American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State are 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 and Girls 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 and Girls State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational programs.
All individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business, or another community-based organization.
The American Legion Boys State and the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Programs class of 2025 will be held June 15th - June 20th, 2025,at Saint Andrew's School in Barrington RI.
We are asking for your help in getting the word out to all juniors currently enrolled in your school. This program teaches students the ins and outs of our state government. There is a trip to our State House where students are introduced to the Senate Chambers and debate bills they have written. Two representatives from each program will be elected to attend Boys/Girls Nation in Washington DC. Boys/Girls Nation takes place in July 2025 and the students will be given the opportunity to meet the President of the United States (if schedule allows). Applications for enrollment are now open.
For applications to Boys State please go to our website at www.littlerhodyboysstate.com or contact Director Ronald Levasseur at RonRIVeterans@yahoo.com.
For Girls State applications please visit www.littlerhodyboysstate.com or contact Director Alishia Levasseur via email at RIamericanlegionauxiliary@gmail.com.
The deadline to apply is June 1st, 2025. Any students looking for the opportunity of Scholarship monies should apply.