Public Adventures is a new citizenship curriculum designed to help youth contribute to the world around them and develop a life-long commitment to active citizenship. Youth will find out about issues that are important to them and others, gain new skills so they can make positive things happen, discover new ideas to help them make sense of what they're doing, and take what they are learning and put it into action.

The heart of Public Adventures is the project that the youth plan that creates, changes, or improves something that is valuable to many people. Then they do it! This is what being an active citizen in a democracy is all about.

By focusing on active citizenship, youth will:

• Develop skills in planning, organizing, communicating in a public, working with others and developing group and self-accountability
• Develop a personal commitment to the community in which they live and of the larger public world
• Increase their confidence in their ability to participate in and contribute to public life
• Understand the concepts associated with citizenship
• Become creators, producers, and owners within their communities and the larger public world.

Instructional Materials

The curriculum includes a Guide Handbook and an Adventure Kit. The Public Adventures' process is divided into seven steps. The Guide Handbook has one chapter per step and contains explanations of concepts and suggestions on how to introduce and discuss them with youth, activities, what if's, references to the Adventure Kit postcards, and notebook ideas. The Adventure Kit contains a map, a passport, postcards, notebook divider pages and a phrase book.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

01A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.

01B. Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.

01C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

02A. Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.

02B. Read and interpret a variety of literary works.

04A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.

04B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

05A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.

05B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

14D. Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups on the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.

17D. Understand the historical significance of geography