Badger Boys State
Badger Boys State (office); program held at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, 2930 American Legion Dr, Portage, WI 53901
About
Badger Boys State is a week-long program where participants create their own city, county, and state level governments. During the session, they elect public officials at the city, county, and state levels and work on governing effectively throughout the session.
• Ages: 16–17 years old
• Schedule: One-week session, June 14–20, 2026
Badger Boys State is a program of the Wisconsin American Legion. The mission of Badger Boys State is to educate young leaders on how to become more impactful community members of Wisconsin. High school students between their junior and senior years learn how the government system works by creating their own city, county, and state level governments, and participants become citizens of one of 27 cities and one of 9 counties. Badger Boys State 2026 will be holding its 83rd session, and the 2023 session was the 80th incarnation of the program in Wisconsin. Badger Boys State is 100% funded by donations.
Badger Boys State notes that hundreds of participants leave feeling inspired by the lifelong lessons and relationships developed at the program each year. The program states that it prides itself on identifying, creating, and empowering the leaders of tomorrow, not just during the week of the program, but afterwards as well. Boys State is described as an experience in leadership, collaboration, and communication with students from around the state, creating a network of boys and men with shared experiences and memories who make up the Badger Boys State Alumni Association.
The leadership team includes The Rev. Tom Skrenes, Legionnaire Mark Kramer, and Andy Proffet, who is a journalist and web editor for the American Legion Boys Nation program. Many colleges and organizations offer scholarships to Boys State alumni, including the Samsung American Legion Scholarship (up to $10,000), the Marian University - Badger Boys State Partnership Award ($11,000 per year), the UW Eau Claire - Badger Boys State Scholarship ($1,000), the Carthage College - Badger Boys/Girls State Scholarship ($1,000), and the Hampden-Sydney College - Boys State Participant Scholarship (up to $100,000).
Last updated February 25, 2026.
• Ages: 16–17 years old
• Schedule: One-week session, June 14–20, 2026
Badger Boys State is a program of the Wisconsin American Legion. The mission of Badger Boys State is to educate young leaders on how to become more impactful community members of Wisconsin. High school students between their junior and senior years learn how the government system works by creating their own city, county, and state level governments, and participants become citizens of one of 27 cities and one of 9 counties. Badger Boys State 2026 will be holding its 83rd session, and the 2023 session was the 80th incarnation of the program in Wisconsin. Badger Boys State is 100% funded by donations.
Badger Boys State notes that hundreds of participants leave feeling inspired by the lifelong lessons and relationships developed at the program each year. The program states that it prides itself on identifying, creating, and empowering the leaders of tomorrow, not just during the week of the program, but afterwards as well. Boys State is described as an experience in leadership, collaboration, and communication with students from around the state, creating a network of boys and men with shared experiences and memories who make up the Badger Boys State Alumni Association.
The leadership team includes The Rev. Tom Skrenes, Legionnaire Mark Kramer, and Andy Proffet, who is a journalist and web editor for the American Legion Boys Nation program. Many colleges and organizations offer scholarships to Boys State alumni, including the Samsung American Legion Scholarship (up to $10,000), the Marian University - Badger Boys State Partnership Award ($11,000 per year), the UW Eau Claire - Badger Boys State Scholarship ($1,000), the Carthage College - Badger Boys/Girls State Scholarship ($1,000), and the Hampden-Sydney College - Boys State Participant Scholarship (up to $100,000).
Last updated February 25, 2026.
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