Do's ~ Don'ts ~ FAQ's

FAQ's ~ Do's & Don'ts

(Time references are to Indianapolis time.)

Where will Hoosier Boys State be held? The program will be hosted on the campus of Trine University largely along the southwest side of Angola, Indiana, just off of U.S. Highway 20. Our delegates will be housed in new dormitory suites (e.g., Moyer, Bucoff, Seculoff, Wilson, Moss Street, Widmann, and University Center Apartments), and they will eat in a new dining facility, University Center, in the heart of the campus. (For more specific descriptions take this link .)

What are the dates of the 2010 session? HBS starts promptly at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12th and ends just before lunch on Saturday, June 19^th.

When will registration begin and end? Tables with alphabetical indicators will be ready to begin the registration process at 9:00 a.m., sharp on Saturday the 12^thin the University Center. The stations will close at 2:00 p.m. Lunch is not provided for delegates and their escorts on Saturday, the day of arrival; but there are several eateries nearby close to campus. Trine University food services also sell tasty lunch choices for a very reasonable price (less then $10. Dinner will be provided by HBS also at the Center. The evening meal starts in the cafeteria (UC) at 5:00 p.m. Delegates will be given more specific instructions by their counselors.

NOTE: Delegates must be on campus for the organizational meeting of their respective HBS "Cities" and "Counties" shortly after 2:00 p.m. These meetings are very important as they literally kick-start the program. By the end of those meetings, around 4:00 p.m., Hoosier Boys' State will be in full swing! Students who cannot attend at that time and in their designated meeting rooms may be bumped in favor of an alternate delegate who otherwise is ready, willing, and able to meet that deadline.

When is the first meal provided by HBS? Dinner is served for delegates from 5:00 to 6:20 p.m. the first Saturday. Every day thereafter, all three meals are provided at no extra expense excepting for the last day when only breakfast will be provided.

What clothes should a I bring? First of all, you should bring enough clean clothes to last one week without having to do laundry; however, laundry facilities are available in the dormitories. We recommend bringing a light jacket in case of rain or cool weather--classrooms are indoors. For the day's activities wearing comfortable clothing is a must: shorts, T-shirts, jeans, etc. Each student will receive a Hoosier Boys State T-shirt at registration at no cost to him. After the program starts, additional HBS T-shirts may be purchased from the HBS Business Office on the Trine campus for a nominal price (usually under $10). Additionally, we highly recommend bringing athletic shoes and personal equipment like softball gloves, a tennis racquet, maybe a driver (for the driving range) and other similar equipment for those looking to take part in some of the recreational activities available on campus.

You are strongly urged to bring a dress shirt with appropriate slacks (navy blue or other dark color), a tie, and a sports jacket or suit. For the Friday night Memorial Service, Governor's Review, and Awards Ceremony you will wear your HBS T-shirt and a pair of dark pants. Additionally, delegates who are elected to the top six positions in the 51^st State Government (of HBS), and particularly the governor will want to wear a shirt and tie with a sport coat outfit or suit. As a matter of respect and uniformity, we expect delegates to wear dark pants (not Blue Jeans, Dockers, etc.) for the Friday activities and Sunday morning services. For the evening assemblies, casual attire is quite acceptable. On the other hand, the daily classes and other activities, VERY CASUAL clothing is logically the "uniform of the day."

Should I bring anything else? Most of the dorm rooms are air-conditioned (some of the older buildings are being upgraded). You should not need a fan excepting, perhaps for "white noise." Also, as it often turns cold without much warning in any given place or time in Indiana, you should bring a light-to-medium weight blanket. Trine University will not provide bed linen. You will need to bring a twin-size sheet (extended length) and one of the same size for a top cover. You might find that your favorite pillow and pillow case could be a welcome addition to your list. Maybe you might want to bring an alarm clock; although we WILL get you up every morning in time for your daily activities (before 5:30 a.m.). Oh yes, one more thing: you might bring a quart-sized water bottle--you know like one used for hiking or bike riding. Hydration is very important. It sometimes becomes a problem for delegates standing in formation in the hot sunlight on campus. Bringing a water bottle has an obvious benefit.

