EMPOWERING
CATHOLIC GIRLS THROUGH A
CHRIST-CENTERED
PROGRAM
AHG is instilling life-long faith in the next generation of Catholic women.
American Heritage Girls (AHG) uses scout-like methods to equip Catholic girls in discovering their vocations and guiding them to a life-long identity in Christ.
AHG is proud to come alongside parishes nationwide. AHG is a Christ-centered character and leadership development program for girls ages 5 to 18.
Today's girls are surrounded by a faith-filled culture less often in their everyday lives. American Heritage Girls is a space where girls can grow in their Catholic faith while learning new skills, experiencing outdoor adventure, and becoming the women of integrity God created them to be.
Learn more about how American Heritage Girls can come alongside your parish and arch/diocese to meet your youth ministry goals. This volunteer-led ministry will serve not only girls and their families in your parish, but those in your community who are seeking a place to belong.
Ready to meet your
parish youth ministry goals?
Connect with an AHG Troop
Development Coach!
"Being a part of AHG has been a blessing for my daughters and myself in many ways, especially in service. As a mom, it has been a gift to watch my three girls grow a true servant’s heart. As young Catholic women, my daughters have embraced service as a part of their life—seeking ways to serve with joy in our parish and in our community. I am confident that being involved in service from a young age through activities with AHG was a solid building block in this development. It has been gratifying to live our Catholic faith with other families in our Troop, knowing we all hold similar values and beliefs. My daughters, and the girls around them, are developing into lovely young women living a Christ-centered life.”
–Julie Reilly
AHG Mom & National Catholic Committee Chair
AHG Troop KS1111
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
AHG Program
American Heritage Girls provides Christ-centered progressive programming tailored to the age and ability of each child. The Program consists of six key components known as the AHG Program Emphases. A girl who completes the AHG Program will be a Christ-following servant leader who is honoring, relational, anchored in Christ, and competent: a woman of integrity.
MISSION
Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.
VISION
American Heritage Girls is the premier national character development organization for young women that embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement.
OATH
I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community.
–Most Reverend John F. Doerfler, Bishop of Marquette, MI
AHG is endorsed by several Catholic arch/dioceses throughout the country:
Diocese of Birmingham
Diocese of Colorado Springs
Diocese of Fort Worth
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Diocese of Lincoln
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Archdiocese of Omaha
Diocese of Rockford
Archdiocese of St. Louis
A Few Reasons Your Parish will Love AHG
Aligned with Church Teaching
From camping to robotics, sewing to cake decorating, girls learn life skills and discover passions while developing a Biblical worldview. Catholic Troops have the opportunity to instill Catholic values and teachings alongside every activity in the AHG Program, allowing for a spiritually-enriching program for girls in the Church.
Volunteer Led Programming
It takes just five talented, compassionate, and creative men and women from your parish to start an AHG Troop. Together they will serve as a Troop Board and under your parish's direction, raise up women of integrity.
Opportunity for Growth
The AHG Program encourages spiritual direction in it's ministry not only to girls, but to the adult volunteers leading the Troop. Priests are encouarged to take the role of shepherding Troop Leadership, girls, and families through encouragement, spiritual guidance, and prayer. This influential role provides parishes the opportunity to connect with Troop families that might be seeking a home parish; thus, allowing them to point these families towards a path that will lead them to a restorative relationship with God and His Church.
Youth Protection
Protecting the girls God entrusted to the AHG Ministry is of upmost importance. Troops are protected by Liability Insurance Coverage, all Adult Members must complete a background check before participating, and volunteers must complete AHG's Youth Protection Training.
“We are pleased to offer the new Catholic Faith Awards to American Heritage Girls here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. As soon as they were available, we reviewed the materials, and endorsed these new Awards as a way to foster a girl’s faith development and to weave the Catholic belief and practice throughout a girl’s AHG experience, from Tenderheart to Patriot.”
–Gary Pokorny, Director of Catechesis, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Check out all of
the AHG Benefits to
Charter Organizations
Arguably the most impactful force in the well-being of an AHG Troop is the Charter Organization. Every Troop is owned by a Charter Organization, which is typically a church, school, or similarly-aligned Christian organization. Without the support of their Charter Organization, an AHG Troop would not exist. When the Charter Organization and the Charter Representative invest in their Troop, the AHG Ministry can have an incredible impact on the outreach of the organization.
To see more benefits AHG would bring to your parish or arch/diocese, read through our Benefits for Charter Organizations resource!
Spiritual Alignment Matters.
American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered leadership and character development ministry. The Statement of Faith applies to all American Heritage Girls’ Charter Organizations and Adult Members to ensure that both AHG and the Troop are aligned in fulfilling the shared Mission of raising women of integrity.
AHG is making a Kingdom impact throughout the nation, every day.
Hear from Catholic AHG Members and prominent Christian leaders about AHG's impact on girls, families, parishes, arch/dioceses, and communities nationwide.
Find Catholic Troops in your community.
Nationally, Catholic parishes and schools make up about 30% of all AHG Troops. Search for Troops in your community by visiting the AHG website. (Note, this search will reveal all Troops in your area, to ensure the Troop is chartered through a Catholic church or school, be sure to note the Charter Organization's denominational affiliation.)
"American Heritage Girls has served families in our community well as they seek to develop Godly young ladies for the glory of the Lord Jesus. Through a balance of Bible teaching and life skills, the girls are growing more and more in the image of Christ. The Troop has blessed our church in many ways as well. They have been a positive role model for our community. Also, several of their community projects have involved our church or church grounds. As a church, we have also gained the opportunity to impact families beyond AHG by providing a church home where individuals and families can serve the Lord and grow in Christ. I am grateful to AHG for their continual impact upon our community."
–Sister M. Elizabeth Grace Donahue, FSGM
AHG Alumna from TN0413 and Stars & Stripes Award Recipient #85
