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When it comes to scouting groups for girls, the one that has become famous for its cookies is not the only option.
In the wake of recent revelations of problems with Girl Scouts USA, many Catholic parents are looking for — and finding — alternatives for their young daughters.
“Better options exist for our young, not yet formed, Catholic girls,” said Chris Reister, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Carmel, Ind., who launched a Little Flowers Girls’ Club at her parish when her conscience would no longer allow her to lead her daughter’s secular scouting group.
“I want my daughter to learn about the beauty of chastity, authentic femininity and the sanctity of life,” said Reister. “Sadly, these topics are not addressed by secular girls’ clubs. I want my daughter to become a strong woman, but our Catholic faith measures strength much differently than our secular society.”
A new springtime in the Church blossoms as a national trend toward authentically Catholic girls’ clubs abounds like a bouquet of fresh flowers.
At least 2,000 parents followed a similar road as Reister, according to Joan Stromberg, founder of Behold Publications, which publishes the Little Flowers Girls’ Club manuals and sews the girls’ blue sashes. It’s a growth trend that Stromberg, a mother of 10, confirms has continued in recent years: between 10% and 15% annually. Prior to the economic downturn, Stromberg said the growth was at 25%.
“When I started this program in 1993, I was merely looking for a nice group my daughters could join that would allow for some fun, formation and social time,” recalled Little Flowers Girls’ Club creator Rachel Watkins, a mother of 11, who chose St. Therese of Lisieux as the patron saint of the program. “I had no expectations. Over the years, the garden of Little Flowers just kept growing. I like to laugh that, in the case of Little Flowers Girls’ Club, St. Therese is not showering us with roses, but flooding us!”
American Heritage Girls, a Cincinnati-based Christian scouting movement founded in 1995, saw a 45% increase in new members from 2011, according to Patti Garabay, the founder and executive director of the group. Based on early registration, Garabay expects a 100% growth. If the current trend continues, many new members will be Catholic.
Julie Goodwin, who started an American Heritage Girls troop at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Batavia, Ill., in May 2009, said, “Many parents and girls are looking for an alternative. They want a wholesome, character-building scouting program — one that will enrich their Catholic values.”
Goodwin, who will chair the National American Heritage Girls Catholic Committee and tracks Catholic growth, added, “Nationally, Catholics are the largest-growing denomination in AHG.” Out of a total of 495 troops, 94 troops are affiliated with a Catholic school or parish.
Challenge, a girls’ club targeting youth ages 10-18, which was founded in 2000 by the Regnum Christi lay apostolate,
also experienced growth over the past year, according to Nadine McMillan, Challenge’s national director. “Each year we have new groups start up in parishes and schools,” she said. “Most groups grow over the years. We have some groups with over 100 members.” McMillan does not necessarily attribute the growth of Challenge to concerns with other secular groups.
“One of the great things about our Catholic Church is the richness of so many different organizations. There is really something for everyone,” said McMillan. “I think Challenge is a great complement to existing youth groups in parishes; or it can be a stand-alone program in a parish or school.”
Attracted by Truth
What’s the attraction to these authentic Catholic clubs?
“Parents are drawn to Little Flowers Girls’ Club because of its distinctively Catholic nature, its flexibility, its affordability and the overall beauty of the program,” said Stromberg. “We have had a lot of interest in 2012, especially since we were featured on Johnnette Benkovic’s Women of Grace on EWTN in February.”
As Reister said, in addition to the solid Catholic programming, “I wanted to financially support a Catholic publishing company which is working to build a culture of life. I feel good about supporting a family business and a home-schooling family with 10 children. I also have peace knowing where my money is going.”
Teresa Rodriguez, a Little Flowers’ leader at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Garland, Texas, describes the program as having “lasting value that helps us to live our faith and live it boldly. It is a way to put our love in action. “We were created to know, love and serve God. Little Flowers Girls’ Club assists us in doing precisely this."
Beth Gath, a Little Flowers’ leader for a club serving four parishes in the Long Beach, Calif., area added, “Little Flowers reflects our faith and values 100%. Also, I like that it is flexible, and all my girls can be in the same group even though they are different ages.”
