Welcome to Badger Boys State!

We are very excited that your school is looking to send students to Badger Boys State session this upcoming June. We welcome any student who has demonstrated leadership potential in their local community. We would be happy to help you as you work to select students to attend.

We encourage students of all backgrounds, identities, and socioeconomic status to attend Badger Boys State. Our selection process prioritizes equal opportunity. We strive to convene a group of participants that is representative of Wisconsin.

Please review the information below to learn more about our program. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have, by calling 608.745.1090 or emailing info@badgerboysstate.org.

For an easy to distribute introduction to Badger Boys State, please feel free to download and share our brochure (also available in black & white)

A Week to Change a Lifetime

Badger Boys State is a week-long civic leadership program. Upon arriving, each participant becomes a citizen of one of 27 cities and one of 9 counties within Badger Boys State. 900 fellow young leaders from across Wisconsin will be tasked with organizing their own government by electing public officials at the city, county, and state levels. After electing their government, public officials will then work together to address the concerns of their community.

Through this process, each participant will not only learn the fundamentals of civics, but also develop the interpersonal skills and confidence necessary to lead in their local community when they return in their senior year. Our volunteer staff is committed to helping each participant develop the education and skills needed to make a positive impact.

3 Reasons to Nominate Students

#1

Badger Boys State is an experience unlike any other.

Badger Boys State is unlike a typical learning experience. Our volunteer staff is committed to helping each student build a city, county, and state government and become more effective leaders throughout the process. Every part of our program is designed for students to acquire first-hand experience with civic leadership.

#2

Badger Boys State will help students achieve their future goals.

Colleges and universities, military academies, and future employers will view Badger Boys State participation as a sign of a student’s strong leadership abilities and character. There are also many scholarships available only to Boys State participants. In 2019, Nathan Wolf of Kaukauna won the $10,000 Samsung Legion Scholarship.

#3

Students will return home as more impactful leaders.

Our immersive program and supportive staff empower students to use their leadership skills and abilities to enact positive change in their local communities during their senior year and beyond. Badger Boys State participants are encouraged to serve as role models in their schools and as active citizens in their local communities.

Timeline for School Nominations

October 2024: Sponsorship Begins

Sponsorship cards are made available in October 2024. We continue to accept sponsors until program capacity is reached.

We will notify school counselors about how many students we expect to support from your school. If your school does not have sponsors, Badger Boys State will use grant funds to support students from your school.

Please pass along information about Badger Boys State by sharing the Sponsors web page with local civic and business leaders.

January 15, 2025: Registration Begins

Your school should receive registration information from Badger Boys State via mail around mid-January.

Around this time, your school should begin its formal process to select students that would benefit from Badger Boys State. Counselors, administrators, and social studies teachers are encouraged to take part in selecting students.

If your school does not have a selection process in place, please contact us so that we can provide further information and support.

March 1, 2025: Notify Delegates

Please notify primary and alternate delegates by March 1, 2025 to allow students enough time to register online by the April 15, 2025 priority registration deadline. After this date, we are only able to accept students as space allows.

Please provide selected students with the registration card as well as the link and password for the online registration form.

Encourage primary and alternate delegates to review the Students web page for more information about our program.