BOYS and GIRLS STATE

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Our Program is changing for the 2023 Session. For the first time our program will be Coed!  The American Legion California Boys & Girls State Program offers a hands-on, realistic experience in civic responsibility to high school students prior to entering their senior year of high school. As our leaders of tomorrow, we attempt to instill in them the privileges and duties of American citizenship. More information will be available in late January 2023.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.

Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it organized to counter the Fascist inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

High school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization.

American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level.

Here in California, Boys State is held in Sacramento at the California State Capitol each year in late June. For more information about the California Boys State Program please click on the following link.

For more information about the National Boys State Program called Boys Nation please click on the following link.

If you are interested in attending the California Boys State, please ask your High School Counselor whether your High School has participated in the past and has been sponsored by your local American Legion Post.  To see which Post is nearest to your High School please go to this link and view the various Posts located in Santa Clara County. Contact the Boys State Representative or the Adjutant at the Post nearest to your high school and let htem know you are interested and would like more information about the application process.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Girls State. For online details visit https://www.cagirlsstate.org/ http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/girls.html

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