As Sue Edgerly, a Challenge leader from Grand Rapids, Mich., said, “Challenge is developing young women who know how much they are loved by God, their dignity as women, and who see the culture of death around them and don’t give into it. These young women are vocal in their resolve to fight against this culture of death by standing up for life issues.
“I see them serve beyond measure, selflessly. These are virtues that the world cannot give them, but Challenge opens them up to seeing the world through different lenses.”
Sally Ivers, a Challenge leader at St. Thomas More parish in Centennial, Colo., added, “Challenge fosters the gift of self at a time in life when they tend to be quite self-absorbed. It’s truly remarkable to see how these girls grow into beautiful young women, formed in their faith.”
“In today’s secular climate, Catholic parents need a tremendous amount of support to raise holy children,” emphasized Reister. “Our young, impressionable, spiritually fragile girls need a consistent dose of solid Catholic formation and an understanding of the strength, beauty and the dignity in authentic femininity as God designed. Why, as busy parents, would we want to spend time on anything else? Secular clubs do not provide this, and their messaging may actually be confusing, diluting or inadvertently undermining solid Catholic formation.”
“In one short year, my daughter and I have grown together in our knowledge and love of sacred Scripture, Christian virtues, in awe of the beauty of our Catholic faith,” she continued. “Little Flowers is not only providing solid Catholic formation for my daughter and her friends, but provides formation that I missed as a child. It is truly building a culture of life in St. Therese’s Little Way, one soul at a time.”
Register correspondent Brigid Curtis Ayer writes from Carmel, Indiana.
***Side Bar
Catholic Girls’ Clubs at a Glance
Little Flowers’ Girls Club
Catholic girls’ club designed for girls 5-12 to develop Christian virtues exemplified by female saints.
For older girls 10-18: Our Lady’s Honor Guard or Little Women’s Hospitality Program.
Membership: 5,000 Little Flowers; 800 Honor Guard or Little Women’s Hospitality.
For Boys: Blue Knights Boys’ Club
American Heritage Girls
Christian girls’ club for girls 5-18 designed to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community, country.
Membership: 20,000 members and 425 troops in 46 states.
Boys’ groups collaborate with Boy Scouts of America.
Challenge
Catholic girls’ club designed to help 10- to 18-year-old girls learn and grow in Catholic faith and friendship with God while working together to make a difference in the world around them through team service projects.
Membership: 3,500 members in 150 parishes, with about 600 teen leaders and 200 adult volunteers.
For boys: Conquest is for boys ages 5-18.
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Great article :)
We have been involved in Challenge and Conquest for a year now. They are wonderful groups! My children have grown in their faith. Conquest had been wonderful for increasing the bond between my husband and son. I highly recommend them. I don’t have to encourage my children to read the Bible anymore. They do it on their own now. They have made many wonderful friendships too!
On your sidebar on AHG, you say “boys groups collaborate with BSA”. Not sure what that means. AHG and BSA have a memorandum of mutual support, but there are no boys groups in AHG.
I am in the process of starting a troop in my town, at our Catholic School
AHG is an awesome alternative to girls who want a Girl Scout type group. We’ve been involved for 3 years and now are starting a new troop closer to home at our Catholic church. Having 6 boys that have all been involved in Boy Scouts (3 Eagles so far), we knew GS was not an option for our daughter. We were so pleased to find AHG. If you want a good scouting experience for your daughter, join your local AHG troop. :)
Some Knights of Columbus councils are also beginning the “Squire Rose” programs as a result of the interest in the Squires programs by young ladies. Squire Rose programs are active on the East Coast in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. A Squire Rose CIrcle, TX001, has also been established in Orange, Texas, as well as various circles in the Phillippines.
We love our newly formed Little Flowers Girls’ Club! It was an awesome experience for my 2nd grader last year. Now as a third grader, she is looking forward to being a part of the club again, and this year, her Kindergarten sister will be able join her! We love that the club promotes values that are in line with Cathoilc teaching, and that the girls can have bond with their friends! Coming from a GS background, it is nice to have a alternative that is just as fun as it is spiritually formative.
What great news to hear of appropriate alternatives to a once good program now gone astray.
