History in the Making

Warm Beach Camp excitedly welcomed Evergreen Boys and Girls State back this June, during a joyous and momentous change to their program! With a commitment to provide exceptional experiences for young leaders, Washington State has joined the ranks of New Mexico, California, and others in offering a fully co-educational program under the authority of The American Legion Department of Washington.

During a week-long immersive experience, high school juniors participated in court proceedings, legislative sessions, and even political campaigns, all designed to build skills in leadership, communication, and public service. These real-world government scenarios were further elevated by both males and females working together collaboratively. During this heightened experience, some interesting trends surfaced, including some lighthearted dynamics.

The teenagers were split into four cities: two co-ed and two male-only. Program leadership observed that in the two co-ed groups, the structure of their cities were centered around having respect for one another and having rules and ordinances that reflected that sentiment. Every person was given a voice, and everyone was supportive of one another; a trend that has never happened before at State! Leadership all noticed a change in disposition. Whenever girls were present, the teenage boys were on their best behavior, more engaged with the material, and even improved in cleanliness and appearance.

While the girls were quicker to initiate and get activities going, the all-male groups made sure to mix in as much light-hearted fun and joking as possible. However, when it was time to get down to business, the male-only groups set stricter rules, were more concerned with penalties, and ended up in the highest-ranking positions. Tony Morea, Board of Chair President, reflected, “With just getting our feet under us with having an expanded co-ed program, there were 11 girls who participated. It could have been a slight intimidation factor with being outnumbered by the boys, but I was surprised that more girls didn’t run for certain positions. If certain girls ran, they had a good chance of getting it. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out next year.”

Throughout their stay, the Warm Beach campus lent perfectly to their needs. The facilities provided ample space for breakout sessions for each city, and in-house services supported requests ranging from technological needs to catered banquets and ice cream socials. But most importantly, the peaceful, reflective atmosphere of the grounds keeps this group coming back year after year. Tony Morea emphasized, “The program has potential to be high-pressure given the nature of what we are asking the kids to be a part of. Throughout the week, once the kids step out of the buildings, they are surrounded by peaceful scenery, and that eases any tension they may be feeling. This calming atmosphere also helps us in leadership to stay at ease in the midst of busy days.”

With a shared vision of making a positive impact in our local communities, Warm Beach Camp looks forward to continuing to partner with Evergreen Boys and Girls State to provide a safe space for future leaders to take chances, learn, and grow!