Girls State
Girls State is a
nonpartisan program that aims to teach young women responsible citizenship and
love for God and Country. Since the
inception of the Girls State program in 1937, nearly one million young people
have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how their state and local
government works. High school girls in
their junior year spend an intensive week of study, working together as
self-governing citizens at Auxiliary-sponsored Girls State programs in ever
state. Participants are educated about
the intrinsic duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of citizenship in
a democracy. They learn how to
participate in the functioning of their state’s government in preparation for
their future roles as responsible adult citizens. Auxiliary Girls State programs are administered in individual
states or Departments. Using criteria
established by the Department, local Units select and sponsor program
candidates recommended by local high schools.
Girls State “citizens” are typically extraordinarily talented and
accomplished young women who excel academically and are involved in a variety
of extracurricular and community activities.
The 1937 National Convention
organized Girls State as a national Americanism activity. A national committee to direct the program
was created by the 1946 National Convention.
The first Girls Nation session with representatives from each Girls
State was held in Washington D.C. in 1947.
Girls State is a practical
application of Americanism and good citizenship. The entire program is a non-partisan, non-political attempt to
teach and inculcate in the youth of America a love of God and country.
The purpose of Girls State is to
provide citizenship training for girls of high school age in every Department
of the American Legion Auxiliary; to afford them an opportunity to live
together as self-governing citizens; to inform them about the duties,
privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, in order that
they may understand and participate in the functioning of their government; and
to help them grasp the meaning of some of the responsibilities which they must
assume when they become adults.
Girls State is administered by the
individual states. The Units within the
states must brief the local high school officials on the qualifications and the
selection process that has been established by the Departments of the
Auxiliary. The Units must follow the
materials distributed by the Departments pertaining to the selection and
participation in Girls State.
Sponsorship: The Girls State program should be statewide
in its application and interest. An
Auxiliary Unit interested in promoting the program but unable to finance a girl
should immediately contact another Unit or civic or cultural group in the community
and extend the privilege of contributing to them. Experience has proven that this privilege is one that will be
eagerly assumed as soon as the program is properly explained. However, the American Legion Auxiliary
remains the sponsor, and shall be known as such. After the Girls State session, each girl should be expected to
appear before her local Unit, the contributing organizations, and her local
high school to make a report on her impression of Girls State.
Early enrollment is essential. This is due to the advance preparation that
must be made on behalf of each girl, which includes personal correspondence
with the girl. It is absolutely
necessary that all applications and attendance fees be sent to the Department
Secretary, or other designated individual of the American Legion Auxiliary, not
later than the date set by the Director.
Girls Nation has become a permanent
allied activity of the Girls State program.
A national committee on Girls State supervises the activity of Girls
Nation and sends material to the Departments on selection and representation at
Girls Nation. A compulsory registration
fee from each Department is required for participation in Girls Nation.
American Legion
Auxiliary Department of Arizona sponsors two girls to Girls Nation each year.
William Bloy’s
American Legion Auxiliary Unit # 2 sponsors several girls to Girls State.
Please contact us
for information on this wonderful program.
We will answer any and all inquiries for information in the Tempe, AZ area.