American Legion Boys & Girls State
The American Legion NJ Boys State and Girls State is a week long college-level program for rising New Jersey high school juniors, teaching them about democracy and government by having them run a mock state, including elections, legislative sessions, and running newspapers/bands, fostering leadership skills and civic responsibility through hands-on learning with guest speakers, career seminars, and a college fair. The Boys State Session is held at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ and the Girls State Session is held at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ
For those that have been contacted about the 2026 Boys and Girls State Session and are applying, please fill out the 2026 Boys / Girls State Legion Questionnaire by clicking here (or on the button below)
American Legion Post 372 Boys State
The American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS) for 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, to Friday, June 26, 2026, marking its 80th session, at Rider University.
For more information about NJ Boys State, click here.
To contact our American Legion Post 372 Boys State Chairperson, email John DiNapoli at jdinapoli8@gmail.com
American Legion Post 372 Girls State
The 2026 session of ALA Jersey Girls State will be held at Georgian Court University from Sun, June 21st - Thurs, June 25th, 2026.
For more information about NJ Girls State, click here.
To contact our American Legion Post 372 Girls State Chairperson, Ruth Seel at ruthseel@yahoo.com
American Legion Boys & Girls State
Boys and Girls State programs both began in 1937 and are held in each of the U.S. states, usually on a college campus, within that state. Male and female programs are held separately. Each State's program varies, but in general program participants are divided into subgroups referred to as cities. The citizens of each of these cities elect mock municipal officials and representatives to the mock state legislature. Many programs also have a county level as well. The participants also elect state officials, such as governor, lieutenant governor, and other state-level officials mirroring their actual State. The legislature meets to organize, elect leaders, and to pass bills, in a way that is similar to how their actual State Legislature operates. Some programs tend to have a more traditional education focus, providing speakers and training throughout the week and then concluding with mock political functions. Other programs take a more hands-on approach by running the mock government activities all week. For more information about NJ Boys State, click here. For more information about NJ Girls State, click here.
Boys State Intro
To watch the 2023 Full Orientation Video, click here