National Civics Bee

Calling all middle school students! The Colorado Chamber Foundation invites students across the state to showcase their civic knowledge and passion for community in the annual National Civics Bee® competition.

About the National Civics Bee®
The Colorado Chamber Foundation is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and eight local chambers of commerce across Colorado to host this statewide civics competition.

Open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, the Bee encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Modeled after traditional spelling and geography bees, students compete for recognition and cash prizes—while building skills that will last a lifetime. Competitors are evaluated based on their original ideas for improving their communities and their enthusiasm for civic engagement and knowledge.

The competition includes four stages: a written essay round, local live event, the state finals competition, and the National Civics Bee Championship. The Colorado State Champion earns a spot at the National Civics Bee® National Championship in Washington, D.C.

Why Civics?
We are hosting the National Civics Bee® Colorado State Finals because we believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge throughout Colorado and celebrating our civic pride.

How to Enter:

• The application is open from September 8, 2025, at 6:01 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (9:01 p.m. Mountain Standard Time) until February 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (February 4, 2026, at 2:59 a.m. MST).
• Write your essay and use the 2026 Essay Application Guide to access the prompt and support materials.
• Before you apply, review the 2026 Contest Rules and Privacy Policy.
• Submit your essay by February 3, 2026 on the online portal.
• For students unable to submit online, use the Mail-In Application Form to mail your essay application. Mailed applications must be post-marked by the deadline.
• For more information, visit Civics.USChamberFoundation.org or contact [email protected]

Who Can Participate:

• All Colorado middle school students (public, private, charter, and home schools) are eligible to participate.

Competition Structure:

• Students respond to a 4-question essay prompt proposing ideas to improve their communities. Applications are now open and close on February 3, 2026.
• Judges select finalists to advance to regional competitions to compete for trophies, prizes, and recognition. Regional competitions take place in-person between late March and late May. See Colorado’s regional partners below.
• The top 3 winners from each regional competition advance to the Colorado State Finals, taking place summer 2026.
• The first-place finalist from Colorado receives a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for big prizes at the National Championship in the Fall.
  

Regional Partners

Thank you to all of our regional partners in Colorado, who bring this program to life in their respective communities.

• Alamosa County Chamber Foundation Inc.
• Brush Area Chamber of Commerce
• Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
• Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce
• Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce
• Lamar Community College

National Civics Bee Colorado State Finals

The top three students from each regional competition will advance to the Colorado State Finals, hosted by the Colorado Chamber Foundation. Finalists will compete live for cash prizes and the chance to represent Colorado at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. To learn more, please contact Lauren Stellman.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you interested in showcasing your company’s commitment to developing active and engaged citizens? To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lauren Schwartz.