Paula Fox
Girls State
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GIRLS STATE

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

WHAT IS GIRLS STATE?

Florida Girls State is a hands-on week-long educational workshop, focusing on Americanism and the political process, sponsored by the Florida American Legion Auxiliary. The goal of the program is to help students to better understand democratic ideals and the part we as individuals play in carrying out these ideals. This program, which has been accredited as a college program to teach high school junior girls about government, politics, and Americanism.

Qualified high school juniors are selected to become citizens of and participate in creating a mythical state of Seminole. This mythical state is divided into 12 cities and 6 counties and the citizens, assigned to either the Nationalist or Federalist Party, experience the two party system, much like our Government. Their rigorous schedule includes participating in political campaigns, debates, and crafting bills. As the government begins to take shape, these young women come to understand their roles in a democratic society.

During their week at Florida Girls State, the citizens will also receive information from the Department (State) President on some of the programs that are important components of our organization

GIRLS STATE

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

  • Candidates must be Juniors in high school, intending to return to school for the Senior year. Students from public, private, parochial, and home-schooling programs throughout Florida are eligible. Students must be in the top third of their class. Consideration is given to scholastic achievements, leadership, character, honesty and physical fitness.
  • Girls are chosen by the local American Legion Auxiliary Units that work with their respective high schools through an interview process.
  • Any student registered as a full-time student of Florida Virtual School are not eligible to apply for the program.

GIRLS STATE

HISTORY

HISTORY

American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is a nonpartisan program that teaches young women responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. Since the inception of the Girls State program in 1937, nearly 1 million young women have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how their state and local government works. The program has grown from a few hundred participants to nearly 20,000 annually. High school girls who have completed their junior year spend an intensive week of study, working together as self-governing citizens. These young women 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. Two citizens from each Girls State are selected to participate in the annual Girls Nation program.

GIRLS STATE

FUN FACTS

FUN FACTS

  • Auxiliary units in 49 states proudly host American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, an amazing week of learning focused on responsible citizenship and love for God and Country!
  • It is estimated that approximately 19,000 young women participate in Girls State programs throughout the nation each year.
  • The total estimated Girls State Citizenry was 1,198,000 in 2011.
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GIRLS STATE
GS Unit Registration 2024 fillable GS Unit Registration Over Quota 2024 fillable
Application for ALA FL Girls State Senior Staff 2024 fillable Application for ALA FL Girls State Junior Staff 2024 fillable
2024 Girls State Orientation Dates REVISED 03.20.2024
2024 Registration - DO NOT complete any of the following information until you have received an assigned Delegate or Alternate Number from a Unit.
Step 1: 2023 Girls State Delegate Alternate Welcome Letter
Step 2:  Girls State Online Registration Site
Step 3: Girls State Additional Forms
FGS Delegate Manual 2024 updated January 2024
FGS Legislative Handbook updated 2022		 Girls State Pictures 2024
GIRLS STATE DETAILS
For the Students and Parents Florida Girls State - Dress Code
High School Requirements Additional Opportunities
Celebrity Alumni

Important Dates for Girls Program Dates

2024 Florida Girls State will take place from June 20, 2024 to June 28, 2024.

Purpose

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 them meaning of some of the responsibilities which they must assume when they become adults.

Girls State Motto:

"Forward Forever, Backward Never, Within Ourselves Our Future Lies"Application

Process

The application process for Florida Girls State is handled at your local American Legion Auxiliary Unit. Use our Unit locator to find the unit nearest you, and contact them about how you can get involved with Florida Girls State.Church Service

How Do I Attend The Church of My Choice?

Due to the diversity of the 300 attendees, we are unable to accommodate individual requests to attend a church of your choice during your time at Girls State. All attendees are required to remain with the program at all times.A non-denominational program is designed and performed by the delegates on Sunday morning.

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