About ALAGMGS

American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is a nonpartisan program that teaches young people responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. Since the inception of the Girls State Program in 1937, nearly 1 million young people have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how their state and local government works. The Girls State network is still alive and well and carries prestige with it into your college and adult career. 

The program has grown from a few hundred participants to nearly 20,000 annually.  High school delegates who have completed their junior year of high school spend an intensive week of study, working together as self-governing citizens. These young students learn government by actually creating a mythical state through the election of public officials on local, county, and state levels and then by carrying out the duties of these respective offices. Girls State provides an understanding of the basic ideals and principles of American government.

For our week of study at Girls State, we closely follow Vermont’s laws and Girls State attendees will have the opportunity to work closely with Vermont’s elected officials as they work in committees as legislators to pass bills and debate them in the VT Senate and House chambers.

Girls State attendees will run for the positions of Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and Attorney General, as well as for Senators and Representatives. Once attendees arrive at Girls State, they will be assigned to a mock town, named after past American Legion Auxiliary Dept. (State) Presidents, and into two counties named after past National Presidents. Delegates are also assigned to one of two parties, Federalists and Nationalists. These parties are purely fictional and carry no partisanship. Assignments are completely random.

Counselors assist delegates during the week and also are judges for various awards – model citizenship, flag raising etiquette, being on time, program involvement, skit night, hall decorations, etc. Counselors award points for various awards. These points will contribute to the coveted Model Town award, which will be given to the Town who has demonstrated outstanding Girls State citizenship.

If you have been selected to attend this Girls State session, you will be notified about six weeks prior to the session, in early to mid May and will receive an acceptance packet. Please complete and send in all required forms as soon as possible. These are time sensitive documents. We also ask that between the time you’ve been notified and the time you arrive at Girls State, that you think about how you’d like to participate. Full and complete participation is requested and failure to participate can lead to dismissal from the program.