For many years the number of participants in North Dakota’s Boys State was more than 500. In recent years the numbers have been close to 100.
The American Legion would like to see the number of Boys State participants increase. Joshua Jeffers is the deputy director of recruiting for North Dakota Boys State.
"It used to be an honor to go to Boys State, it still is, but it was different in the aspect that there was legion in every small town, legionnaires in every small town, every kid knew a legionnaire and every legionnaire knew a student that was eligible to go," Jeffers said.
Boys State is a week long summer program for high school juniors. Students are divided into different branches of government and run for offices ranging from governor to mayors. Students then have to go through mock crises such as flooding or tornados and discover how they would handle various situations.
"Learning by doing. This is your Boys State, they make the bills they pass the laws they run the platforms," Jeffers said. "We as advisors and city councilors have nothing to do with that, we give them the framework of how to do it and then we allow them to take their ideas to wherever they want to go with it."
Jeffers said 250 to 300 students would be ideal for the program. Students can apply through a legion member, a boys state brochure or at www.ndboystate.org