About:
Minnesota American Legion Boys State is an immersive week-long experience designed for young men who have just completed their junior year of high school. The program is a dynamic exploration of Minnesota government at the local, county, and state levels through hands-on participation. Participants engage in intensive study and involvement, organizing and participating in various branches of government while also enjoying activities like athletics, music, writing for the newspaper, and holding leadership positions.
Program Highlights:
- Government Involvement: Participants actively engage in city, county, and state government processes.
- Diverse Activities: Beyond government activities, Boys State includes athletics, music, and leadership opportunities.
- Educational Experience: A week of studying and learning through active involvement rather than a traditional recreational camp.
- Group Living: Citizens experience dormitory living, sharing rooms, and meals served cafeteria-style—a preview of college dorm life.
Objectives and Goals:
Minnesota Boys State aims to achieve several crucial objectives, guided by the overarching goals of The American Legion:
- Civic Leadership and Pride: Develop civic leadership and instill pride in American citizenship. Participants are encouraged to return to their communities as better citizens, contributing to the betterment of their localities.
- Interest in Government Study: Foster a keen interest in the detailed study of government, aiming to create an active desire for knowledge rather than passive interest.
- Understanding of American Traditions: Develop an understanding of American traditions and a strong belief in the United States of America. Emphasize the glorious traditions that have shaped the nation.
- Determination to Maintain Our Government: Instill a determination in young citizens to uphold and maintain the American form of government, emphasizing the privileges and responsibilities of being an American.
- Individual Obligation: Inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation, encouraging participants to recognize their role in contributing to the greater good.
- Safeguarding Principles: Safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy, echoing the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion.
Volunteer Staff:
Our dedicated staff is an all-volunteer team comprising Legionaries, former Boys Staters, teachers, and civic-minded citizens from various professions. With decades of combined experience, the staff works tirelessly to fulfill the program's objectives and goals set forth by The American Legion.
If you have any questions or wish to learn more about Minnesota American Legion Boys State, please contact State Headquarters or your local American Legion Post. Join us in shaping the leaders of tomorrow through education, engagement, and a commitment to civic responsibility.
Interested in applying for Boy State? Send email to jklley@mnlegion.org or call 651-291-1800.
Send Mail To:
MN American Legion State Headquarters
Third Floor, Veterans Service Building
20 W 12th St Room 300A
St Paul, MN 55155-2000
