Comments on: Girl Scouts Versus American Heritage Girls + Boy Scouts?

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:52:53 +0000

Not sure where Sandy thinks she received her information but the part about AHG being sued by GSUSA is absolutely false. I would love to see her documentation on this and about the MOA with Campfire and BSA.
Wow!
I’ve been involved with the American Heritage Girls for over a decade and KNOW this not to be true. This organization has been nothing but transparent since its formation. Please Sandy, either show your documentation of retract this false statement.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:59:14 +0000

The Original American Heritage Girls formation was by a couple Council Trainers and a few Girl Scout leaders that felt back in 1995 after the 1993 Girl Scout National Board Meeting made several major changes to the direction and emphasis placement of the organization.

Many delegates walked out of the meeting in protest.

There was a lawsuit brought up by Girl Scouts of the United States of America against the American Hertitage Girls, it was settled out of court, but many changed have been made to AHG corporate materials and web sites.

It shares many of the same ideals of the international Scouting/Guiding Movement, but does not seek to have formal relations with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Others deemed that if GSUSA is to the Left of the center, then WAGGGS is even further to the Left.

Campfire Girls were started BEFORE Juliette Low returned from England in 1912, but in the early 1920s there were discussions held about merging the two orginizations. Mrs. Low was rather stubborn about a couple points and it fell apart, and soon, the eninty was even at the local levels.

For many years the Boy Scouts of America brought lawsuits against the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for the use of the term “Scouts” as well as references to quotes by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Again these disputes filtered down to the local levels and there were often animosity between the organizations. Although all three groups had at the core the principles put forth by Lord B-P. In practice, we did not do so well.

Most of the worse of the animosities were put aside in the 1950s and 1960s, although by the end of the 1970s, all three groups faced mounting losses in active adult volunteers, monetary support from communities and declining memberships among teenagers.

Campfire Girls broke off their MOA with BSA and went co-ed, but never recovered. The BSA only recently has acknowedged Girl Scouts that are also members of a Venture crew may wear their highest earned awards.

Many Girl Scout troops that want to have a more traditional program walk a tight walk between what both organizations allow for activities. Some drop the affiation with GSUSA entirely.

By: Summer

Summer — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:07:20 +0000

I am currently a Girl Scout Leader thru GSUSA for my daughters troop & have been for the last few years. As far as far as BSA & GSUSA having any type of agreement i don’t know, but I do know that the Boy Scouts have always been more than willing to show our girls things @ of camps & allow us to use thier campgrounds aswell. Bu the main reason I wanted to post on this site is bcuz of the disturbing things that i have just found out about the brochures that GSUSA allowed Planned Parenthood to give to some of the girls. The material was very explicit & disturbing! i was wondering if anyone had heard anything about it & what ur thoughts are. I am a christian & my troop begins each meeting w/ prayer & I tell new parents that this is my beliefs & how I choose to run this troop if that makes u uncomfortable another troop may fit u better. but w/ this new info & GSUSA continuing to push the envelope further & further, I think I may be the one finding a new organization for my girls.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:38:35 +0000

@Susan. There are a lot of alternatives that might be a better fit for you. Spiral Scouts, Earth Scouts, Navigators, Campfire USA, and Boys & Girls Club of America are all inclusive organizations. Boy Scouts is not for everyone — only for those that agree with and abide by its principles. It’s better for everyone to find the right fit. I certainly wouldn’t want to put mine in a group whose core tenets I disagreed with. For us, BSA fits well. We have seen the disaster that ensues when parents who don’t agree with their values put little Johnny in the troop.

By: A R C

A R C — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:39:24 +0000

Having been a leader in GSUSA and even purchased a lifetime membership in the organization… I find that the trend is not one I can support. The girls are more badge oriented and not interested at all in the Journeys program. In 2012, the Gold award will require Journeys to be completed – not badges any longer. I have asked for years is this the way it is going, and was assured that no. This council is trying to sell it camp?! I think that GSUSA is definitely shifting its focus from their more traditional one. In their decision, I have actively looked into other scouting groups including Frontier Girls, Girl Guides and Campfire Girls.
Another big difference between the organizations is that GSUSA troops are “owned” by the Council; however, AHG troops are “owned” by the sponsoring organizations such as BSA. I think there is room in this World for all of them – you just need to find the one that works best for your girl and your family.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:49:21 +0000

I have a great history with GSUSA. I was a scout and a leader. I am Christian and feel that GSUSA allows a person to pursue knowledge and faith, as well as learning about, respecting and honoring other people’s perspectives. I thought I might want to put my son in Boy Scouts but I am uncomfortable with the paramilitary, conservative, and discriminatory aspects of BSA. This MOU confirms my decision not to put my son in BSA. If BSA has more in common with AHG than GSUSA, it is not the organization for us. Is there a boy’s organization that is more in line with GSUSA values?

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:10:49 +0000

BTW

I don’t know why so many are critisizing this memorandum. BSA has made many memorandums of mutual support with other organizations, including churches, fraturnities, and non-profit organizations. GSUSA have never complained before about not having their own memorandum, only when AHG received one.

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:00:19 +0000

While searching for a scoutig group for my daughter, I wanted an organization that was not affraid to stand up for what they believe in. The girl scouts, though some individual groups may maintain their stand on faith, have caved. They used to declare their faith in God, but now they put an * saying you can replace God with whatever you are comfortable with. I chose BSA for my son because they insist that faith, whatever yours may be, is an integral part of building character, and I chose AHG for my daughter for the same reason. They don’t tell you what to believe, just that you learn more about your faith, how to practice it, and what it means to you. I don’t insist that anyone else choose what I chose, but I also don’t plan on backing down on my reasons. I happen to believe faith is important and admire any organization who is able to stand up to opposition and keep their faith despite the majority of organizations going secular. If you are happy with girl scouts, great stay with girl scouts. But don’t critisize those who choose something else.

By: Laura B.

Laura B. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:55:53 +0000

Ok, some of these comments are weeks old so those who commented may not see this, but GSUSA actually does have a faith requirement and is faith based. The organization is based on the thought that girls have a strong faith, but we just don’t preach about it like AHG and similar organizations. Faith, in GSUSA, is a personal issue between the girl and her religion, GSUSA wants girls to grow in their faith, in their own way. A troop may or may not emphasize this aspect, or dozens of other aspects, for that matter, of the organization, that does not mean it isn’t there.

From the Blue Book of Basic Documents, 2009:
page 4, the Constitution:
“BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES
We, the members of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, united by a belief in God, hold that the Girl Scout Promise and Law is the cornerstone of our Movement…
…SPIRITUAL FORCE
The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual. The ways in which members identify and fulfill their spiritual beliefs are personal and private.”

Should you like a full text version of the Blue Book (and this isn’t the abbreviated Leader version) you may visit: https://ocn.girlscouts.org/SupportingDocuments/BlueBook_09.pdf

By: Jeneane

Jeneane — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:35:51 +0000

Notice one party that is not trying to justify what they do…..GSUSA????