Comments on: Girl Scouts go hard-left and downhill

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:33:51 +0000

I read what Stacy wrote about American Heritage Girls and the plug for Frontier Girls and want to add that I did not view her comment as bashing at all. I’ve had my dd’s in A.H.G. and my 10 year old was told that she needed to start wearing a bra to the meetings. She had no breast buds showing at that time and still doesn’t. When the same dd mentioned that she wanted to be an engineer the leader told her that her job was in the home being a good mother. I confronted her on the comment and she stood her ground and told me I needed to get into a good womens Bible study. Bra’s are something her father and I have the authority on! After several more patriarchal issues my husband pulled her out of A.H.G. I know another A.H.G leader from a different troop who is in the Quiverfull movement and we weren’t about to transfer them over to that group. Stacy more then likely was not out of line when she mentioned barefoot and pregnant in regards to American Heritage Girls, because some of the troops operate with that mentality.

I want a scouting program that doesn’t teach girls (in a roundabout way) that their soul purpose is to be stay-at-home wives and mothers. They have a brain and deserve the opportunity to use it just like any male in our society.

I’ve never been in Girl Scouts but I don’t understand why it would be okay to complain (bash) Girls Scouts but not American Heritage Girls. I highly disagree that American Heritage Girls is a better alternative to Girl Scouts because they offer very little diversity in badges. This is why Frontier Girls looks like a much better option and I only wish there was a troop in my area.

By the way, I am Christian (Republican) and don’t agree with some of the issues that Girl Scouts stand for but don’t want the extremely hyper-Victorian right wing agenda of American Heritage Girls either.

I have been looking at Frontier Girls for a while now because of Stacy’s comment. I don’t know her personally but I wish I did because we both have insight on this topic with American Heritage Girls.

I don’t understand why someone would have their girls in two different groups. One group should have all the badges imaginable available to girls to earn. It looks like Frontier Girls is a well-rounded organizations with an unbelievable number of badges offered. It also appears they believe girls have the option to be stay-at-home moms or career driven girls but that they should be trained for both options so they can make their own choices. That sounds like a much more logical stance in my opinion.

By: Gregorio Chasen

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By: Sue A

Sue A — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:33:48 +0000

I was a Girl Scout Leader for 4 years and am appalled at the Left turn taken by this organization. I resigned about a month ago, because as a Catholic mother of two preteen daughters I cannot support their agenda. Here is my resignation letter to GSUSA…

Resignation Letter to the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan

July 23, 2010

In today’s world I look for ways to keep my children safe. As the mother of two girls on the verge of teenhood, I need to monitor all of their connections with the outside world. It is why I do not allow them on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, it is why their email is monitored, it is why we go to church each and every Sunday and it is why I have to resign as a Girl Scout Leader and remove my children from Girl Scouts.

In the past 18 months I have come in contact with many GSUSA affiliations that don’t respect the beliefs I have as a Catholic mother of two girls. In our life – God is Essential, NOT an OPTION, Planned Parenthood is NOT an OPTION, extreme political and social views are NOT an OPTION…which makes Girl Scouts NOT an OPTION for us.

It saddens me that after 5 years of being a leader at my daughters’ Catholic School I find that I must leave the organization. I also must share the knowledge I have read about GSUSA with other mothers at my school and at my diocese. I have also shared this information with our priest and have his support as well.

There are some that will dispute the facts, say they can keep their girls safe and continue their association with GSUSA. Yes…I can keep my children safe, but I must reach out to those that may not be able to do so. And what happens when my daughters want to continue scouting beyond my scope? I would have to tell them that despite our long association the organization that we belong to is no place for young women to learn Christian and Moral beliefs. What example am I setting then?

So it is with sadness, disappointment and anger that I will be resigning as the leader of Troop 43938 at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School and dissolve the troop entirely. It is with joy that I am able to begin a new charter of American Heritage Girls to continue the scouting experience with women of FAITH.

My prayers are for you as you navigate what are tricky waters. It does seem that by trying to cater to the noisy few you have abandoned a larger contingency and given up your heritage.

In Faith,

Sue Atwell
Former Girl Scout Troop Leader

For Your Consideration:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=35768

By: L

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:15:17 +0000

Kerry,

I have been doing research on girls scouting programs and I have the utmost respect for you on confronting a post and giving respect and encouragement to do much research on ALL scouting organizations.
We need more integrity as such. You represent frontier girls well

Thank You!!

By: Kerry

Kerry — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:47:41 +0000

In regards to Stacy’s comment back in November. This was brought to my attention this morning and I wish to address it. Please do not give Frontier Girls a plug by bashing another organization. AHG is a wonderful program and not at all “thumpy.” They are simply a Christian organization that is not afraid to admit it. They do not promote the “barefoot and pregnant” adgenda either and I highly respect them.

