American Heritage Girls

kind bean · #1 Mar 26, '12, 12:04 pm

I was wondering if anyone had any information on American Heritage Girls? I know that there is Little Flowers, but unfortunately at this time we don't have any other Catholic girls to start one, and I can't find one near us. I am considering just doing it with my daughters alone, but one is still too young. So, I heard about American Heritage Girls and thought it sounded interesting. But, I know from experience with past Protestant homeschooling groups, that Catholics aren't always welcomed or maybe the material isn't a good fit for us. Does anyone have any information or personal experience with the group, good or bad? Thank you!

SurlyMermaid · #2 Mar 26, '12, 12:14 pm

I heard about AHG a few months ago. They are supposedly inclusive but after our local rep found out we were Catholic we didn't hear back. I emailed the folks over her, at the state level, and never heard back.

vsedriver · #3 Mar 26, '12, 12:23 pm

looks like they don't have a problem with Catholics in IL. They have a letter from the bishop OKing the group on their website.

Paul H · #4 Mar 27, '12, 6:59 am

With 16 years experience in The American Heritage Girls (AHG), my wife and girls are both traditional Catholics and very proud members of AHG. I have personnaly served on the Catholic Committee to oversee the religious awards program. Personal failings exsists in nearly all organizations and a few AHG'ers may be somewhat anti-Catholic. I have sensed that in my dealing. I have NEVER seen anyone directly hinder any Catholic girl or troop from any activity. AHG sponsors a booth at several Catholic home school and youth conventions. They have a special program for families too far from a troop to work the program individually. If you are interested in AHG go to www.ahgonline.org or email me and I will have them contact you. My email address is disguised to help prevent spam.
Sincerely,
Paul Hillebrand
paul.hillebrand at gmail dot com

bethndanny · #5 Mar 27, '12, 7:59 am

We are a part of an American Heritage Girls troop and it is absolutely inclusive. I just read about a Troop that went camping and finished their trip with Mass.

Also, there are a number of Catholic patches that can be earned including a rosary patch and patches for all of the mysteries. The Catholics in our Troop are currently working on them.

Surly Mermaid, I'm sorry that your experience seems different, I would try calling again.

SurlyMermaid · #6 Mar 27, '12, 11:18 am

Glad to hear the positives!

I will try again to contact them. I wonder if we could get a group started at our parish?

Shauna Bowers · #7 Mar 29, '12, 7:06 am

I don't know if you tried this link: http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=146921

You can click on your area of the state in which you live and get connected with an actual troop. If the person you email does not get back to you within a week, you can contact the AHG Membership Development Manager Laurie Cullen (and one of the two founders of AHG) at this email cullenl@ahgonline.org

It is possible that the reason for a delay in response to you is because the recent publicity of AHG through the negative backlash given to the Girl Scouts has resulted in an unusually high volume of requests to the national organization.

--Shauna Bowers
Troop Coordinator