Boys State/Girls State

[okiemom]

I don't know if everyone here is familiar with the Boys and Girls
State programs but they are worth mentioning as a way to earn college
credit. Our oldest son attended and absolutely loved it. Our youngest hopes to
attend this summer. He completed the application this morning.
They are week long summer programs sponsored by the American Legion
for kids between their junior and senior years of high school.


American Legion

[bandnerd]

We have 3 girls and 7 boys going to this conference. They are excited!

[okiemom]

They'll learn so much from it and have a good time too.

[Intrepid]

I attended Boys State back in the summer of after my junior year in high school (1989). I was looking forward to it at the time, as I was extremely interested in government and the political process.

While it was a unique experience, to me it was nothing more than a social gathering of high school students, and very few took the process seriously.

There was really nothing more about it than what I saw at my high school on a daily basis.

The bright side is that I did 'earn' 1 hour of college credit for NEO in Miami, OK.

[okiemom]

Intrepid,
The kids take it quite seriously now, mine did anyway. Maybe it's the home school attitude. Maybe it's a change in times.
It's up a choice of two or three credit hours at NEO now. Two hours if you pass all the exams, three hours if you tack on an essay with it. It's been two years since our oldest participated in it. It could be different now.
I should find out in case our youngest is accepted.

[okiemom]

bandnerd ,
How were the kids chosen? Here, the high school, homeschool groups, scout troups and venturer crew were notified. Then those interested completed applications that were turned in the post.
Scouts and children of current and former service people are given priority because it's an American legion sponsored event.

[bandnerd]

The girl's applied and were chosen, and this is our first year to take boys. The teachers gave their suggestions, the names were tallied, and the top 7 were interviewed by the American Legion. They liked all 7 boys so much they accepted them all in!

Another charter isn't going this year, so there were a few more spots than there would normally be.

[okiemom]

I should not have said interested in reference to the public school here because I'm not sure how that works. It might be by recommendation. My experience is strictly with the home school group and scout troop.