ALL ABUZZ. Local students in grades 6-8 can now apply to compete in the National Civics Bee®.

This November, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce announced its official role as the state of Wisconsin’s partner for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee®. 

This nationwide initiative was instated to encourage middle school students to “build civic knowledge, engage with local issues, and become active participants in their communities,” a media release shared. 

With this role, the Eau Claire Chamber will once again host the state championship at South Middle School (2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire) in 2026. 

“Last year, Eau Claire once again demonstrated its strong commitment to civic learning through its regional competition, hosted at DeLong Middle School,” the release stated. “As this year marks the transition to a single statewide event, the Chamber looks forward to welcoming students and families from across Wisconsin to Eau Claire.”

The National Civics Bee® first opens with an essay competition – encouraging submissions from students in grades 6-8 – where the applicant identifies a local issue of interest. In the essay – applications accepted through Feb. 3, 2026 – students will explain the topic, showcase its importance and suggest possible solutions for the city to implement.

Once all submissions are reviewed, the top finalists from around the state will advance to the live competition at DeLong Middle School on May 9, 2026. In previous years, the Chippewa Valley celebrated two back-to-back student winners at the state-level competition.

To learn more about the essay guidelines and ways for parents and families to support their student applicant, visit the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s National Civics Bee® webpage online, eauclairechamber.org/workforce/national-civics-bee.