American Heritage Girls.

By the early 1990s, Patti Garibay of West Chester, Ohio, had been involved in Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) for as long as she could remember. Her mother had been a scout leader while Garibay, who began as a Brownie in her mom's troop, had served as troop leader, recruiter, camp director, and local council delegate. Family life during her school years revolved around scouting, especially outdoor camping activities.

Then in 1993, she began noticing some puzzling and disturbing changes in Girl Scout policy. For instance, a national convention voted to allow scouts to substitute something other than "God" in the Girl Scout Promise, and by the next year it had become technically contrary to scout rules to sing religious Christmas carols with her girls, since it would entail "discrimination" against non-believers. After considerable soul-searching, Garibay opted to leave the GSUSA. And on August 30, 1995, with a number of other disgruntled Girl Scout leaders in the Cincinnati area, she launched American Heritage Girls (AHO), whose membership oath declares: "I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community." Garibay is currently the organization's executive director.

AHG initially attracted about 30 members from Cincinnati and surrounding communities. Today, there are around 1,000. It went national in October 1999 when Troop 158 in California held its first official meeting. There are currently three troops in Indiana, with plans to break ground in Michigan, Illinois, and Oklahoma before year's end.

Girls between ages five and 18 participate at four levels: Tenderfoot (school grades 1-3), Explorer (4-6), Pioneer (7-8), and Patriot (9-12). Most current members are Christians (due in part to the demographics of the areas where troops are located), but membership is open to girls of other faiths as well. A multi-faceted public service agenda includes such troop projects as baking cookies for a prison ministry (while praying for the prisoners and those affected by their crimes); collecting hygiene items for, and serving meals at, homeless shelters; raking leaves for the elderly; providing special programs at nursing homes during the holidays; and participating in local park beautification efforts. Last year, AHG joined with the local Boy Scout Council for the Scouting for Food and Clothing drive that serves 20 agencies in the Greater Cincinnati area. Carolyn Moore, AHG national growth director, told THE NEW AMERICAN that "most of our troops average over 500 hours of service per year."

AHG also honors our nation's veterans annually and teaches its members to respect and properly display the American flag. And there are currently 49 merit badge categories that emphasize heritage, family living, arts, science, technology, and the outdoors.

The AHG logo features two young girls holding hands and running together, with one carrying a bouquet of flowers and the Stars and Stripes serving as a backdrop. In May, Garibay told the American Family Association that she and her associates "wanted a logo that would pay homage to God and to America's heritage, and we felt the American flag met that requirement. We also wanted to portray the joy and innocence of young girls who we hope, by their service to God and others as a part of American Heritage Girls, will ultimately become women of integrity and honor."