The Model UN Teams Program is an exciting and enriching experience for both the delegates and the MUN Mentors that get to watch their growth over the course of the 10-week after-school MUN Teams Program. Behind the scenes, planning and running our MUN Teams this Fall was incredibly enjoyable & impactful, and both student participants & our all-star staff of college MUN Mentors walked away with unforgettable memories! We’ve prepared this behind the scenes piece to highlight the engaging & dynamic experiences that helped our students level up their MUN skills and continue on their MUN success journeys. Keep reading to get an inside look at MUN & FUN through Beginner, Intermediate, Crisis, and Leadership MUN Teams!
Beginner MUN Teams – Returning this Spring!
Elementary, Middle, & High School students kicked-off their incredible world adventures this Fall as part of our Beginner MUN Teams! The perfect opportunity for students to get started on their MUN journeys, Beginner MUN Teams are designed to introduce participants to the foundational skills of Model UN (research, debate, negotiation, and resolution writing), giving them the unique experience of stepping into the shoes of global leaders to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Students were immersed in the dynamic & engaging world of diplomacy, and got to put their new knowledge & abilities to the test at two BDMUNC Training Conferences. Students felt prepared, confident, and excited to debate topics including Protecting Endangered Species, Universal Access to Education, Indigenous Rights, & many more as leaders from a diverse array of the UN’s 193 Member States.
One of the coolest parts of the MUN Teams experience for participants was the dynamic activities created to help them have fun while learning & developing key skills! Some of our favorite games from the Fall included:
- Sell Me This! (Public Speaking)
- The Boat Game! (Public Speaking & Negotiation)
- Countries of the World Quizzes! (Global Knowledge & Research)
- Guess Who! (Negotiation)
- Dream Vacation! (Public Speaking, Negotiation, & Resolution Writing)
MUN Mentor Sarai shared that she especially enjoyed listening to her students casually chatting and updating each other on what was going on in their respective cities & countries as well as what they’d learned about the new countries they were assigned to represent at the start of each MUN Team meeting. There was a huge sense of community that developed amongst her students (and across all of our Fall Teams!), and they truly brought out the best in each other by learning about & providing constructive feedback as well as striving to create long-lasting bonds & memories!
“I think overall my students came out of MUN Teams feeling more globally conscious, more confident, and excited that they were still able to make like-minded friends despite the hardships of the pandemic” – Sarai, MUN Mentor
Here’s what some of our students & parents had to say about their experience with MUN Teams this Fall:
“My daughter had the amazing experience of participating in her first conference yesterday this past weekend. Your program has opened a new world for her, and has sparked new curiosity and determination. As a parent, I can’t thank you enough” – MUN Teams Parent
“This season was SO fun, and I’ve definitely built on my public speaking skills as a whole! I absolutely love Model UN, it helps so much with my confidence and I’ve gotten to know so many people!!” – Middle School Beginner MUN Teams Student
Intermediate MUN Teams – Returning this Spring!
Middle & High School students leveled up their MUN skills this Fall as part of our Intermediate Teams, designed to help advanced delegates gain the skills to win awards at top Model UN Conferences! Delegates learned both competitive & diplomatic MUN strategies, and received top tips on how to stand out & lead in MUN committees. Our students loved challenging themselves to practice these strategies at two Invitational BDMUNCs, and many of them walked away with awards & qualified for the April Tournament of Champions!
In order to help advanced delegates master top MUN skills & strategies, our MUN Mentors designed some incredible & engaging activities for our students – here are a few of our favorites from our Fall Intermediate MUN Teams:
- Shark Tank! (Public Speaking & Negotiation)
- I Could NOT Disagree More! (Public Speaking)
- Country Policy Face-Off! (Public Speaking & Research)
- Word Sneak! (Public Speaking)
- Rapid-Fire! (Public Speaking & Resolution Writing)
One of our students shared the following about his Fall Intermediate MUN Teams & BDMUNC experiences:
“Achieving Best Delegate at an Invitational BDMUNC was definitely amazing, and I would not have been able to get there without my MUN Mentor’s help. AMAZING PERSON – I will definitely reach out to him in the future as a mentor to my success!” – High School Intermediate MUN Teams Student
Our MUN Mentors shared that it was incredibly rewarding to watch students grow in confidence & form bonds that went beyond the scope of our virtual programs. Many of the students who participated on our Fall Intermediate Teams registered for in-person conferences together in their home cities & regions, allowing them to meet up in-person, share strategies & ideas, and ultimately walk away victorious!
Crisis MUN Teams – Returning this Spring!
