5 Reasons to Attend Badger Boys State

#1

Badger Boys State is an experience unlike any other.

Badger Boys State is unlike your typical learning experience. Our volunteer staff is committed to helping you and your peers build a city, county, and state government and become more effective leaders throughout the process. Every part of our program is designed for you to acquire first-hand experience with civic leadership.

#2

Badger Boys State will help you achieve your future goals.

Colleges and universities, military academies, and future employers will view Badger Boys State participation as a sign of your strong leadership abilities and character. There are also many scholarships available only to Boys State participants. In 2019, Nathan Wolf of Kaukauna won the $10,000 Samsung Legion Scholarship.

#3

You will meet Wisconsin’s emerging leaders - and many new friends.

While you may arrive at UW-Eau Claire without knowing anyone, you will begin some of your most meaningful and important friendships over the course of your Badger Boys State session. At the end of the week, you won’t want to leave your new friends and the community you built together.

#4

There’s something for everyone at Badger Boys State.

Whether you are excited to run for Governor, to win a recreational sports championship for your county, to sing in the choir, to play in the band, to join the press corps, or to take part in Badger Boys State University classes and special discussions, you will certainly find many parts of the program that align with your interests and passions.

#5

You will become a part of the Boys State community and tradition.

Since 1939, nearly 70,000 Wisconsinites have participated in Badger Boys State. You will become a part of this proud tradition of Boys State. You will follow in the footsteps of other Boys State alumni, such as NBA Champion Michael Jordan, President Bill Clinton, Vice Presidents Al Gore, and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Timeline for Student Participants

Register Online - Open Year Round

Please complete the online registration form as soon as possible after receiving registration information from your high school.

If you were selected as a primary delegate, your spot is ensured as soon as you register. If you were selected as an alternate delegate, sign up as soon as possible, as funds are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have not been selected by your high school, but would like to attend Badger Boys State, please contact us as soon as possible.

April-June, 2027: Watch Orientation

Leading up to the Badger Boys State session, you should view the online orientation video series, where you will learn more about the program from our staff.

The orientation video is live on YouTube! Visit our YouTube page here to view the orientation video series.

June 13, 2027: Day 1 of 2027 Session

Badger Boys State will begin in the afternoon of Sunday, June 13th and continue through the morning of Saturday, June 19th.

Upon arriving, please visit check-in at Karlgaard Towers dormitory located at:
642 University Drive,
Eau Claire, WI 54701.

Please pay attention to the email you entered when registering for Badger Boys State for updates about the 2026 session, bus schedules to and from the UW-Eau Claire campus, and recommended packing lists.

A Week to Change a Lifetime

Badger Boys State is a week-long civic leadership program. Upon arriving, you will become a citizen of one of 27 cities and one of 9 counties within Badger Boys State. You and hundreds of fellow young leaders from across Wisconsin will be tasked with organizing your own government by electing public officials at the city, county, and state levels. After electing your government, public officials will then work together to address the concerns of your community.

Through this process, you will not only learn the fundamentals of civics, but also develop the interpersonal skills and confidence necessary to lead in your local community. Your generation has immense societal challenges to address, and our volunteer staff is committed to helping you develop the education and skills needed to make a positive impact.