For those interested in Frontier Girls, we are a conservative merit badge based program that focuses on patriotism, character building, leadership and a love of learning. We offer more than 150 different badges and are adding more everyday. You can find us at http://www.frontiergirls.com, but I highly recommend you also check out American Heritage Girls at http://www.ahgonline.org and fully researching the Girl Scout program as well before making any decisions so that you find the program that is right for you.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:00:57 +0000

Here’s an article that will make your stomach turn:
http://www.lapiana.org/resources/cases/mergers/12_2001.html

It’s a case study on how Girl Scout mergers happen and how staff and volunteers are manipulated into accepting change — whether they are positive or negative. Sounds like the mafia!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:50:19 +0000

The Washington Post recently printed an article that was prompted by GSUSA. The result was a piece that clearly pushed the Journeys over badges, and called for younger leaders. The organization currently has a problem recruiting enough leaders to cover the number of girls who want to join troops — what do they hope to achieve by alienating the very volunteers that are the backbone of the organization?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/01/AR2009030102281.html?hpid=topnews

By: cailin

cailin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:21:28 +0000

I am going to say you’re off the beaten track. First of all I worked at the National Sessions (strictly business stuff) and it was not how you picture the first days events.

Lets face it we do need to say we are a global world. The flags were done different from what I understand to follow the International body that is affiliated with the GSUSA. WAGGAGS is the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. WAGGAGS Members were representing 29 nations at the convention.

As to the journey books – these are “extra” programs. Not the only program materials available to leaders. Leaders do realize that not all girls can thrive on the journey books materials.

As to the asterick in the promise – it was done to help bring more girls into the fold – its a diversity change.

Lastly, the Catholic Church is affiliated with the GSUSA for a good reason. They recognize the needs for programs like this for the girls to achieve higher goals.

As to the Boy Scout stuff – for shame the BSA’s programs for co-ed stuff where I live starts at age 14. Where’s the girl supposed to be before that? Barefoot & pig ignorant?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:44:08 +0000

In response to the lesbian agenda question:
Three years ago, I attended Girl Scout summer camp Butterworth in Ohio with my then 3rd grader. It was a long weekend, however, after many failed attempts at getting in this camp, we were pretty excited. Thank God I was with her. Throughout the weekend, there was a counselor there who was “in charge”. A gifted singer and talent, at first look appeared to be a maintainance man. She tromped through camp hugging younger councelor girls with bugle boy glasses, men’s shorts and her breasts were full, but taped close to her breast. Her legs were not shaved and sported dark hair. Her hair was cut short, and slicked back. Now, I am not a bigot. I have a long track record in Human Resources to prove it. By the end of camp, she cornered me (after I had to pretend to fry like bacon to get a piece) and on Sunday morning and asked me if I enjoyed camp that weekend. I said yes. She then proceeded to ask me for marital advice for her and her “life partner” right in front of my third grader. Well, at this point, I was just plain shocked and upset, and the PMS side of me lashed out. I told her any talk of life partners in front of children was just plain inappropriate. I told her I wanted to talk to someone in charge. She said “That would be me” and smiled smugly. I went home, answered the life partner question as best I could and then compiled a long letter to the council. They told me they were an equal opportunity employer and there was nothing they could do about this. The lesbian was in charge alright, and I promptly took my daughter OUT of Girl Scouts. You see, for girls, they need a safe camp experience and she told me “if it makes you feel any better, most lesbians aren’t petifiles. Whatever. I told her most lesbians aren’t role models either and hung up. Now, come on GSUSA, wake up and smell the coffee. You are serving a minority of the world with this agenda and your relationship with Planned Parenthood is a shame.

By: GS Troop Leader

GS Troop Leader — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:40:49 +0000

I have just read the artcle and also all of the posted comments.
I am not familiar with the author, Jane Chastain, but this article and her tag line (politically direct) give me a clear idea of her standings.
I am a Lifetime Girl Scout member. I was in Girl Scouts from 1 – 9 grades and have also been a Troop Leader for nearly 12 years.
While I, personally, do not view all of Jane Chastain’s points in the same light as she does, I must say that I, too, have been concerned and also disenchanted with the general direction that the Girl Scouting program has taken over the past several years: specifically with regard to the new “format” they have adopted for earning badges & awards and (while I do usually understand and sometimes even applaud) their amazingly energetic efforts focused on new membership enrollment with younger girls (Kindergarten – 3rd grades), minority and underprivileged individuals, and various other ‘creative enrollment’ practices, I have become increasingly disappointed and saddened with what I see as their nearly non-existent efforts to appeal to potential new teenage girls and (I think even more importantly) retain the current teenage members that they have.
I am so glad my nearly seventeen year old daughter is lucky to be having two different Scouting experiences by being involved in both Girl Scouting and the BSA’s Venturing programs.