The Homeschool Day at the Capitol is a great educational experience for the entire family. There’s no better way to teach your children Washington State Civics than to visit the seat of our state government, visit your legislators, and learn first hand how our government and citizen participation work!
What to know and how to prepare for your experience at the Capitol
1. How to determine your legislative district?
2. How to find your senator and representatives of your district?
All Representatives and Senators
3. How to contact your legislator to meet with them?
When you learn your legislative district, click on the name of your legislators (each district has one senator and two representatives), scroll down, and call the phone numbers to arrange to meet your legislators. We recommend 15-minute visits for each appointment.
Ever since 2020, the only way you can see your legislator is arranging an appointment in advance of the event. Don’t wait to arrange your appointment close to the day of the event. If your legislator(s) are not available, you can request to meet with the Legislative Aid or Secretary. They are important staff that will present your views to the legislator(s). By meeting, you as a constituent will make a significant impression since you took the time to meet with them and share the importance for homeschooling. Make an appointment for the afternoon when they are more so available.
4. Where to park and where are we meeting?
Campus Map | Washington State Capitol Campus – We are meeting in the Legislative Building and 1st floor Columbia Room. Pay with a credit card or cash. We recommend you bring bills just in case the credit card machine doesn’t work.
Senators and Representatives Offices are in the following building: Legislative Building, John L O’Brie, John A. Cherberg, and Irving R. Newhouse.
5. How to make an impact and prepare for your visit with your legislators?
Make a homemade apple pie and present to each of the legislators that you are visiting. Each district has one senator and two representatives. Making an appointment is the only way to present your pie. They no longer allow you to just stop by the offices.
Have each of your children write a thank you note for each of your district legislators. Mention your appreciation for their work and the importance of the freedom to homeschool in Washington State and why you like being homeschooled. Present the note(s) during your visit.
Since meeting with your legislator(s), we encourage you to bring something homemade, which is a positive way to remember homeschooling happens at home.
What you could consider talking about during your visit?
Why did you become a senator/representative?
What are you passionate about as a legislator?
Why you as a family homeschool.
6. If you are not planning to visit with your legislator(s):
Have each of your children write a note to thank the legislator(s) for the freedom to homeschool in Washington State and why you like being homeschooled. You can deliver your note to the front desk or security guard on the floor of your legislator’s office or give your note at the Registration Table. The staff will deliver your note for you.
You can still make a homemade apple pie for each of the 3 legislators in your district. There is one senator and two representatives. Before leaving the Capitol, go to the office of the legislators and present your homemade apple pies to the guards or front desk of that floor. They will have the pies taken to the offices. The only way you can drop off a pie at the legislator’s office is to make an appointment ahead of time.
7. How to Dress for the DAC at the Capitol?
Ladies – dresses or skirts with no slits and modest neckline and tops.
Men – slacks, sweater or shirts with tie or jacket and nice shoes. No denim nor activewear shoes.
8. Bring Your Lunch
While we eat lunch, you have time to talk to representatives of the organizations that gave their presentations. Talk with them about exploring opportunities for your young adult or family to pursue. Also, the senators and representatives will be stopping by to talk with the group during the lunch hour and early part of the afternoon.
9. Suggestions for Prepping Your Apple Pie Ahead of the Day at the Capitol
Make your homemade pie ahead of time – double crusted or crumb topping apple pies only in a disposable foil pan.
Bake your pies and let them cool completely.
Wrap in plastic wrap well and place in a gallon bag and store in the freezer.
Two days before the DAC, remove your pie to store your refrigerator to thaw. Remove the plastic wrap to avoid making the crust moist as it thaws.
Night before the event, wipe the foil pan if gooey and place in a gallon bag.
On the day of the event, present your homemade apple pie in the gallon bag with your thank you note(s)!
Schedule
8:30am – Check-in at Registration and receive information packets – Columbia Room. Turn in your thank you note(s) for the legislator if you are not meeting with them.
9:00am – Welcome, announcements, prayer
9:15am – Presentations
Phil Wilson
How to be Involved in your Local Government and Party Caucus
Biblical Citizenship Course
Jennifer Sefzik
Train them Up – To be in Politics?
Patrick Henry College
Ken Ramey, Director of Church and Grassroots Relationships
Who is Family Policy Institute of Washington – FPIW?
Ruth Peterson, Executive Assistant
Her Path to Being an Executive Assistant to a Senator
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Jami Lund
What is a Legislative Aid?
Jana Krabill, Regional Director for NCFCA
What is the National Christian and Communication Association?
– Learn about the different approaches to debate appropriately
Experiences at the Capitol
Talk with representatives of the different organizations to learn more about pursuing experiences for your young adult children or family.
11:50am – 12:50pm Bring your lunches to eat in the Columbia Room
12:15pm – 1:45pm Meet Senators and Representatives
Arrange to meet 15 minutes with each of your 3 district legislators (1 senator and 2 representatives) during the early afternoon hours.
1:00 – 3:00pm Tours (Sign up for one tour during the two times provided)
Tours 1A, 1B, 1C 1:00 – 2:00pm
Tours 2A, 2B, 2C 2:00 – 3:00pm
Why Attend the Day at the Capitol?
1. To let your homeschooling family shine its light before the legislators and government workers of this state:
- Coming to Homeschool Day at the Capitol gives state workers an opportunity to see and meet real homeschooling families, and that is important.
- If people working in our government never meet homeschoolers, it is difficult for them to relate to us as real people with genuine concerns.
2. To bring a blessing to those who serve us in our state government:
- Hardworking legislators are at work in Olympia before, during, and after the close of each legislative session.
- The Bible tells us that they are appointed by God to govern us.
- And whether we agree with our representatives on all their decisions or not, it is important for us to show Christian love to them and express to them our sincere appreciation for all they do.
3. To briefly share your joys and concerns:
- Our legislators need to meet and visit with honoring, polite, interested homeschooling families to hear how homeschooling is benefiting their families.
- They also need to visit with homeschoolers to learn their concerns and know how best to represent them.
- See the section below for tips on meeting and visiting with your legislators.
4. To learn more about the workings of our legislature:
- Homeschool Day Tours of the Capitol (in Washington State called the Legislative Building) give families a close up look at the historical and present-day seat of state government.
- You will also get a glimpse of government workings in progress.
- But remember, if you do at least a brief study or review of Washington government before you arrive, your family will benefit even more from this valuable experience.