Here in our little mid-western Parish we are proud of our young mothers group that formed a couple of years back for the same purpose, to offer young ladies a chance to grow in their faith while building a safe social outlet. C.A.L.M., Catholic Association of Loving Mothers, meets several times a month and as the editor of our Diocese magazine noted in a recent story, can be anything but “calm” as the dozen or so young mothers include their 40 plus children in their meetings as well!
C.A.L.M. is a chance for these young mothers to gather together in prayer, devotion, and good old fashioned getting together with other folks going through the same struggles of raising a family in a society that seems more and more unfriendly to morals and Christian/Catholic values.
I’d love to see this spread to other Parishes!
Anita already pointed out your error re: AHG.
I think it’s a disservice to promote Challenge, w/out the disclaimer that they are affiliated with Regnum Christi. There is a large and substantial opposition to that particular apostolate (and for VERY good reason).
What ever happened to the Dominic Savio Club that used to be run in Catholic Schools Classroom
We started a Little Flowers Girls’ Club at our parish last year and the girls involved had a great time. In a society where so much time and attention is spent on ‘empowering girls’ it is a joy to be involved in a program where girls see women saints as strong, fearless, and truly empowered because they are doing God’s work. Add to that the girls learn scripture verses and lots about the Catholic faith while having lots of fun and it’s a true winner.
We’ve had the same question - and the Girl Scouts do NOT promote anyone else’s agenda. Here is the question (as put by our Catholic leaders) and the answer received:
Concern - Catholic (Apostolic) sponsors rumor: People are pulling out of GS due to GS pro-abortion rumor (or planned parenthood support) forget which one - what is real?
Answer
The Girl Scout national organization does not have any national collaboration or relationship with Planned Parenthood, nor do we provide any financial support to this organization. We believe health and sexuality are private matters for girls and their families.
The Girl Scout organization, including local councils, does NOT take a position on abortion or birth control. Our membership is a cross-section of America with regard to opinions on religious and social issues and practices. We believe these matters are best decided by girls and their families.
As an additional note, the organization has a rewarding relationship with the Catholic Church, and many other religious organizations, and continual conversations at a national level are ongoing to ensure that there is support for Girl Scouting from leaders in the religious community who understand our mission, our resources and our program for girls.
We celebrate each girl’s commitment to her own religion, and support her and her family as she embraces that by earning some of the religious recognitions available for girls. In fact, the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting contains a religious award called “My Promise, My Faith” that encourages girls to keep their connections between their faith community and the important values outlined in the lines of the Girl Scout Law.
Thank You,
Miriam Baker
Vice President Membership
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org
one correction, AHG has no boy groups, they have a partnership with Bys Scouts of America….
Dear Miriam Baker—
I hear what you are “saying” but I also see what the Girl Scout organization is actually “doing.” And your claims don’t match reality; or your statements are, at best, misleading. GSUSA’s national spokesperson, Michelle Tompkins, admitted in a 2011 interview with CNS News, that each local GS council is permitted by GSUSA to partner with Planned Parenthood if they choose to do so. (google Spokesperson For Girl Scouts of the USA Comments On A Possible Association With Planned Parenthood+CNS news) And in fact, Girl Scout councils do work with Planned Parenthood. As recently as *August 2012*, the San Diego GS council featured a Planned Parenthood “Community Engagement Manager” to speak to girls about how to be a leader in their community (google Girl Scouts+Planned Parenthood Community Engagement Manager) Girl Scouts holds this Planned Parenthood Community Engagement Mananger up as a role model to girls? Girl Scouts has no problem portraying Planned Parenthood in a positive light to girls.
Most Catholics will agree that it is tragic that Girl Scouts “does NOT take a position on abortion.” You are saying you take no position on the greatest tragedy of our time, the killing of innocent children in the womb? Embrace the truth Girl Scouts: taking no position or remaining silent on the killing of children—is in itself a position. And that position is not compatible with the Catholic faith.
