Girl Scouts Respond to Scrutiny Over Faith-Based Awards and Mosque Visits

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) recently addressed claims that local troops, particularly those based in mosques, integrated Islamic prayer, lessons on the hijab, and faith-specific awards into their activities across several states. The organization clarified on Wednesday that these optional programs are independently managed by external faith organizations.

A spokesperson stated, "Our national My Promise, My Faith pin invites girls to connect the Girl Scout Law with their own faith. Any other faith-based patches are developed by independent faith organizations, not GSUSA, and participation in these programs is always optional."

GSUSA's Approach to Faith Recognition

GSUSA's official guidelines indicate that the organization approves religious recognition programs created by various faith groups, allowing their insignia to be worn on official uniforms. Information available on its national website outlines that each religious body is responsible for developing and administering its own curriculum for these recognitions.

The organization's chart lists four specific Islamic recognitions—Bismillah, In the Name of Allah, Quratula’in, and Muslimeen—alongside programs designed for Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, and other religious communities. Muslim families interested in these programs are directed to the Islamic Committee on Girl Scouting.

Further, a 2025 faith toolkit from Girl Scouts of Orange County, California, highlights that the Islamic Committee on Girl Scouting provides activity booklets and medals for Muslim Girl Scouts. The toolkit also identifies diverse locations such as churches, mosques, and temples as suitable venues for faith-based events.

Separately, an "All About Islam Patch" website, distinct from GSUSA's national platform, outlines requirements for Girl Scouts at every age level to complete sections on all Five Pillars of Islam and engage in at least three related activities. These activities include options like attempting a partial fast, contributing to charity, and finishing a Five Pillars worksheet.

Concerns and Context

The recent scrutiny followed a report published on Saturday by White House correspondent Natalie Winters, which alleged that mosque-based troops in California, Illinois, New York, and Virginia had incorporated Quran study, Islamic prayer, Ramadan observances, and hijab-related activities into their programming.

These instances, as cited, involved local troops, councils, and religious organizations, rather than a mandatory national curriculum. The GSUSA website has previously featured Orange County Muslim troops that organized an "Open Mosque Day" for Girl Scout families, showcasing community engagement.

However, one critic, Bougher, voiced concerns, stating, "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 urged, "Girl Scouts should rededicate itself to its true mission instead of getting involved in ideological battles that exist to endorse a particular faith or exclude young scouts of another faith from earning merit badges."

An Alternative Model: American Heritage Girls

In contrast, American Heritage Girls (AHG), a different scouting organization, presents itself as explicitly Christ-centered. A spokesperson for AHG emphasized their transparent approach to faith integration:

"American Heritage Girls is unapologetically Christ-centered, and we lead with that identity rather than obscure it. Every family is told upfront, before they ever join a troop, that our programming — including our curriculum, activities, or any other facet of the ministry — is built around a relationship with Jesus."

The AHG spokesperson further explained that the organization clearly communicates what girls will learn from the outset and rigorously reviews any external materials to ensure they align with its Christian mission.

"We welcome girls from all faith backgrounds, but we don't soften or hide our core beliefs and values," the spokesperson continued. "Faith formation shouldn't be a surprise for a parent to discover. For us, it’s something we’re intentional about, transparent about, and proud of. And parents appreciate that."