Welcome to Illinois Boys State. Thank you for considering sponsorship for one of our citizens for the upcoming session. Without contributions from people like yourself, our program would not be possible.

Founded in 1935 in Illinois, Boys State is an American Legion Youth Program. During the Boys State experience, students learn first-hand what city, county, and state government is all about. As opposed to the traditional classroom, 'citizens' of Boys State experience it first hand in a live-event learning experience.

Eligible participants have just completed their junior year in high school. We offer nine $1000 scholarships each year to participants as well. Information about those scholarships can be found here on the website.

Take a look around the website to learn about the program. The video above contains a true explanation of our program, and lasts about 10 minutes. Please be patient, as it takes time to load; however, we believe the information is worthwhilte for you.

The sponsor fee is $225, and will cover room, board, and of course, participation in the program. A check or money order must accompany the registration form, or one may pay by using PayPal. We have many different types of sponsors: parents, schools, school organizations, banks, civic organizations, and, of course, American Legion Posts, to name a few. There is NO limit to the number of students which may attend from any particular school.

Thank you for your contribution to the youth and future of this country. Much of our program is ultimately about leadership, and you are helping to develop the next generation of leaders in this county. If you have any questions, feel free to email the webmaster of this site.