Post 964 annually sends local youth(s) who have completed their Junior year of High School and are selected by their counselors or Lake Zurich Post #964, to Illinois Premier Boys State. The program is a week long seminar on the workings of our government held at Eastern Illinois University. It is known as Premier Boys State, a distinction given only to Illinois, since Illinois was the first state to initiate this type of seminar. For detailed information click on the following website: https://illinoisboysstate.org
Some of the notable people who attended Boys State in their respective states when they were in High School are:
| Tom Brokaw | Former NBC anchorman. | |
| Bill Clinton | 42nd President of the United States. | |
| Michael Jordan | Professional NBA player. | |
| John N. Kennedy | Louisiana State Treasurer and 2008 U.S. Senate candidate. | |
| Donal Logue | Actor. | |
| Eric Motley | Former State Department Official. | |
| Tommy Thompson | Former Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services. | |
| Gaddi Vasquez | Former Director of the Peace Corps. | |
| H. Alston Johnson III | Former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and longtime friend of Former President Clinton. |
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government.
Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it organized to counter the Fascist inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county, and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational programs.
High school juniors are selected by their counselors and local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization. If you know of any High School Junior who might be interested in this program have him/her contact their local American Legion Post and/or counselor to obtain further info.
American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in all 50 Departments of The American Legion. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Girls State. For online details visit https://www.alaigs.org/.