So many issues here—Girl Scouts connections to and support of pro-abortion groups like The Coalition of Adolescent Girls, WAGGGS and others. Not to mention your curriculum that refers girls to organizations and resources promoting abortion and sex worker (aka prostitution) rights. Yes, this content STILL remains in the Girl Scout curriculum, even after the recent review and promised changes by GSUSA to Girl Scout books for girls. Maybe Girl Scouts has tried to “clean up” but truly, you just can’t help yourself from being who you are—and you are a secular group that leans very far from from the Church’s teachings on purity, the sanctity of marriage, and the dignity of life.
Dear Prolife Catholic,
I am also a Prolife Catholic and an ethusiastic supporter of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, located in San Antonio. Not content with 4 national Catholic religious awards that our local girls routinely earn, we have 5 local awards, including Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Guadalupe that were created by our local girls. For the past several years, our Archdiocese, has celebrated the community service and study the girls perform by sponsoring a Girl Scout Sunday at the Cathedral with dear Bishop Cantu presiding. This past year, approximatley 10 Gold Award projects, with everything from building 24-foot movable altars to creating data bases for handicapped musicians to connect with music teachers that can make accomodations for them, have been performed. Girl Scouts promotes the spirituality of each girl, no matter their demonination—-similar to Boy Scouts, which also welcomes all religions. Both of my girls attend Catholic parochial schools and I want them to have friends of other demoninations and Girl Scouts is a great forum for them to learn and also witness their faith. Frankly, I am proud for them to be part of group that would have welcomed a young Jewish girl (like our Blessed Lady) and not excluded her because of her religion. Finally, I believe that there is room for many groups and it is a choice that parents need to make most thoughtfully. I want my girls to “be not afraid” to witness and share with other girls. Finally, the alleged Planned Parenthood connection has been denied many times it is very sad that such calumny continues. (Even Planned Parenthood has denied it but the lie still gets told—kind of like “Catholics worshipping idols” lie). The fact that some individual troops many connect with them, contrary to Girl Scout recommendations, seems to me silimar to the situation where Catholics vote pro-abotion. Girl Scouts is still the best group for developing leadership for girls and a Catholic presense is necessary if we want our values to continue to be reflected in it. I believe that “all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing” and I follow the USCCB, which has always included Girl Scouts (National Catholic Committee on Girl Scouts and Camp Fire) under the NFCYM and monitors them like all the other youth groups. (Check out the NCCGSCF if you want further information on the new Mother Teresa and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton patches—-really cool—-as well as 100 years of Catholic Girl Scouting). When I think of all the young girls learning about their Catholic faith and learning to respect and like girls of other demoninations in all sorts of activities from robotics to camping to fencing to caroling at Christmas, etc., I am very appreciative of this group and all the volunteers that make up its heart. A dear leader friend of mine recently wrote a very spirited defense of Girl Scouts using the Catechism of the Catholic Church and if anyone wants a copy, let me know.
Blessings to all and “with charity towards all”,
Laura Hubert Surovic
Mother of Elizabeth and Anna
See and hear the TRUTH for yourselves by going to the GirlScoutsWhyNot You Tube Channel.
Dear Laura, I agree there are many good things about Girl Scouts. One of GSUSA’s best assets is the volunteers and the girl members. There are some beautiful families and amazing leaders in the organization. However, there is no excuse for the organizations and role models Girl Scouts is promoting to girls in the Journeys books that is totally contrary to our Catholic faith (and other faiths as well). Regarding the Planned Parenthood connection, there is documentation that Girl Scout councils work with their local Planned Parenthood organization. There are annual reports that document these connections, as well as brochures promoting Planned Parenthood events sponsored by Girl Scouts, Girl Scout councils promoting events with Planned Parenthood reps as speakers—and more. Not to mention Kathy Cloninger, GSUSA CEO confirmed the relationship between Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood on national television. So let’s not try to portray this is just an unfounded rumor. Maybe you can accurately say that Girl Scouts USA has no “formal relationship or cooperation” with Planned Parenthood, but the organizations on a local level are working together—and it’s documented. I say again that I agree the people in Girl Scouts do some wonderful projects, but the organization itself, and its curriculum, role models and relationships, are not in-line with Catholic teachings in many circumstances. You know, it could also be said that Planned Parenthood does a lot of good work—in fact I’m sure they could give you a very long list of the good work they do. It does not make their cooperation with evil acceptable in any way. May Our Lady guide you and may the light and truth of Christ be with you.
