A half-dozen girls gathered in the basement of the Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park recently to piece together colorful fleece blankets that they will donate to a local women’s shelter.  They munched on cookies and talked excitedly about plans for a camping trip to Colorado next year and about the money they raised in a cookie sale.

Signifying their membership in the Girl Scouts of America, the girls wore sashes emblazoned with badges over their jeans and sweaters and—representing their Muslim faith—some wore traditional headscarves.

Although the Girl Scouts do not keep statistics on the numbers of scouts who are Muslim, interest among Muslim girls in scouting appears to be growing, said Maria Wynne, chief executive of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwestern Indiana.

“We’ve had Muslim girl scout troops for well over 20 years,” Wynne said. “It’s through these relationships that we’ve been able to become closer with the Muslim community. It’s really blossomed and a whole new group of girls have embraced it.”

There are five troops ranging from Daisies to Senior Girl Scouts who meet at the Islamic school in Villa Park. Because of interest from the Muslim community, the Girl Scout organization is looking at adding another Muslim troop in the western suburbs and are planning a session this summer to get input from girls and their parents on the idea. Possible locations are Burr Ridge or Naperville.

Jumanna Kassar, 15,  of Hillside is a senior girl scout who has been involved in the organization since she was in kindergarten. As she has grown older, she said the girls' discussions have evolved from talking about their next camping trip or cookie sale to discussing some of the challgenging aspects of living as a Muslim.  

“It’s gotten to be more about being a Muslim in America,” she said. “It gives me insight to see how other girls react to prejudices and what they make of it.”

Kassar’s mother, Donna Kassar, is a co-leader of one of the Villa Park troops. She has two other daughters, Laila, 11, and Suha, 9, who also are scouts.

“We haven’t had any real negative experiences (from being Muslim),” she said. “But being in Girl Scouts helps the girls see themselves as part of American society.”

Donna Kassar said many of the values that Girl Scouts promote, such as respecting people and helping others, are shared by the Muslim faith.

“There are things in the Girl Scout Law about sisterhood and respecting people that are in the same spirit as the Muslim faith,” Donna Kassar said.

Amal Ali, youth coordinator for the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, said Muslim communities are looking for activities for their youth, and Girl Scouts appears to be a good fit.

"There's a huge interest in youth programs in Muslim communities," Ali said. "There is a need for it. The only angle that's different is that young Muslims carry a bi-cultural identity. And one side of that identity is bombarded with prejudice and negative images in the media. That's one angle that we're really worried about because self-esteem is integral to making good decisions."

Although the Villa Park troop is open to anyone, it is geared toward girls of the Muslim faith.

"We don't just do Muslim things. We do regular girl scout things like earn badges," Jumanna Kassar said.

Though they focus on the usual scouting activities, troop leader Riffat Siddiqi of Oak Brook said the group also tries to accomodate the tenets of the Muslim faith and adjusts  its schedule according to the Muslim religious calendar.  For instance, the troop holds EID parties to mark the end of Ramadan.

She described girl scouts "as a very nice program and it doesn't cost very much."

In addition to meeting with friends, Jumanna Kassar said she likes that scouting promotes her interest in learning and careers. She attended a camp last summer at which women CEOs of local companies met with the girls and talked about their business careers.

While the girls feel comfortable being in a group of others of the same faith, there are some universal aspects of scouting that the girls also relish. 

“I like that we have so many things to go and do,” said Inaara Hussain, 11, of Glendale Heights. “There are so many things to learn. And I like being with my friends.”

The girls recalled a camping trip last summer at which they  turned out the lights and played with glow sticks in the dark of their cabins.  Hiba Siddiqui's dark eyes danced as she remembered the time they had, and talked about the fun she finds in scouting.

"I like camping, and sleeping over and then going hiking and finding deer," she said. "And I like playing with glow sticks."

By Annemarie Mannion

Triblocal.com reporter