Please don't bring a lot of money! Meals are provided at no cost to you. Normally students are not allowed off campus; so items other than incidentals which can be obtained at the bookstore in the University Center (the same as for the cafetoria). Group pictures are provided without cost to the delegates. You might want an HBS DVD to chronicle your week at Hoosier Boys' State. The cost is about $20 (or less?). Sometimes money is lost or misplaced--occasionally (rarely) it simply disappears. We recommend that you bring no more than $50.

If I drive to Boys State, is there a place where I can park my car? First of all, PLEASE DON'T DRIVE? But, yes--delegates who truly need to drive will park in a secured lot patrolled regularly by campus police. However, delegates will NOT have access to their cars during the week. Delegates must register their cars and surender their keys at check-in time to their city counselor on Saturday, the 12^th. Parking on the campus is at the delegates' own risk. Please understand: bringing a car that is not properly registered with the HBS office, may result in having the campus police towing it to an impound lot--that is expensive AND inconvenient to say the least. Even if a car is only ticketed, fines are not nominal (minimum of $25.00)! Even though the student parking lots are secured, the Hoosier Boys State program is not responsible for damage to delegate automobiles. Again, You are strongly urged not to drive. You will be very tired, even virtually exhausted by Saturday morning at the end of the program--largely from not getting much sleep during the week. Some of the legion posts may provide a van and a driver to help their delegates get to Trine University--and back home safely. Please check with your sponsoring American Legion Post.

PLEASE DON'T DRIVE!

What will I need to do if I have to leave before the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony Friday evening? Contact your sponsoring American Legion Post and your district's enrollment chairman at least a week before Hoosier Boys' State begins so that an alternate can go in your place. If you cannot attend the ENTIRE program through the Friday Awards Ceremony, you should relinquish your invitation and let another student take your place. Your local American Legion Post has paid your enrollment fees so that you may attend Boys State at no cost to you. The sponsoring Post deserves its money's worth. More importantly, you will not receive the full benefits of the program. Most importantly, you will be a part of a TEAM, the city and county to which you will be assigned. For you to leave early will put your fellow citizens at a disadvantage--tantamount to cheating them of their just due. For example, imagine in your hometown a citizen runs successfully for mayor only to move away as soon as s/he is elected. The faith and trust the voters placed in her or him to serve has been broken. It's a very simple ethics issue! If you accept the invitation to attend HBS, you have a duty to stay with the program the entire week or help with an alternate!

Nevertheless, emergencies do present themselves through no control of the delegate; and we understand that possibility. If during the week a family emergency arises, your parents or legal guardians can contact the Hoosier Boys State office on the Trine campus and arrange for your prompt departure. (Follow this link: emergency .)

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I may have to arrive after the registration line is closed. What should I do?

As soon as you know you will be arriving late, contact the Hoosier Boys State office in Indianapolis at (317) 630-1264 with the particulars of that information. With almost no exception, taking the SAT or the ACT is presently not an acceptable reason for late arrivals. Attending a sporting event is not--even legion baseball is not a viable excuse. On the other hand, if such other situation should arise the day of the program (Saturday, June 12^th), the number to call on the Trine campus will be announced before program time and or at the registration desk. Once you arrive on campus, come to the Hoosier Boys State Business Office on the Trine campus to register (University Center). You are strongly urged to arrive on time or a little earlier. Please check the mileage from your home to Angola well in advance of your departure time. The program is well underway by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, the very first day. Arriving after that time may jeopardize your opportunity for a successful participation--even to knocking out that of a fellow delegate. If you cannot arrive by or before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, the 12^th, you should relinquish your invitation and contact the district enrollment chairman for your area, your host American legion post, and your alternate delegate if you know him.

I want to play in the marching band. If I bring my own instrument, is there a place where it can be stored safely? Yes, Trine University will provide a locked room in one of the dormitories for secure storage of band instruments. However, Trine University and Hoosier Boys' State assume no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged instruments. For the 2009 HBS Band, we had nearly 80 delegates playing.