Please use caution when praising the NFCYM for a job well done in monitoring the Girl Scouts of USA. The NFCYM has a few problematic links posted on their website, including the Faith Trust Institute which is a website that not only advocates for abortion rights but also regularly bashes our Beloved Pope. (http://www.nfcym.org/resources/pastoralrscs/adoldev/index.htm). To find more information about the concerning problems with the NFCYM please read “The Catholic Church and the Girl Scouts: A scandalous mess”. The author (Mary Hasson) of this very well written article provides hard evidence (direct website links). The article was published by the Catholic News Agency in 2/3/12. All Catholics should be alarmed and very concerned about the NFCYM after reading through a web page entitled “NFCYM” on the GirlScoutsWhyNot dot com website.
It seems that there is a lot of conflicting information, but I don’t think that either side is out and out “lying”. Where the disconnect happens is in individual scout troops. Many of the comments point to a “not gonna endorse it, not gonna condemn it” attitude by the central Girl Scout organization. In other words, while the Girls Scouts NATIONALLY don’t partner with Planned Parenthood, it seems that they don’t restrict local groups who do.
So where does that leave the Catholic parent? 1) Ask yourt local Girl Scout troop if they sponsor or work with Planned Parenthood. If they do, then either a) find a troop that doesn’t or b) create your own group in the same vein as those mentioned earlier. It will not be easy.
Laura makes a good point…we need to be in the world, instead of insulating ourselves and our children. Yet, by the same token, we need to not let our Catholic identity be shaded or dimmed in the name of “diversity”. If there was a skinhead organization that used the swastika, and venerated Hitler, but was otherwise doing good and generous work with the poor, would we expect that Jewish girl scout to work with them in the name of “diversity”? Most certainly not! Yet, in working with Planned Parenthood, individual GS troops are asking the faithful Catholic girl to do something just as loathsome.
Thankfully, the GS troops here are excellent examples of young woomanhood. I wish everyone the best!
In response to Hector’s post. Even though you feel the “GS troops” in your area “are excellent” please be aware of the books that are in the girls hands. Many of Girl Scout Journey books include recommendations to websites where our Catholic girls can access links to pro-abortion advocacy groups. Some of these GS books also list known pro-abortion women advocates as inspiration for our Catholic Girl Scouts. Please see this link to view a report on the problematic GSUSA curricula: http://speaknowgirlscouts.com/index.php?p=1_4_The-latest-Journeys-more
Most of the comments are rehashing the same arguments. I am not convinced thosewhoare pro-Girl Scouts will ever be te rested in changing their minds, no matter what hard evidence is given, but for those seeking the truth of the matter, READ THEIR PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TAX RETURNS and annual statements.
Fact #1. GSUSA owns WAGGS. It is not the other way around. Any money given by WAGGS to PP is done so using GSUSA funds.
Fact #2. If you are paying dues to an organization, or selling to raise funds for an organization, you are giving that organization funds to spend at their discretion. See #1.
Fact #3. Local cookie sales only stays in the local council. It is documented that GSUSA is paid directly by the cookie vendors based on the volume of sales of local Councils. So, while it is great that funds are being raised for your Troop, like it or not, you ARE providing GSUSA/WAGGS with money from your sales.
Fact #4. If there are other, similar organization, that may not have the duration, but are not contrary to the Faith, our daughters are being taught, indirectly or not, that it is ok to give money to and participate in things that are contrary to the Faith and promote anti-Christian values, when there are warnings and signals abundant. Why risk the compromise of Faith in our daughters, who are already battling with so many issues? they should be able to have refuge in a Scoutming organization and not have to worry about being bombarded with contrary ideologies until they are older and more formed and equipped to deal with it…..
The TRUTH is out there…... Look at tax and annual statements….. It is dry and boring, and work to read through them, I ad,it, but if you really want to know, everything you need to know IS out there, and published by the organization itself.
