Girl Scouts of America offers Muslim badges to be earned by learning pillars of Islam, visiting mosques

Girl Scout troops across the US are incorporating Islamic religious instruction, prayer and activities into scouting programs, according to a new investigation by White House correspondent Natalie Winters.

Winters reported that mosque-based troops in several states have used Girl Scout programming to teach Islamic practices, including prayer, Ramadan and hijab. The examples appear to involve individual troops and local councils rather than a nationwide requirement imposed on all Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) does officially recognize religious award programs operated by outside religious organizations. Its own faith materials identify the Islamic Committee on Girl Scouting and say it offers “Girl Scouts of the Islamic Faith” religious recognition awards, including medals. GSUSA also directs families toward religious organizations for information about the programs.

Islamic faith-related patch programs have also existed fora number of years now in the organization. Available materials list Ramadan, Hajj, Jumaa and “Share Ramadan With a Friend” patches for Girl Scouts across different age levels. The programs are administered by Islamic organizations rather than GSUSA itself. In some instances, Girl Scout troops learn the pillars of Islam and can fulfil requirements by visiting mosques or learning about Muslim prayer practices to get the patches. 

Winters mentioned the SALAM Islamic Center in Sacramento, which hosted a Girl Scout event in February 2025. Girls were invited to try on hijabs, tour the mosque and learn about “the significance of modesty.” The mosque describes its Girl Scout program as promoting “Strong Islamic Values.”

Other examples include Girl Scout programs at the Islamic Center of Naperville, the Islamic Center of Long Island and Virginia’s ADAMS Center. Winters reported on her Substack that these programs use Islamic education or traditions into scouting activities.

Some of the programming is not new. A Girl Scout troop connected to PGMA in Washington, DC, advertised Ramadan overnight events dating back more than a decade. Activities included Islamic prayer, Quran and Hadith study, religious discussions and service during iftar. Girls were instructed to bring prayer garments or hijabs and Islamic educational materials.