BOYS STATE
The 2019 session of Arizona Boys State will be held on the the grounds of the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. You may start checking in at noon on Sunday, June 18th. The first meeting starts at 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 18th. Please be in your room by 3:00 P.M. Your first meal will be served at 6:00 P.M. the session ends on Friday, June 23rd at 1:00 P.M. Parents and friends may call for students at this time. Please make arrangements for pick up times after 2:00 P.M.
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of goverenment instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes part of the operation of his local, county and state government.
Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 whenit 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 American Legion Boys State, participant are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsiblities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assembvlies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.
A program of this scope encompasses many important objectives. Those which we, The American Legion, feel are most important and for which we strive the hardest are:
- To develop civic leadership and pride in American citizenship.
- To arouse a keen interest in the detailed study of our government.
- To develop in the young citizens of Boys State a full understanding of our American traditions and belief in the United States of America.
- To arouse in the young citizens a determination to maintain our form of government.
The final two objectives are taken from the Preamble to the Constitution. High school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization.