BADGER BOYS STATE A week to change a lifetime.

Ripon, WI

badgerboysstate.com bbsalumni.com

A program of THE AMERICAN LEGION, Department of Wisconsin

The first session of Badger Boys State was held in 1939 at St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield. 484 high school juniors attended the first session. The Wisconsin American Legion found the program to be very successful. The program continued at St. John’s Military Academy until 1941 when the Badger Boys State program was moved to the present location on the Ripon College campus. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and courtesies extended by Ripon College through these many years together.

World War II forced the suspension of the Badger Boys State program in 1943, 1944 and 1945. The program requires over 100 volunteer counselors and staff, plus a part-time special lectures staff of 45 consisting

of professionals from their respective field of expertise. Attendance has grown from 484 in 1939 to over 860 today, with a top attendance of 1,080 in 1976. With completion of the 2014 session, approximately 65,550 citizens have attended Badger Boys State since its inception. Badger Boys State graduates are prominent as responsible leaders in public office, business, the professions, industry, and the Armed Services.

Multiple scholarships are offered to select citizens who attend Badger Boys State. Additionally, many outside groups look favorably upon Badger Boys State participants. Badger Boys State participants also become members of the Badger Boys State Alumni Association. Founded in 2004, this organization works to connect the 65,550 alumni of Badger Boys State as well as help improve the experience of participants via philanthropic gifts. To learn more, go to bbsalumni.com.

— Local American Legion posts are usually the main clearing house for sponsoring organizations, though community organizations may also serve this role. — Sponsorship is not confined to Legion Posts though in general all Posts have the opportunity to sponsor at least one student annually. Community organizations who have sponsored students in the recent past are offered sponsorship opportunities and new community organization sponsors are also encouraged. Requests for sponsorship are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. — Sponsorship fee of $250 per student covers all costs for the student to attend. To maintain low fees, Badger Boys State has subsidized the cost of student attendance in recent years. — After Badger Boys State receives payment for sponsorship, registration cards will be returned to the sponsor who will then deliver the cards to the local high school(s) from which the sponsor wishes students to be selected from. — In the event a high school is unable to find enough students to attend for the allotted sponsorships, Badger Boys State requests sponsors contact us for alternative sponsorship ideas. However, if alternative plans are not satisfactory, requests for full refund must be made in writing to Badger Boys State by March 31. After this date, no refunds will be made.

badgerboysstate.com — info@badgerboysstate.com Prior to June 11, 2015; 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Phone: (608) 745-1090

Badger Boys State PO Box 388 Portage, WI 53901-0388

Between June 11-20, 2015; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Phone: (920) 876-6000 Emergency number after 5:00PM: (920) 876-6002

Badger Boys State PO Box 248 Ripon, WI 54971

Badger Boys State History Sponsorship

Contact Information Scholarships & Alumni

June 13-20, 2015

The fi rst session of Badger Boys State was held in 1939 at St. John’s Military Academy in Delafi eld. 484 high school juniors att ended the fi rst session. The Wisconsin American Legion found the program to be very successful. The program conti nued at St. John’s Military Academy unti l 1941 when the Badger Boys State program was moved to the present locati on on the Ripon College campus. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperati on and courtesies extended by Ripon College through these many years together.

World War II forced the suspension of the Badger Boys State program in 1943, 1944 and 1945. The program requires over 100 volunteer counselors and staff , plus a part-ti me special lectures staff of 45

consisti ng of professionals from their respecti ve fi eld of experti se.

Att endance has grown from 484 in 1939 to over 885 today, with a top att endance of 1,080 in 1976. With completi on of the 2018 session, approximately 69,145 citi zens have att ended Badger Boys State since its incepti on.

Badger Boys State graduates are prominent as responsible leaders in public offi ce, business, the professions, industry, and the Armed Services.

Badger Boys State History

Scholarships & Alumni

Sponsorship

Contact Information

Multi ple scholarships are off ered to select citi zens who att end Badger Boys State. Additi onally, many outside groups look favorably upon Badger Boys State parti cipants.

Badger Boys State parti cipants also become members of the Badger Boys State Alumni Associati on. Founded in 2004, this organizati on works to connect the 69,145 alumni of Badger Boys State as well as help improve the experience of parti cipants via philanthropic gift s. To learn more, go to bbsalumni.com.

— Local American Legion posts are usually the main clearing house for sponsoring organizati ons, though community organizati ons may also serve this role.— Sponsorship is not confi ned to Legion Posts though in general all Posts have the opportunity to sponsor at least one student annually. Community organizati ons who have sponsored students in the recent past are off ered sponsorship opportuniti es and new community organizati on sponsors are also encouraged. Requests for sponsorship are fi lled on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis.— Sponsorship fee of $300 per student covers all costs for the student to att end. To maintain low fees, Badger Boys State has subsidized the cost of student att endance in recent years.— Aft er Badger Boys State receives payment for sponsorship, registrati on cards will be mailed directly to the local high school(s) from which the sponsor wishes students to be selected from.— In the event a high school is unable to fi nd enough students to att end for the allott ed sponsorships, Badger Boys State requests sponsors contact us for alternati ve sponsorship ideas. However, if alternati ve plans are not sati sfactory, requests for full refund must be made in writi ng to Badger Boys State by March 31. Aft er this date, no refunds will be made.

badgerboysstate.com — info@badgerboysstate.com

Prior to June 7, 2019; 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM:Phone: (608) 745-1090Badger Boys StatePO Box 388 Portage, WI 53901-0388

Between June 7-15, 2019; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM:Phone: (920) 876-6000Emergency number aft er 5:00PM: (920) 876-6002 Badger Boys StatePO Box 248 Ripon, WI 54971

78TH SESSIONJ��� 8-15, 2019

R����, WI

A Program of the American Legion,

Department of Wisconsin

BADGERBOYSSTATE.COMBBSALUMNI.COM

A week to change a lifetime Activities EligibilityOver 885 young men from throughout Wisconsin will participate at Badger Boys State in June. Upon arrival at the Ripon College campus, they will be grouped into cities and counties, thus forming a 51st state. For eight days, the citizens of the new state will carry out the functions of city, county and state government using basic laws and fundamental procedures of the State of Wisconsin as their guide. The program is designed to teach participants how the United States of America has designed the preeminent form of government and as citizens, we have no more precious possession than the Constitution. Equally important, as the future leaders in Wisconsin and beyond, participants are immersed in significant group activities assisting in the development of lifelong leadership skills. The participants elect their own municipal, county and state officials. As aldermen or county supervisors they will frame, present and pass their own ordinances and laws using their own law enforcement to ensure compliance. As attorneys, they will prosecute or defend, or as judges, hear cases in their own courts. Through this program, these future leaders should develop a sense of individual obligation to their community, state and nation. To ensure each student arrives with an equal opportunity to be successful, participants are provided complete instructions prior to the session.

The staff and counselors of Badger Boys State are composed of 100% volunteers. The counseling staff consists entirely of former Badger Boys State citizens. Additionally, many legal, civic and professional advisors participate as speakers and/or advisors.

The session’s success will be determined largely by the attitude of the participants toward the program. If the majority of the students attending Badger Boys State reflect high ideals of citizenship, the program will be an unqualified success. At Badger Boys State, good citizenship means loyalty, sportsmanship, cooperation, dependability, responsiveness, and an interest in the week’s activities. Beyond the scheduled core activities, every citizen at Badger Boys State is encouraged to participate in a varied program of recreational activities designed to provide relief from the fast pace of Badger Boys State. DISCUSSION SESSIONS – Outstanding professionals hold discussion sessions in education, medicine, law enforcement, engineering, political processes, ecology, military, and ministry.MUSIC – The Badger Boys State Band and Chorus are organized and directed by distinguished musicians. Young men with musical experience should bring their instruments. NEWSPAPER – The Badger Bugle Citizen is the official newspaper of Badger Boys State and is issued everyday. An editorial staff organizes for citizens interested in journalism. SPORTS – A schedule of competition is arranged for softball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, ultimate frisbee and cross-country.

— All Legion Posts should contact the high school in their area to assure that at least one boy is selected to attend Badger Boys State. It is essential for Posts to maintain contact with schools regarding the selection process. — Young men who have just completed their junior year in high school and have their senior year remaining before graduation are eligible to attend Badger Boys State. Home-schooled students are eligible but must be considered among the pool of students in what would be their school district. — Each boy must be sponsored by an organization that pays all sponsorship fees. — Scholarship is important and is part of the well rounded participant. Participants should be from the upper third of the class, but may vary due to school population. Badger Boys State does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, creed, color, political affiliation, ancestry, or membership in the National Guard, state defense force, or any other reserve component of the military forces of the United States or Wisconsin. ORIENTATIONS Informational meetings are held in many counties. Participants, alternates, parents & school representatives are urged to attend any one of these meetings. Orientation schedules are posted and updated online. An online orientation is also available. TRANSPORTATION Transportation to and from Badger Boys State is not arranged by Badger Boys State and is the responsibility of participants and their parents to arrange appropriate transportation. There is no need for a vehicle on campus as all activities take place on the closed campus. VISITORS Badger Boys State will be open to visitors and family depending on space availability. Family and friends are invited to attend all evening sessions. Noted speakers will deliver short inspirational talks. Please verify schedule times online at badgerboysstate.com.