TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE? Eau Claire will host the National Civics Bee competition in the new year, offering local youths the chance to think about ways to positively impact the community – and a cash prize. (Submitted photo)

The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting an essay competition for middle schoolers to engage in civics and contribute to their community. 

2024 will mark the third annual National Civics Bee competition, a nationwide civics competition for youths. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are invited to submit a 500-word essay identifying one problem in their community and ways to improve it, for a shot at moving further in a statewide competition.

Locally, 20 finalists will be invited to the next round: a live quiz event at DeLong Middle School where they will engage in a civics knowledge questionnaire. The top five contestants from that event will then further discuss their essays, and the top three from that round will be awarded cash prizes before going on to the state competition. State contestants will have the chance to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., where the top contestants from around the nation will compete.

“I hope (students) gain knowledge of another world that they don’t find themselves in every day, to (learn) how much is involved in running their city,” said Courtney Olsom, workforce initiatives director for the Eau Claire chamber.

The deadline to submit an essay is Jan. 8. The live quiz event at DeLong Middle School will be April 13. 

The National Civics Bee is a chance to participate in and learn something new as an active member of the community at a young, burgeoning age. To submit and learn more about the essay competition, click here.