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

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????

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:44:31 +0000

No, the boys have not signed a similar memorandum with girl scouts. Probably because girl scouts is not faith based like boy scouts are. The American Heritage girls is faith based. It, like the boys scouts, incorporates faith as a requirement. The girl scouts don’t. As a former member of girl scouts, current parent of a boy scout, and current parent of an American Heritage girl; the boy scouts are much more like the American Heritage girls than the girl scouts. So I completely understand the memorandum with AHG, but not with girl scouts.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:20:34 +0000

I am very happy that thier is a good alternative to the Girl Scouts. The Boy Scouts are wise to partner with a more culturally compatible organization for girls. I have two girls and they love the AHG troop here. The local BSA leaders are very helpful and some of them have girls in the troop. As an Eagle Scout I am proud of BSA for stepping up.

By: Peter Reins

Peter Reins — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:10:09 +0000

GSUSA and BSA executives and delegates from around the country had a week long meeting just over 5 years ago to see about working out a more direct relationship. GSUSA membership decline is significant, with many of the teen girls heading into Venturing. However, the two could not come together. Culturally very different. Remember, that historically they have always been totally separate organizations. The girls affiliate for decades was Campfire, before it went co-ed.

GSUSA in the past year forced three hundred councils to merge into 100 councils. What they did was eliminate the rural and suburban councils which were pretty conservative with very liberal, feminist oriented councils in urban cores. As a result, money are resources are directed to the center and the rural areas and suburban areas, at least here in california, have been stripped of program. No summer camps this summer in our area. We are hemoraging members, the GS leaders are distressed.

So along comes AHG which has the charter partnership with organizations with a solid program and now with the partnership they have full access to BSA facilities and support. National has not made it known what the long term plan is, but most of us are pretty sure that within five years, and probably a lot less, AHG will be formally under BSA wing. Our councils are already looking into the ability to create AHG units. We are all very excited.

One thing to be worked out of course is AHG religious requirement for leaders, but we are pretty sure that will be brought into alignment with BSA soon.

Those of us with sons in BSA units and daughters in GSUSA are excited. We plan to start a AHG unit as soon as possible. We are saddened by the implosion of the GSUSA program, but they did it to themselves and the girls.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:54:58 +0000

My only comment about the BSA-AHG partnership is that the GSUSA volunteers should try to get GSUSA and BSA to sign a similar MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)!!!

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:22:54 +0000

We are helping start a AHG troop right now, looking from the outside when choosing was the program lines up more with BSA & lately what I’ve observed frrom GSA in general is they don’t. There is nothing wrong with giving girls more choices. What appeals to one girl may not another.