Eugene Chamber hosts National Civics Bee for middle schoolers Friday

Middle schoolers from Eugene and across Oregon will take the stage Friday at the Ford Alumni Center, where the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2026 Regional Oregon Civics Bee from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The competition is open to 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students, and there is no cost to apply.

The chamber’s schedule shows finalists arriving from 3 to 3:30 p.m., a welcome at 4 p.m., competition starting at 4:15 p.m., and an awards ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event gives students a public setting to show what they know about government, community problem-solving and civic participation, with the chamber framing the bee as a way to build civic knowledge, public speaking, writing and leadership skills.

That emphasis reflects a broader effort by local institutions to rebuild the habits of civic life early, before students reach the age when they are asked to vote, testify or serve on boards. The National Civics Bee asks students to write an essay proposing a solution to a community problem, then advances finalists through regional and state competition. In practice, that means students are not only memorizing facts about government, but also learning how to identify a local issue, organize an argument and defend it in front of judges.

The connection to Lane County government and community decision-making is direct. A student who can explain a problem, back it up with evidence and answer questions in public is rehearsing the same skills used in school board meetings, city council testimony and county planning forums. The chamber’s investment also ties civic learning to the region’s business community, which often sees informed public participation as part of a healthy local economy and workforce.

The prizes add another incentive. The chamber lists regional awards of $500 for first place, $250 for second and $125 for third. State winners receive $1,000 for first, $500 for second and $250 for third. National prizes climb to a $100,000 529 education savings plan for first place, $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation says the 2026 National Civics Bee was open to students in public, private, charter and homeschool settings in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and American Samoa, with applications accepted from Oct. 15, 2025, through Feb. 17, 2026. Oregon Business & Industry says the state winner will advance to Washington, D.C., for the national championship in fall 2026, making Friday’s competition one step in a larger civic pipeline that runs far beyond Eugene.