Again, based on SALES VOLUME, GSUSA is paid by the cookie vendors. It is a clever way to dupe the uninformed and truthfully say that no money directly from the sales goes to the national organization, but CID the national organization gets a fee based on volume, it is simply a matter of which hand e money comes from. It does still go to them, just via the launderer…. This is from the GSUSA FAQ page on Cookie Sales:
Q: Does any of the money from cookie sales go to Girl Scouts of the USA (the national Girl Scouts organization)?
A: Girl Scouts of the USA is paid a royalty for use of the licensed trademarks by its licensed vendors based on gross annual sales volume. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA. No other revenue from cookie sales goes to Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts of the USA provides contractual services and approves all educational materials developed by the bakers, as well as providing coordination and training for national media, safety standards, leadership programs and sale guidelines.
Sadly, Laura is not looking at the overall picture. Despite all the good local troops can and do perform for their communities, the Girl Scouts of the USA’s financial ties are indisputable. Every registered member—whether girl, Leader, Co-Leader, Cookie Chair, Driving Dad, etc.—contributes financially to one of the largest lobbying forces at the United Nations anti-population sessions and unabashedly connects environmentalism (“Forever Green”) with Population Control (Google “WAGGGS” and “Climate Change” in YouTube for a real eye-opener). No one will deny that GSUSA will allow any religious group to create their own religious awards, but GSUSA’s energies are focused and monies are spent on their Progressive Liberalism. So, as long as you sell those cookies, buy their ever-growing requirement of expensive little books, have to change uniforms every two years and stock up on patches that cost them ten cents a piece, you can worship a tree for all they care. As for your claim that Planned Parenthood denies Girl Scouts partners with them, that is incorrect. I have seen Planned Parenthood magazines and Annual Reports that THANK GIRL SCOUTS for giving them access to Girl Scouts, saving PP outreach costs (that can be used to indoctrinate children to rut like animals, then “choose” death when pregnant). The big picture.
Thank you for this information. As a woman who has been working tirelessly for over 2 years to expose the intent of the Girl Scouts to indoctrinate young women into areas that no Catholic girls would find acceptable I am overjoyed to read articles like this. Parents who accept being the vicars of their children are finding that they will be best served by doing their own research. Numerous sites exist to aid concerned parents. Girl Scouts troops in Catholic schools most likely will have clean programs and not using the suggested Porn etc. that is applauded in the Journey program books for 4th and 5th grade girls. BUT…the big picture is that the registration that you will pay makes each girls in every parish throughout the country a member of the World Assoc. of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. This group that your daughter will belong to promotes PP and the sexualization of our girls. Please pray for the women across the country who do the work to get facts to all. These ladies have chosen to be disciples for all girls. God Bless their efforts.
I myself worked for almost 30 yrs.with girls on their Catholic Awards. I was awarded my St. Ann Award by the Arch. of St.Louis. I also have my Gold Award earned in St. Louis and formerly known as First Class. I care and feel like the Girl Scouts have betrayed all that trusted them. This is about $$$ lots of it.
http://www.100questionsforthegirlscouts.org http://www.speaknowgirlscouts.com
http://www.girlscoutswhynot.com http://www.honestgirlsouts.com
Facebook…Make the G.S.Clean Again FB Honest Girl Scouts.com
I have been a Girl Scout leader for 3+ troops over the past 14 years, a service area coordinator for our town consisting of 777 girls and 120+ adult volunteers for Girl Scouts, and was also a girl member for six years. I have invested countless hours and money into this organization. I, too, have witnessed many good things during this time. Nevertheless, after reviewing the evidence found in the Girl Scouts’ own financial records, website, televised interviews, and books, etc., I have come to the realization that I cannot remain a Girl Scout in good conscience. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have been given enough evidence to find it worthy to conduct an investigation of Girl Scouts. It is my hope that, in the very least, the Bishops will decide that all Catholic Schools and Parishes not form any new Girl Scout troops since the main reason that most Catholic parents send their children to a Catholic school is for a Catholic faith formation. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for the parents to assume that none of the extracurricular activities being promoted and supported by the church and school go against the Catholic faith. There are plenty of other organizations that do wonderful things to help make the world a better place without promoting abortion, prostitution, and other immoral values.
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