Participating in AHG
Any girl age 5-18 can be an American Heritage Girl. Girls of all different backgrounds are welcome in AHG and are encouraged to join at any/every age! You don't have to start as a Pathfinder (age 5) in order to gain the benefits from participating in the AHG Program.
AHG has a multi-level structure, which means that girls from all levels comprise ONE Troop and meet together as a Troop on the same night. Badgework and certain activities are done within age appropriate groups (units).
PATHFINDER – AGES 5-6 AND IN KINDERGARTEN
Girls earn necklace beads for attendance, participation and Bible verse memorization while learning the four parts of the AHG Oath. They receive the Fanny Crosby Award for completion of this level.
TENDERHEART – AGES 6-9 AND IN GRADES 1-3
A Tenderheart earns Achievement Badges in any of the six Frontiers of Skill and receives activity patches for participating in Troop activities or special events. They earn the Sacagawea Award for achieving the highest level of skill and service at this level. Service Stars are awarded for every 5 hours of community service.
EXPLORER – AGES 9-12 AND IN GRADES 4-6
An Explorer earns Achievement Badges in any of the six Frontiers of Skill and receives activity patches for participating in Troop activities and/or special events. They receive Service Stars for every 10 hours of community service. The Ida Scudder Award is earned by those girls who achieve the highest level of skill and service in this age group. Explorers are allowed to participate in overnight camping events as well.
PIONEER – AGES 12-14 AND IN GRADES 7-8
A Pioneer continues to earn Achievement Badges, Service Stars and activity patches. The highest award level for Pioneers is the Harriet Tubman Award. These girls may also become Camp and Event Aides. The Pioneer level is where girls really begin to show leadership skills by assisting their leaders with planning, organizing and staffing special events for AHG in the community or within their Troop.
PATRIOT – AGES 14-18 AND IN GRADES 9-12
The Patriot is the highest program level in AHG. These girls plan and carry out activities with Unit Leaders who function as “facilitators”, allowing girls to make decisions on a regular basis. As with lower levels, they too earn Achievement Badges, Service Stars and activity patches. Since the girls are older, they are required to demonstrate the highest level of skill in all areas. The level award for the Patriots is the Abigail Adams Award. Patriot level girls may go above and beyond to earn the highest award of the American Heritage Girls, The Stars and Stripes Award. This is the most prestigious of awards, and it requires a great deal of time, sacrifice and devotion to achieve this award.
ADULT VOLUNTEERS
AHG volunteers are individuals who put legs on their Christian faith by serving in this ministry. Many who volunteer are moms, dads or relatives of girls in the troop while others aren’t connected by a girl in the troop but simply have a heart for helping girls grow into women of integrity. AHG volunteers bring an abundance of skills, spiritual gifts, energy and passion for the values that AHG promotes. They contribute time and service in the belief that their service is beneficial to our nation’s daughters, is personally satisfying and is God honoring.