“Beyond introducing these young men to Miami University and the City of Oxford, our community will have a positive economic impact as a result of their program,” said Jessica Greene, executive director of Enjoy Oxford.
“Parents who stay overnight for the family day and graduation will bolster the local economy by staying in local hotels and visiting local establishments,” she said.
According to Tourism Ohio, the value of an overnight guest is $341 per person.
“Buckeye Boys State staff have estimated that we will have between 500-1,000 parents visiting our community for their family weekend and (camp) graduation,” Greene said.
Buckeye Boys State is sponsored by the Ohio American Legion, the largest veterans organization in Ohio. At Buckeye Boys State, boys learn about city, county and state government through a nonpartisan, objective educational approach.
Miami officials were able to lure away the boys camp from Bowling Green State University in Northwest Ohio, which had hosted the annual event for almost 40 years.
The youth organization signed up with Miami as host through the summer of 2021.
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Miami University, which has regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown and a Learning Center in West Chester Twp., is Butler County’s largest post-secondary school and the county’s largest employer.
Miami University President Gregory Crawford said the school is happy to have the youth camp.
“We are thrilled to have future young leaders on our campus,” he said.
“The focus of Buckeye Boys State on encouraging student involvement and success relates directly to Miami’s empowerment of students not only through rigorous academics but collaborations, interactivity, leadership opportunities and active engagement,” Crawford said.
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