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Santa Clara Post 419

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American Legion Santa Clara Post 419 participates in California Boys and Girls State, and this program is found in nearly every state in America.  Read about the history of Boys State below. 

Please note that The American Legion Auxiliary has a similar program for students called Girls State.  

Differences in "State" programs.  The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary are two separate organizations.  In each "State" program, attendees have a chance to run for office at city, county, and state mock government levels.  Key differences in the program are location and eligibility for the different "State" and "Nation" programs as follows.  Due to changes in 2023, the California Auxiliary Girls State program is now held in Sacramento but at a different campus and on a different week in June than the Legion's program.  The California Legion Boys & Girls State program is now co-ed, but the Auxiliary's Girls State remains only for girls*.  The other difference is the "Nation" program eligibility.  Only boys attending the California Legion's Boys & Girls State program are eligible, if selected, to attend Boys Nation (the Legion's national program); and only girls attending the California Auxiliary Girls State program may be eligible, if selected, to attend Girls Nation (the Auxiliary's national program).  By having the co-ed Legion's Boys & Girls State program, both boys and girls are eligible to attend a State program at schools where there are not enough resources for both programs. 

It is important to note these differences before a girl decides to apply to the Auxiliary Girls State or the Legion Boys & Girls State programs.  Girls may apply for only one program.  *All references to “women, girls or female” include gender-expansive individuals.  Please contact us at alaunit419santaclara@gmail.com about the schools we sponsor.  For Girls State, please visit this link.

Please Contact Us to find out more about which schools our Legion and Auxiliary sponsors in Santa Clara County.

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American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.

Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it 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, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities 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, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

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.

American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level.

After Boys State, comes Boys Nation (below)!

 

For complete information about Boys Nation click on above logo