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 the state level, 49 Departments of The American Legion host The American Legion Boys State programs each summer for outstanding high school juniors. Nearly 28,000 young men were sponsored by local American Legion Posts to attend the week-long government education program last year. Every summer, Post 16 selects several, outstanding Shelton High School students to attend Boys State. 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 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.
Two outstanding leaders from each Department Boys State program are selected to attend The American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. There, they learn the mechanics of the federal government by role-playing as senators and representatives in a complex dual-party system. The American Legion Auxiliary conducts parallel programs for young women through Girls State and Girls Nation. The 66th Connecticut American Legion Boys State will be held at Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic from June 24 through June 29, 2007. During the weeklong program, participants receive instruction on citizenship and experience first-hand how their state and federal governments function. Applications are available at the Sutter-Terlizzi Post 16. The deadline for returning completed applications to the Post in May, 2007 . The alumni of Connecticut Boys State represent a "Who's–Who in Connecticut" and includes former Gov. Bill O'Neil and Senator Joe Lieberman just to name a couple. Candidates for service academies might be interested in knowing that attendance at American Legion Boys State ranks just below an Eagle Scout as one of the common denominators of young people selected, according to one admissions official.
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 the state level, 49 Departments of The American Legion host The American Legion Boys State programs each summer for outstanding high school juniors. Nearly 28,000 young men were sponsored by local American Legion Posts to attend the week-long government education program last year. Every summer, Post 16 selects several, outstanding Shelton High School students to attend Boys State. 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 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.
Two outstanding leaders from each Department Boys State program are selected to attend The American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. There, they learn the mechanics of the federal government by role-playing as senators and representatives in a complex dual-party system. The American Legion Auxiliary conducts parallel programs for young women through Girls State and Girls Nation. The 66th Connecticut American Legion Boys State will be held at Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic from June 24 through June 29, 2007. During the weeklong program, participants receive instruction on citizenship and experience first-hand how their state and federal governments function. Applications are available at the Sutter-Terlizzi Post 16. The deadline for returning completed applications to the Post in May, 2007 . The alumni of Connecticut Boys State represent a "Who's–Who in Connecticut" and includes former Gov. Bill O'Neil and Senator Joe Lieberman just to name a couple. Candidates for service academies might be interested in knowing that attendance at American Legion Boys State ranks just below an Eagle Scout as one of the common denominators of young people selected, according to one admissions official.
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