Young Ambassadors | United By Creativity
Now enrolling: Spring 2027•Starts in February•Grades 3–5•Free for families•Only 15 seats per cohort
✦ Grades 3–5 Free for families

Build.Lead.Create.

A free 12-week adventure where kids in grades 3–5 learn how Missouri works, dream up ways to make their community better, visit the Missouri State Capitol, and publish a real book for the UBC Global Library.

Apply for my child → I'm a kid! Show me Sponsor a seat ♥

United By Creativity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every Young Ambassador seat is free for families because community sponsors cover it.

Young Ambassadors gathered at a window inside the Missouri State Capitol with an adult guide
United By Creativity logoUBC
Young Ambassador MissionSee it. Imagine it. Build it.
Grades 3–5
Elementary students
12 Weeks
Creative leadership journey
$0
Cost to families
15 Seats
Per cohort, max
Start Here

Who's visiting today?

Pick the button that fits you. We'll show you exactly what matters to you — no digging required.

Parents: here's the whole picture.

A structured, 12-week program that is free for your family. Space is limited, so we ask for an application.

  • For children in grades 3–5 (homeschool families welcome)
  • Small cohorts — 15 students maximum
  • One weekly session plus a short weekly assignment
  • A Missouri history & civics experience
  • A March trip to the Missouri State Capitol (transportation planned with you)
  • Your child helps write a real book and becomes a UBC Author Apprentice
Start the application →
The Experience

Kids learn by
actually doing.

Young Ambassadors blends reading and writing, creativity, Missouri history, civics and leadership into one hands-on experience.

Learn

Explore Missouri history, how government works, and what it means to be a good citizen.

Missouri historyCivicsGovernment

Create

Turn ideas into writing, stories, civic projects and a real published book.

WritingStorytellingBook-making

Connect

Learn how citizens share ideas with government — then visit the Capitol to see it in person.

Capitol tripPublic speakingCommunity

Lead

Practice leadership by sharing ideas, working as a team and taking responsibility.

TeamworkConfidenceService
The Journey

12 weeks from
learner to leader.

Follow the stitched trail. Lessons may shift a little by cohort, but every Ambassador travels this same path.

Weeks 1–2

Discover Your Voice

Explore creativity, leadership, community and what it means to be a citizen.

Weeks 3–4

Missouri: Our Story

Dive into Missouri history and connect it to the neighborhoods we live in today.

Weeks 5–6

How Government Works

Learn beginner civics and how citizens share ideas and concerns with leaders.

Weeks 7–8

Build the Idea

Pick a community issue and design a pretend (mock) bill to help solve it.

Week 9

Write the Declaration

Write a public declaration about what our community should work toward.

Week 10

Prepare to Speak

Practice presenting ideas out loud with confidence.

Week 11

Become an Author Apprentice

Add writing, ideas and art to the cohort's Global Library book.

Week 12 + March

Capitol & Showcase

Visit the Missouri State Capitol and celebrate at the final recognition.

Real Kids · Real Adventures

Meet our Ambassadors
in action.

These are real United By Creativity Young Ambassadors — exploring, speaking up for what they care about, and meeting the people who lead Missouri.

Six Young Ambassadors smiling together on a wooden bench in the woods
Friends on the trailTeam building
A Young Ambassador holding her hand-drawn poster that reads Tigers are going extinct, help them
Speaking up for tigersAdvocacy project
A Missouri state senator talking with Young Ambassadors in his Capitol office
Questions for a senatorCapitol visit
A Young Ambassador giving a peace sign inside the Missouri State Capitol rotunda
Inside the CapitolJefferson City
Civic Leadership

Young voices can
start big ideas.

Ambassadors practice how an idea travels from "someone should fix this" to a real proposed solution.

1
Spot an issueWhat could be better in our community?
2
Imagine a solutionWhat could people do differently?
3
Write a mock billTurn the idea into a pretend law, just like lawmakers do.
4
Declare it publiclyShare what we believe our community should work toward.
UBC EDUCATIONAL MOCK BILL

An idea becomes a voice.

Students practice turning a community concern into a proposed solution — the same way real laws begin.

Good to know: Mock bills are fictional classroom projects. They are not real legislation and are not submitted to the Missouri Legislature.
A felt scene of a yellow school bus driving up a winding stitched road toward the Missouri State Capitol at sunset.
March Field Trip

Learning goes to Jefferson City.

In March, Young Ambassadors travel to the Missouri State Capitol to see where state government happens — and connect it to everything they've learned.

A group of past UBC Ambassadors with two adults at the Missouri State Capitol
Past Ambassadors

Past Ambassadors were introduced on the Missouri House floor by Rep. Mark Sharp. Real lawmakers, real Capitol, real kids.

Transportation is planned with you. On the application, you'll tell us whether you'll drive your child or whether they'll need a ride arranged through UBC.
Our Community Has a Story. Our Ideas Have a Voice.
✦ UBC Author Apprentice

Every Ambassador
becomes an author.

Together, the cohort creates a book that joins the United By Creativity Global Library — a growing collection of books written by young people, for young people.