What types of sports will be offered during the week?

There is an organized softball tournament and a tug-of-war. Also, delegates have access to tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pool, weight room, driving range, and a running track. Trine will provide a series of atheletic and health training activities for the delegates and staff, including but not limited to weight lifting. While we do offer leisure time for recreational and athletic-type activities, delegates should not expect to participate in any organized sports. Our program is not an atheletic training camp, it is an exercise in politics and government--democracy in action.

When can we be dismissed from the program? Saturday morning as soon as your city counselor gets you checked out (between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.) is usually the earliest opportunity to check out and go home. Breakfast is served usually from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. In this case, it's the "early bird that gets the worm."

Delegates whose parents, guardian, or other pre-qualified and responsible adult attend the Friday night Awards Ceremony may be dismissed after the ceremony to return home (between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m.); however, delegates will not be authorized to leave with other delegates who have driven to campus without prior arrangements having been made with their respective parents or guardians. In such cases, the delegate and his parent(s) must complete the Request to Leave Early Form in order for his counselor to account for his early departure. Generally, the Friday Awards Ceremony is over by 8:00 p.m.--or so! Those delegates who remain after the program Friday night often have a pizza party and watch movies. As stated above, all remaining delegates are dismissed Saturday morning after breakfast.

We encourage our citizens' parents, guardians, or other responsible adults wishing to observe our Friday evening Memorial Program, Governor's Review, and Awards Ceremony to arrive between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in order to secure adequate parking space. The program starts at 6:00 p.m.

An early Dismissal Slip form can be found in the "Forms" page of this web site.

Can I leave the Trine campus during the week? No. Considering the number of delegates we have at HBS and the relative geographic location and size of our host city, off campus travel is restricted to emergencies and pre-arranged events--and only after the director's permission has been given. Permission will not be easily obtained.

How much "REAL" money do I need to bring? We suggest no more than $50. All your meals are covered. Your most important purchase will be the new DVD being filmed during your week at Hoosier Boys State. The cost of the DVD is $20 or less. Any extra money would be used to purchase snacks at the candy and pop machines in the residence halls and for any souvenirs you might want to purchase at the campus bookstore. Trine and HBS are not responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.

My friends and I are coming to Boys State. What are the chances of us rooming together? None! Our personnel assignment computer program makes it virtually impossible for any two citizens from the same high school to be placed in the same room, city, or dorm. One of the major benefits of the HBS program is the opportunity to meet new people and learn about the diversity of people in our state. We want you to expand your network of contacts. Otherwise, room assignments are determined by random computer housing assignments.

I am diabetic. Is that a problem? No. Provisions will be made for you to keep any medications you need for your diabetes close at hand (counselors have refrigerators in their rooms). A diabetic delegate should inform his counselor and the HBS office staff of any special dietary needs or special accommodations needed first to their legion sponsor and then immediately upon arrival at or just after registration. Health providers are available at the hospital in Angola just three short blocks or so from the dormitories in which the delegates will be staying should an emergency situation arise.

I assume use of alcohol and or other drugs (controlled substances) is not allowed at Boys State. A good assumption. HBS is zero-tolerance for drugs and tobacco. Non-prescription drugs are prohibited by state law. But in case you were wondering, if a delegate is caught in possession of, or using alcohol or other drugs during Boys' State, on or off campus, he will be sent home immediately. If the police are involved, the errant delegate could be subjected to arrest and criminal processing. Additionally, we will contact the parent(s)/guardian(s), the respective sponsor(s), and high school(s) to explain why the delegate is being sent home and why the fees will not be refunded. Again, clearly understand that HBS is a "0" tolerance program. Use of tobacco products is also prohibited. Trine University maintains a smoke free campus.

What are the dates of the 2010 session? HBS starts promptly at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12th and ends just before lunch on Saturday, June 19th.

What are the dates of the 2010 session? HBS starts promptly at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12th and ends just before lunch on Saturday, June 19^th.