Dream big. Start small. Act now. Future politicians can work toward achieving their dreams at the American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. Teenage politicos get first hand experience running for mock office, speaking to their “citizens,” creating laws, and essentially, running their own government. Students participating better appreciate and understand American citizenship. The Boys and Girls State website emphasizes the benefits of attending the camp: lifelong friendships are forged with students from a variety of backgrounds, necessary leadership skills and confidence are built, and scholarships and admission preferences become available to attendees. Cannon Falls students have been attending Boys and Girls State for several decades, but Megan Bauer, the 2013 Cannon Falls representative, was also selected as one of only two students to represent Minnesota at Girls Nation. Never before had a Cannon Falls student been chosen.

Bauer attended Girls State in 2013.  After explaining that being an expert in government affairs isn’t necessary to attend, Bauer points out that “even if you aren’t interested in government, you meet people that make you interested in government.” She goes on to encourage anyone to attend the event, describing the friendly Girls State environment and how lucky the girls were to stay on the Bethel campus.  Her favorite experience was “learning how to be part of a group of leaders.”

Bauer was also chosen to attend Girls Nation. Being selected was a huge honor for her. Attendees were exposed to real government situations, and got the chance to interact with both Minnesota representatives and the President. As explained by Bauer, the difference between Girls State and Girls Nation was the increased amount of time spent focused on legislation. Meeting the President,  Girls Nation attendees “went through four or five levels of security and got to tour the White House.”  Recalling that in order to meet the president, they had to wait for forty-five minutes, Bauer says “we were worried he wasn’t going to show up.”

Ryan Foster, another CFHS student, attended Boys State during the summer of 2013. To join the event, he talked with a few  American Legion members. Focusing on government in a realistic way was Foster’s favorite part about the experience. He also liked “running for specific offices.” Foster explained how it was hard to choose what he liked best, because he enjoyed all of it. He is not planning on going directly into a government major, but could definitely see himself becoming governmentally involved.

Bauer and Foster still keep in contact with the friends they made during the week. Sharing that her friends created a Facebook group, Bauer says “it is really interesting hearing about all the things everyone is doing for college.” Smiling, Foster shares that one of his fellow students will be attending the same college as he is.

The programs are only a week long, but are packed with essential local, state, and national government material – at no expense to the student. For more information, there will be a meeting in the Guidance Office on April 9th at 10:00 a.m. Stop in ahead of time to receive a pass to attend the meeting. Both Foster and Bauer will be working with the Guidance Office to recruit new students this year. To be eligible to participate in the program, students must have completed their junior year, and have at least one semester of school remaining.