  • Write with a team of young authors
  • Create original stories, characters and art
  • Practice editing and storytelling
  • Be recognized as a UBC Author Apprentice
  • Add your voice to the Global Library
Books already on the Global Library shelfWritten by UBC young authors — your child's cohort book joins them.
The Wisdom of Kids, Vol. I The Wisdom of Kids, Vol. II Dear Humanity The Encyclopedia of Forgotten Trees A Guide to Happiness Voices of Youth The Minds Library The Book of Alphabets Myths & Adventures of Young Storytellers A Journal of Progress Book of Purpose ★ Your child's book
11
Books written by young people
8
Ambassador cohorts so far
100s
Young people served
10
Community partners
"Creativity is better than video games!"
— Amara, 4th grade UBC Ambassador

Ambassadors have learned alongside Rep. Mark Sharp, Rep. Robert Sauls and Sen. Greg Razer, with support from partners including:

Hickman Mills School District Northeast Middle School Providence School of Arts Caring for Kids University of Missouri Missouri Afterschool Network Cave Spring Park
Two Ways to Join

Families apply.
Schools partner.

Choose the path that fits your child or your school.

Path One

Parent / Guardian Enrollment

Parents and guardians — including homeschool families — can apply directly for an upcoming cohort.

  1. Read the program details on this page.
  2. Make sure your child can commit to all 12 weeks.
  3. Fill out the short application below.
  4. Tell us your plan for the March Capitol trip.
  5. UBC sends consent forms and your enrollment confirmation.
Begin parent application →
Path Two

School Partnership

Schools can partner with United By Creativity to host a Young Ambassador cohort.

Option A — UBC After-School ProgramYour school provides a steady after-school time and space; UBC runs the program.
Option B — School-Based ClubYour school hosts the club; UBC provides the materials and Ambassador framework.

Schools should request partnership information before enrolling students.

Request school information →
Family Commitment

It's free.
It's not drop-in.

With only 15 seats per cohort, we ask families to apply when their child is ready to show up every week.

12 WEEKS
Show up weeklyAttend the scheduled weekly program session.
Do the weekly assignmentA short learning, writing or creative activity each week.
Be a good teammateParticipate respectfully and help the cohort's projects shine.
Why apply if it's free? Small cohorts mean every student gets real instruction, feedback and a chance to speak up. The application helps us make sure each seat goes to a child ready to use it.
Learning With Purpose

Creative learning with
academic purpose.

Leadership isn't a separate subject here — it's woven into everything kids read, write and build.

LiteracyReading, writing & communication
CivicsGovernment & citizenship
HistoryMissouri history & context
CreativityIdeas & problem-solving
LeadershipCollaboration & responsibility

Activities are designed to support applicable Missouri and national learning standards. Specific standards vary by lesson and grade level.

Questions

Before you
apply.

For parents
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The program is free for participating families. Community sponsors cover each seat. Because space is limited, an application is required.
Why apply if it's free?
Each cohort has only 15 students. The application helps UBC get to know your child and confirm your family understands the 12-week commitment.
Does my child need to be a strong writer?
No! Reading, writing and creative expression are exactly what the program helps build.
Does my child need leadership experience?
No. Curiosity, participation and willingness to learn matter far more than past experience.
How much work is there each week?
One weekly session plus a weekly assignment or creative activity. UBC shares the exact expectations before the cohort begins.
Can homeschool students join?
Yes. Homeschool families use the Parent / Guardian Enrollment path, as space allows.
Is the Capitol trip required?
The March Missouri State Capitol experience is a planned part of the program. Families receive the schedule, permission forms and transportation details during enrollment.
How will my child get to the Capitol?
You'll tell us your preference on the application — you drive, UBC arranges a ride, or you need more info. UBC confirms all transportation details before the trip.
About the program
What is a mock bill?
A pretend law students write as a learning exercise. It is not real legislation and is not submitted to the Missouri Legislature.
What is the Public Declaration?
A written statement of what students believe their community should work toward. It's educational and civic in nature — not legislation.
What is the Global Library?
A collection of books and creative works written by young people. Each Young Ambassador cohort creates a book that joins it.
What does "Author Apprentice" mean?
Every Ambassador helps create original writing or art for the cohort's book, and is recognized as a UBC Author Apprentice for it.
Will my child's work be published?
The cohort's book is intended for the Global Library. Parent/guardian permissions and publication details are shared during enrollment.
Can my school participate?
Yes. Schools can host a UBC-run after-school program or a school-based Ambassador Club using UBC materials.
For donors
What does a $300 sponsorship pay for?
One Young Ambassador seat: the Capitol trip and travel, food during meetings, Ambassador awards, and printing and publishing the cohort's book.
Can I give a different amount?
Absolutely. Every gift helps keep the program free for families. Give any amount here.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
United By Creativity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Parent Application

Ready to build
something together?

It takes about 5 minutes. Remember: each cohort has just 15 seats.

1About your child
2About you
3Your child's big idea
4Our commitment
5March Capitol trip
6Anything else?
By submitting, I'm expressing interest in my child joining the United By Creativity Young Ambassador Program. I understand the program is free, space is limited, participation requires a commitment, and UBC will send enrollment and consent information before my child begins.
Schools & Educators

Bring Young Ambassadors to your school.

Partner with United By Creativity to launch an after-school Young Ambassador program or a school-based club. We bring the framework, materials and the Capitol experience.

Request partnership information →
Apply Sponsor ♥