The Girl Scouts of the USA issued a clear statement on Wednesday defending its long‑standing policy that the organization does not teach religion and that participation in faith‑based programs is entirely optional. The clarification comes after reports surfaced that some mosque‑affiliated troops across California, Illinois, New York and Virginia had incorporated Islamic prayer, hijab lessons and faith‑specific patches into their scouting activities.
National organization, local implementation
According to a spokesperson, Girl Scouts “proudly serves every girl” and has welcomed girls of all faiths for more than a century. The national “My Promise, My Faith” pin allows members to connect the Girl Scout Law with their personal beliefs, but any additional faith‑specific insignia are created and administered by independent religious groups, not by the national Girl Scouts office.
GSUSA’s own materials list approved religious‑recognition programs for a variety of faith traditions, including four Islamic recognitions—Bismillah, In the Name of Allah, Quratula’in and Muslimeen—alongside programs for Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i and other communities. The organization directs Muslim families to the Islamic Committee on Girl Scouting, which develops its own curriculum and activities.
Local toolkits and optional programs
A 2025 faith toolkit from the Girl Scouts of Orange County, California, describes how the Islamic Committee provides activity booklets and medals for Muslim scouts. The toolkit also lists churches, mosques and temples as possible venues for faith events, emphasizing that these gatherings are voluntary and not part of a compulsory national curriculum.
Separately, an “All About Islam” patch website, hosted outside the official Girl Scouts domain, outlines a program requiring participants to study the Five Pillars of Islam, complete a worksheet, and optionally observe a partial fast or donate to charity. This program is independently run and not endorsed by the national organization.
Parental concerns and political response
Moms for Liberty New Jersey ambassador Alexandra Bougher criticized the faith‑recognition badges, arguing they could unintentionally exclude girls who do not share the required beliefs. “No Girl Scout chapter should push one faith over another by incentivizing it with badges some girls, because of their own faith, will not be able to earn,” Bougher said, urging the organization to refocus on its core mission.
The scrutiny follows a report by White House correspondent Natalie Winters alleging that mosque‑based troops had incorporated Quran study, Islamic prayer, Ramadan observances and hijab activities into Girl Scout programming. The report highlighted examples from several states but noted that these initiatives were organized by local troops, councils and faith groups rather than mandated by the national organization.
Alternative scouting options
American Heritage Girls (AHG), a Christian scouting organization founded in 1995 as an alternative to the Girl Scouts, reiterated its transparent approach to religious programming. AHG states that it is “unapologetically Christ‑centered” and that families are informed up front about the Christian focus of its curriculum and activities.
While AHG welcomes girls from all faith backgrounds, it emphasizes that its core values are rooted in a relationship with Jesus and that parents can expect clear disclosure of religious content from the outset.
What this means for families
Parents who wish to involve their daughters in Girl Scouts can rest assured that participation in any faith‑specific program remains optional and is administered by independent religious organizations. The national Girl Scouts office continues to uphold its policy of non‑religious instruction while providing avenues for families to explore faith‑based activities if they choose.
Community leaders and faith‑based groups are encouraged to communicate openly with local scouting councils to ensure that all families understand the voluntary nature of these programs and can make informed decisions that align with their values.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
