The American Legion of Illinois began Boys State in 1935 to counteract Pioneer Camps being conducted by the Nazi Freedom Foundation.

In 1939, the American Legion Department of Virginia, with the cooperation of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech), organized the Old Dominion Boys State. The program was not held during the war years 1942-1945 and in 2020 during the COVID - 19 pandemic.

Virginia Boys State provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of three areas of government. At 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.

Virginia Boys State is a leadership action program, designed to develop a working knowledge of the structure of government and to impress upon the citizen the fact that our government is just what we make it. Along the way they will have the opportunity to learn the political process. Each level of government will be run by those delegates who are elected to serve. Instruction will be presented on the law and court system, parliamentary procedure and Virginia political history.

This years program will be held on the campus of Radford University from June 16-22, 2024. Please reach out to your local post or contact us at markantley.post280@gmail.com for more information. 

More information can be found at: https://www.vaboysstate.org/ or click on the link above.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Girls State. For online details visit  http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/girls.html