Media Literacy, Community Service, and Bridge Building
  • Connect learning to action through Civic Action Projects that create measurable community impact
  • Recognize achievement as students earn the Minnesota Civic Seal

Implement the Minnesota Civic Seal with the model that works best for you, your students, and your school: 

  • Classroom model: Embed the Minnesota Civic Seal program into a course. 
  • After-school program: Run the Minnesota Civic Seal as an extracurricular activity.
  • Hybrid model: Complete skill-building activities in class and have students take on Civic Action Projects outside of class.
  • Independent study: Support motivated students who want to pursue the Minnesota Civic Seal on their own.

Interested in Getting Involved? 

Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are now closed. If you'd like to be part of a future cohort, or hear about opportunities as they open, let us know by completing the Minnesota Civic Seal Educator Interest Form.

Questions? Email YouthVoice@ymcanorth.org.