Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
Missouri Boys State is built on one powerful idea: the individual has the power to change the world. Whether you're an athlete, journalist, or future politician, you can make a difference.
Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State teach rising high school seniors the workings of American democracy while building leadership and character. Participants create a mock government from the ground up, take college-level courses, run for office, hear from inspiring speakers, and engage in spirited competitions—all in one transformative week.
A Legacy of Civic Leadership
For more than 80 years, Missouri Boys State has helped prepare young Missourians for lives of engaged citizenship and public service.
The national Boys State movement was founded in 1935 in Illinois by American Legionnaires Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card. At a time when authoritarian regimes were on the rise, the founders were alarmed by the influence of youth programs like the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany and the Young Pioneer camps in the Soviet Union—programs that promoted loyalty to the state over individual freedom. In response, they created Boys State: a civics and leadership program designed to educate young Americans on the principles of representative democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship.
The first Missouri Boys State was held in 1938, with ALA Missouri Girls State following in 1940. Both programs are sponsored by the American Legion Department of Missouri and the American Legion Auxiliary, and they continue to empower high school students through immersive, hands-on experiences in leadership and government.
The 2025 Experience
From June 21–28, 2025, we expect 1,600 students to attend the programs at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. A $600 fee covers meals, housing, and all activities. Over 250 volunteers—many of them alumni—help guide students through the immersive experience. Around 503 participants (31%) from 94 St. Louis-area high schools are expected to attend.