Introducing Gov Trek

Speakers and panelists, including current and former legislators, staffers, and consultants, will cover various careers in public service and elective office. Student activities will include attending a public meeting held by a government agency or legislative body, presenting an elevator speech, and creating a campaign simulation.  The program finale will include a fun campaign team competition including helpful feedback from judges and a chance to win prizes. 

In this program, participants will:

• Engage in career exploration
• Gain access to local and state women legislators and leaders
• Run through a political campaign and understand the roles involved
• Make their college applications stand out
• Learn teamwork skills
• Meet peers from across California
• Sharpen public speaking skills
• Write speeches
• Design political fliers and ads
• Conduct audience analysis for voter outreach
• Receive a resource guide for relevant college and internship programs
• Receive a certificate of completion

Rewards will be provided for campaign competition winners.

Session Information

Gov Trek Finale and Campaign Competition

The final Gov Trek project includes the creation and delivery of a political campaign package designed to make positive change in the community, state, or country. Participants will be assigned to teams of up to six members, each of whom may request what role they prefer to play in the political campaign: 

• Candidate (1)
• Campaign manager (1)
• Field and volunteer manager (2)
• Communications director and speech writer (2)

Format: Campaign teams will work closely together through a realistic campaign simulation, delivering a six-minute video which includes: 

1. A candidate stump speech
2. Voter outreach plan 
3. Political candidate flier and campaign ad 

Time Limit: The entire video should be between five and one half and six and one half minutes long. Videos that do not fit within this timeframe will be disqualified from the competition. Videos will be uploaded to YouTube with the link submitted to govtrek@aauw-ca.org by midnight, Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Judging: Eight campaign teams will be selected to participate in the finale. Three VIP industry judges will evaluate and provide constructive feedback to the campaign teams competing in the final round. All finalists will receive The Empowered Citizens Guide: 10 Steps to Passing a Law that Matters to You. Additional awards will be provided in the following categories:

• Best Campaign Overall – Grand Prize Team – (6) Team members. Participants will be provided the opportunity to participate in a virtual internship. 
• Voter Outreach Plan (VOP) – Most Persuasive – You Got Our Vote! – (2) Field & volunteer manager
• Candidate Flier & Campaign Ad – Best Digital Collateral (2) Communications director & speechwriter. Most compelling campaign artwork/digital communications
• Speech – Most Impact – (1) Candidate. Articulates well the who, why, what of the campaign and the vision for change in the community, state, and country
• Political Messaging –  Most Effective – (1) Campaign manager. Clearly defined key messages, audiences, and strategies for reaching those audiences
• People’s Choice Award – (6) Team members. Favorite campaign decided by the audience (Zoom poll)