Boys State Program

As a program of The American Legion, Boys State developed from the concept that youth should be offered a better perspective of the practical operation of government; that the individual is an integral part and commensurately responsible for the character and success of his government. As such, it is an activity of high educational value, born out of a need for youth training in practical citizenship.

American Legion Boys State is easily classified as a leadership action program where qualified male high school juniors take part in a practical government course designed to develop in the young citizens a working knowledge of the structure of government and to impress upon them the fact that government is just what they make it.

Selection and Eligibility Information

The American Legion has established certain qualifications for prospective  Boys State citizens. Following are the recommended guidelines that are employed by most Boys States. (The American Legion Auxiliary has a similar program for girls called "Girls State")

Only males who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and have at least one more semester of high school remaining are to be considered as citizens of Boys State.

Any boy who has previously attended a Boys State is not eligible to attend a second session.

Only boys with outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty and service to their schools should be considered for Boys State.

American Legion Boys States are in compliance with federal handicap laws. Most Boys States do require a medical/parental consent certificate signed by a parent and a registered doctor.

In the actual selection of boys as citizens of Boys State, merit and ability alone are the basis for selection. No boys are permitted to attend because of either poverty or wealth. Boys State is not a program for underprivileged boys, nor is it a summer camp for recreation. Fees, or 'tuition', are paid by  American Legion Posts or other community-minded organizations, with little or no expense to a young man and his family.

In order to secure equal representation from all areas of a respective state, American Legion Departments assign quotas to high schools and/or Legion Posts in the state. The quota is determined by the number of Boys Staters that a program can accomodate and the number of schools or posts in the state. A school's total enrollment may be a factor in establishing quotas, with the number of representatives based on the size of the student body.

This post sponsors a number of boys to Boys State each year and we also solicit other sponsors from area businesses so we can maximize the Boys State experience for Waterville and Winslow Juniors.