The New York Times aptly described Crisis-Style Model UN as “a prime example of students learning from the crisis-based decision making that takes place in the real world today;” students who participated in our Fall Crisis MUN Teams challenged themselves to tackle unexpected, high-stakes political scenarios while having fast-paced fun with MUN! Participants were introduced to key crisis concepts including researching individuals & portfolio powers, impromptu public speaking & writing skills, creative problem-solving, and the art of developing an award-winning crisis arc. Our delegates loved experiencing the unexpected at two BDMUNC Crisis Conferences, debating topics including The Situation in Yemen, The Situation in Ethiopia, Fantasy Crisis: The Hunger Games, Historical Crisis: The Assassination of Caesar, with many students also qualifying for the upcoming Crisis Tournament of Champions!
Our Crisis MUN Mentors truly enjoyed designing unique activities to help students develop their creative & out-of-the-box thinking, including Marvel scenarios, Harry Potter scenarios, mock Alien Invasions, and Zoombombers! It was especially exciting to hear students using their new fast-paced analytical skillset to also analyze & discuss today’s top news stories from the perspective of youth leaders & change-makers; we firmly believe that our crisis students are nearly ready for the White House Situation Room!
Leadership MUN Teams – Fall Program Offering with Leadership Options Returning this Summer!
This Fall, MUN Teams also featured two leadership options: Chair Training and Club Officer Training. While these teams are not available in the Spring, there will be leadership opportunities available this Summer at the Virtual MUN Institute – keep reading to imagine what future leadership in MUN can look like, shared from the perspective of one of our awesome MUN Mentors, Julien!
“I had the unique opportunity of running the Fall Chair Training Program – one of our Leadership MUN Teams. This was a new program, so I was in charge of developing a curriculum for the students and planning the exciting activities. The program was designed to give high school students the tools and skills to chair their own Model UN committees and give them the unique opportunity to co-chair two of our premier Best Delegate Model United Nations Conferences (BDMUNCs). This gave them the chance to put the skills they were learning in the program into practice and actually experience the art of chairing.”
“A lot of the MUN Teams Program was experience-based and had a hands-on approach. The first few weeks consisted of an introduction regarding first impressions, introducing yourself to a committee, and learning parliamentary procedure from the perspective of a chair. Classes would consist of a quick lesson and end with them chairing mock committees with random topics such as cats vs. dogs or playing Marvel characters. This would give them a low-stakes environment to practice chairing and co-chairing and immediate feedback from me and their other peers. I was stunned at their growth after their first conference, and the feedback from staff working with the delegates was phenomenal. As a chair myself, I had the opportunity to co-chair with two of my students at the BDMUNC conference, chairing varying age levels (beginner elementary to high school advanced), and it was amazing to see the ease and confidence in their chairing ability. Seeing their impact on students – putting a common practice that we teach at BD of saying “what questions do you have” vs. “do you have any questions” to make delegates feel more comfortable warmed my heart.”
“But the real joy was seeing their impact on their delegates within participant feedback. Having a debrief about their experience chairing and the lessons they learned gave them a chance to reflect and create goals for the next conference. I’m most proud of seeing these MUN Team students taking a more active role with Best Delegate programs, continuing to serve as co-chairs to practice outside the required two conferences, and continuing to gain more experience.“
Here’s what some of the student participants had to say about their experience with MUN leadership through the Fall Chair Training Team:
“I wanted to let you know that your tips, advice, and feedback have been super helpful, and I really appreciate it. This camp has not only taught me so much about being a good chair but also about being a great delegate, and that is all because of you.” – Isabella B.
“The Best Delegate Chair Training MUN Team showed me Model UN from an entirely new and exciting perspective. I learned and was a part of the fun that comes with being on the managing end of a conference by participating. With the help of my mentor, Julien, I was able to co-chair multiple conferences and develop my skill, style, and experience as a chair. This program highlights and utilizes the dedication and work to make each conference happen. It will turn a passionate delegate into a diligent and enthusiastic chair.” – Aliyah B.
Final Reflections – Looking Toward Spring MUN Teams!
One of the most amazing things we’ve seen since the start of Fall MUN Teams is the way that our students are still actively participating in conferences as delegates to build their skills following the end of the program as well as volunteering for co-chairing opportunities at BDMUNCs! Even after the final Fall MUN Teams meetings, the program hasn’t stopped having an impact on our students, and we can’t wait to see what the Spring will hold for new & returning delegates alike!
Don’t Miss the Opportunity to Step Into the Shoes of Global Leaders with Spring MUN Teams! Register Now!
Final Registration for Spring MUN Teams Closes February 15th
