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Badger Boys State is a week-long youth program held each June to teach Wisconsin high-school students leadership and the workings of government. Forty-nine states〔http://legion.org/boysnation〕 (all except for Hawai'i) have a similar yet distinctive program for boys〔http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/boys.html〕 and a separate program for girls.〔http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/girls.html〕 The program hosts approximately 850 students (called citizens while attending the program) and over 100 volunteer staff members for 8 days on the Ripon College campus. During the week, a mock government is created as citizens elect leaders in 27 cities, 8 counties, and a "51st" state that encompasses the entire program. Badger Boys State has helped in the growth and training of a number of notable members of society, including Wisconsin governors Scott Walker, Scott McCallum and Martin Schreiber.〔http://www.badgerboysstate.com/past_graduates.htm〕 The staff and the American Legion seek to provide an educational experience to those who attend the program. Many citizens find the experience memorable and impactful〔http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsAGZerlKZ0〕 ==History== During the mid-1930s, an American Legion program known as Boys State was originated in Illinois. In October 1938, the State Executive Committee of the Wisconsin American Legion authorized Alonzo Cudworth Post No. 23, Milwaukee, to proceed with its plans for the organization of Badger Boys State. Badger Boys State adopted a program based upon the experience of the Illinois Boys State which was sponsored by the Illinois American Legion and had been in operation since 1935. Four hundred eighty-four high school juniors attended the first session of Badger Boys State at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, June 16–23, 1939. The project proved very successful and was unanimously authorized to proceed as a state program by the Wisconsin American Legion Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The individuals responsible for founding the Badger Boys State program officially on April 8, 1939 were: * Val E. Ove, President 1939, Director 1940-1971, Director Emeritus 1971-1980 * William E. Fletcher * Benjamin Pettitt * Ashley Swan * Steven Shepherd * Henry C. Fuller, Secretary - Milwaukee * Lawrence H. Smith, Vice President - Racine * George D. Haupt, Treasurer - Milwaukee * Grover C. Fillbach, Director - Milwaukee * Herbert H. Helble, Director - Appleton * Henry O. Regner, Director - West Bend * G. H. Stordock, Director - Milwaukee * Major George E. Ballhorn, Director - Milwaukee Due to the limited capacity of St. John's Military Academy, a survey of the various college facilities throughout the state was made in 1941 which resulted in moving Badger Boys State to its present location at Ripon College (Wisconsin). Ripon College's entire facilities are made available for the purpose of accommodating Badger Boys State. Wartime restrictions forced the suspension of operations in 1943, 1944 and 1945. Badger Boys State resumed its sessions in 1946 with a memorial service for 35 former Badger Boys Staters who gave their lives in the service of their country. The operation of an actual session of Badger Boys State and the execution of its program now requires a full-time volunteer staff of over one hundred people, plus a part-time special lecture staff of 45. Attendance has grown from 484 in 1939 to an all-time high of 1,066 in 1982. Ripon College was forced to place some restrictions on space in the late 1980s whereby total citizen attendance is restricted to 973 per session. Many Badger Boys State graduates serve public office or work in business, the professions, industry, and the armed forces.〔http://www.badgerboysstate.com/past_graduates.htm〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Badger Boys State」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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