About California Boys State
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. A participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government, Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism-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.
American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women called Girls State.
At Boys State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs.
Legion posts select high-school juniors to attend the program. In most cases, individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business or another community-based organization.
Boys State programs currently exist in all Legion departments except Hawaii. As separate corporations, Boys State programs vary in content and method of procedure, but each adheres to the same basic concept: teaching government from the township to the state level.
Key Dates to Remember for 2011 California Boys’ State
click on link for details: Post Chairmen - District Chairmen - Delegates
2011 Session: June 18-25, 2011 at California State University, Sacramento
Post Chairmen:
February 1-April 20, 2011: Delegate Selection. Delegate completes Online Registration immediately after selection.
March 20, 2011: Registration Fees are due to District Chairmen
April 20, 2011: Blue Sponsorship Cards are due to District Chairmen
May 1, 2011: Delegate Packets available online for Delegates to download
Month of May: Orientation for Delegates (varies by Post/District)
June 17/18, 2011: Delegates depart for California State University, Sacramento (depending on location)
June 24/25, 2011: Delegates depart California State University, Sacramento (depending on home location)
District Chairmen:
February 1-April 20, 2011: Delegate Selection Packets distributed to local Posts and Delegate Selection begins
March 20, 2011: Registration Fees are due from District Chairmen
April 1, 2011: Registration fees due to Department Headquarters
April 20, 2011: Blue Sponsorship Cards are due from District Chairmen
May 1, 2011: Blue Sponsorship Cards are due to Department Headquarters
May 1, 2011: Delegate Packets available online for Delegates to download
Month of May: Orientation for Delegates (varies by Post/District)
May 31, 2011: District Transportation Forms due to Tim Aboudara, Sr., Chief Counselor
June 17/18, 2011: Delegates depart for California State University, Sacramento (depending on location)
June 24/25, 2011: Delegates depart California State University, Sacramento (depending on home location) Delegates:
February 1-April 20, 2011: Delegate Selection-It is extremely important to register Online immediately after selection.
May 1, 2011: Delegate Information Packet available for download
(Notification will be provided to delegates and parents via e-mail and if a delegate
does not have an e-mail account, the packet will be sent via U.S. Mail.)
May, 2011: Delegate Orientation (Orientation specifics will be provided by Boys’ State Post and/or District Chairmen.)
June 17/18, 2011: Delegates depart for California State University, Sacramento (depending on location)
June 24/25, 2011: Delegates depart California State University, Sacramento (depending on home location)
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