Since 1935, the American Legion's Boys State program has dropped teenagers straight into the machinery of government, asking them to build a mock city, county, and state from scratch in one intense week at Morrisville State College. Every summer, the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties helps send local high school juniors to live it firsthand.
This year's delegates came home with stories to tell. Nicholas Bernard ran for office at every level of his mock government and won election as City Treasurer, delivering a two-minute speech in front of roughly 400 people along the way. Caleb Nelson bonded with his Marine counselor, survived the program's grueling “Devil's Mile” workout, and wrote that he “felt a strong sense of belonging and support from people around me.” Jacob Pettit summed up his week simply: “a valuable experience and an amazing time participating.”
The Kiwanis Club of Saugerties is proud to keep sending local teens to learn, firsthand, what it takes to serve.
To learn more about Boys State, visit boysstateny.org.
