Fagan advances as member of American Heritage Girls


Twelve-year-old Haylie Fagan of Monticello made a prayer quilt for local pastor, Doug DiBell. This was just one of Fagan’s many projects as part of completing the Explorer level as a member of the American Heritage Girls. Fagan is now a Pioneer, for girls in grades 7 and 8.

Haylie Fagan shows her younger sister, Alissa, her stamp collection she put together for an AHG project. Both of the Fagan girls are active in AHG, based out of Marion. (Photos submitted)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 as an alternative for young girls wanting to experience the same opportunities as Boy Scouts. AHG reflects Christian values as girls of all ages work toward earning badges and taking part in leadership opportunities. The pinnacle of being a part of AHG is earning The Stars & Stripes Award, much like working toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

     For Devin and Eric Fagan of Monticello, enrolling their young daughters in AHG exposed them to the same experiences their sons were getting in Boy Scouts.

     “We actually didn’t even know it was around,” admitted Devin. “We wanted our girls to get the chance to do the things our boys were doing with a group of girls their own age.”

     The Fagan girls, Haylie, seventh grade, and Alissa, first grade, are part of the AHG Troop IA2015 out of Marion.

     Recently, Haylie, who joined AHG when she was in sixth grade, completed her Explorer level (grades 4-6) and has now moved on to becoming a Pioneer (grades 7-8). As an Explorer, she earned the Lewis and Clark Award. While is takes most AHG three years to complete one level, Haylie did it in one year. At the end of her Pioneer level, she’ll have earned the Harriet Tubman Award.

     “Each level is more in-depth and she’ll have more projects to do,” explained Devin.

     This required 10 service hours, though she contributed 20 hours; multiple badges; and earning the “God & My Country” faith award.

     “This award goes more in-depth with the Catholic religion,” explained Devin.

     The faith award required Haylie to explore the history of her religion by making leavened and unleavened bread, making a homemade rosary, a yard doll, prayer quilt, and putting together and donating a care basket.

     Her prayer quilt, which she learned to quilt herself, was given to a family friend, local Pastor Doug DiBell who was going through some health issues.

     “I thought he could use the extra prayers,” Haylie said.

     Devin said Haylie learned how to use a sewing machine on her own for this particular project. She also picked out the colored material and design that she wanted for the lap quilt.

     In terms of her 20 hours of community service, Haylie took on a variety of projects: volunteering at the Sacred Heart Fall Festival, making Christmas cards for military service members overseas, helping her brothers with Scouting for Food as part of Boy Scouts, and volunteering at Central Park.

     Other badges Haylie has earned as part of the Pioneer level include: pet care, art, fire safety, needlework, and sports.

     “I really enjoyed the campouts because I got to be with other girls,” Haylie said.

     While working through the Pioneer level, Haylie also had to start a collection of something. Devin has been collecting postage stamps since she was a little girl, so she decided to expose her daughter to the hobby, too. She explained the different types of stamps from mint condition to post-marked (used) stamps. They also made a special trip to the Monticello Post Office where Haylie got to pick out and purchase her own sheet of collectible stamps.

     She also became pen pals with a young girl her same age who is also involved in AHG from Texas.

     “We have the same number of siblings and the same number of pets,” Haylie said.

     Unfortunately, during these times of COVID, much of the monthly meetings and group activities associated with AHG have been online via Zoom.

     Girls of any age can join AHG at any time in their youth. Devin said their family enjoys the experience because it broadens their daughters’ horizons outside of arts and crafts.

     “They learn the same skills as Scouts,” she said, noting such activities as camping, knife safety, wildlife exploration, biking, etc.

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