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Civics 101: Why It Matters More Than You Think 

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Last year marked Conner Prairie’s inaugural celebration of Civic Season, in partnership with Made by Us. Norman Burns, Conner Prairie’s President and CEO, serves on the Made By Us board and has played a key role in bringing Civic Season to life across our grounds. Our pilot programming included the launch of a civics-based curriculum developed by our education team and the addition of a dedicated Civic Engagement Specialist. These efforts sparked curiosity and conversation—leading many to ask the timeless question: “What exactly are civics?”

Why does Civics Matter?

Civics is formally defined as the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens mainly as it pertains to being an active and informed member of a society. Simply speaking, it’s all about understanding key aspects that directly affect our lives and understanding our responsibilities as citizens. Civics informs our sense of public responsibility by educating on topics like how laws are made, how voting and elections work, or how you can participate in your community and influence change. To sum things up, Civics matters because at its core, it is all about understanding the power you have as a citizen and exercising it. 

Several people look at civics and immediately think that it’s about being active in elections or their high school government class, but civics is so much more than voting or memorizing how a bill becomes a law. Attending school board meetings, signing petitions, spreading awareness on social media, casting a vote. . . that’s civics in action…  

 Civic Season at Conner Prairie! 

Celebrating Glorious 4th at Prairietown

Conner Prairie is offering a unique way for our guests to exercise their civic duty, and that is through our celebration of Civic Season! Civic Season is a new type of holiday tradition. By connecting the newest federal holiday to the oldest federal holiday, Juneteenth and July 4th, the two weeks separating them was developed into a civic-based tradition made by Gen Z FOR Gen Z.  

 Not a part of Gen Z? Don’t you worry. Civic Season is for everyone! During this time, people are encouraged to visit cultural and historical institutions to not only support the local community, but ALSO to educate themselves on the past and play their part in creating our collective future! We all have a role to play, but sometimes we just don’t know where to start. Never fear, Conner Prairie is here!

Conner Prairie is making a conscious effort to join museums across the nation by becoming a host site for Civic Season. During Civic Season, we’ll offer daily programs across our grounds, along with a mix of special civics-themed events. Most are free while a few require a ticket. While there is an emphasis on learning from the past and doing our part in creating the future, remember, this is a civic celebration.  We are celebrating ourselves, our community, and discovering how to become better neighbors to one another day by day! 

Why is Civic Season here?  

Participating in Civic Season allows Conner Prairie to strengthen our connection between the museum and community we serve. At Conner Prairie, our mission is to inspire curiosity and foster learning by providing engaging and individualized experiences for everyone. To truly serve everyone, we must acknowledge everyone

As the world changes and grows, museums must grow alongside it. As trusted sources of knowledge and education, we have a duty to serve as a space of relevance, inclusion, and change. Hosting Civic Season puts us in a better position to honor our mission and become a catalyst for the future our audiences want to see. 

At Conner Prairie, our civics curriculum is rooted in the idea of “Civic Love,” a commitment to the common good, kinship, the idea of shared connection and origin. This year’s Civic Season theme is Community Connection, and we invite you to join us this summer in exploring what it means to come together, care deeply, and build something better, together. 

About the Author

Camryn Bembry serves as Conner Prairie’s Civic Engagement Specialist. She is a graduate of IU Indianapolis, holding a degree in History and a certificate in Museum Studies. Camryn first contributed to Conner Prairie’s Civic Season celebration as an intern in the summer of 2024. Since then, she has gained valuable training, resources, and firsthand experience to support the museum’s civic engagement efforts. A lifelong resident of Hamilton County, Camryn feels a strong connection to both the local community and Conner Prairie. She is dedicated to strengthening trust between the museum and its visitors by ensuring that Conner Prairie continues to reflect the evolving interests and needs of its community. By doing this it is her hope that Conner Prairie Musuem will become a “future-proof” institution.