Members of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Club at Schaumburg High School will visit local government facilities as part of the annual Youth in Government field trip this Wednesday. The purpose of the trip is to help students understand how local government works and to introduce them to the various departments and careers that keep the village running.
Students will meet village staff, attend presentations about department operations, and learn about challenges, accomplishments, and career opportunities in public service.
The day will be divided into group rotations. Students will rotate through four areas: Administration, Engineering and Public Works, Police, and Fire. During each 1.5-hour session, students will tour facilities and hear from staff about their responsibilities and how they serve the community.
Last year, because the Village Hall was currently under construction, the group began the day at a temporary location, and some groups also observed major construction projects around the village.
After the morning rotations, students will come together for lunch at the Temporary Village Hall, followed by interactive afternoon activities. These include a Q&A session with elected officials, such as the mayor and board members, a priority-setting discussion where students can suggest improvements for the village, and a “Guess Who” activity where staff will share how they got started in local government.
Field trips like this are especially valuable, as high school government classes often focus on national government. Visiting local departments allows students to see how decisions at the village level directly affect services like police, fire protection, roads, and community development.
“The trip was a really enlightening and engaging opportunity. I never knew the extent of the behind the scenes work the village of Schaumburg does. For example, learning about utilities, public works, sectors in the community, economics, and budgeting. My favorite part was visiting the police and fire departments because I’ve never been inside before and it was so cool to see the different rooms and procedures they have to follow,” said Sanvi Patel.
“The experience was quite unique. It left me with a better understanding of how the government operates at a local level. You truly understand the amount of work which goes into making the community we live in a better place every single day,” added Vikas Brahmbhatt.
By participating in the Youth in Government field trip, Rho Kappa Social Studies Club students gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how local government operates, inspiring civic awareness and engagement.