Girl Scouts Oust Longtime Leader for Defending Childhood Innocence

In an alarming display of political overreach, the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey have removed Alexandra Bougher, a respected troop leader of seven years, after she voiced concerns over the organization’s growing embrace of activist agendas.

Bougher, who has dedicated nearly a decade to mentoring and guiding young girls in Park Ridge, found herself abruptly dismissed after questioning the Girl Scouts’ increasing promotion of LGBTQIA+ political messaging, including Pride Month events, gender identity discussions with children, and gender sexuality alliance clubs.

The final straw? A Facebook post in which Bougher, 45, reposted the council’s Pride Month announcement with the simple clarification: “Just to be clear, my troop will not be doing this.” That single statement, she believes, led to her removal. In a curt phone call from two Girl Scout officials, Bougher was told she was no longer a leader, no longer welcome in the organization, and—shockingly—neither was her young daughter. No discussion. No due process. No explanation.

“I’m proud to stand up for the safety of our children and will always stand up to adults that push woke indoctrination to minors,” Bougher stated on social media. “You will not groom kids on my watch.”

This is not the first time Bougher resisted the creeping politicization of an organization historically known for teaching leadership, service, and life skills. She avoided taking her troop to events she considered age-inappropriate—such as a local church hosting Scouts under a Progressive Pride flag, and an ice cream social featuring a discussion on gender identity led by a 13-year-old transgender teen. Parents in her troop had voiced similar discomfort, trusting Bougher to shield their daughters from topics they felt were not suitable for young children.

Bougher also recalled the shift in the organization several years ago, when some troops began taking girls to Black Lives Matter marches—activism she viewed as dangerous and beyond the scope of scouting. “We saw the change,” she said. “I kept my mouth shut for a long time, kept my troop together, and just stayed away from those events.”

The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey have refused to answer media questions, but their policies proclaim “inclusivity” as a core principle—an increasingly weaponized term used to justify punishing dissenters who do not conform to a specific political ideology.

What’s most disturbing is the punitive targeting of Bougher’s own child—banning her from participation in a program she loved simply because her mother dared to speak out. This isn’t inclusivity; it’s ideological enforcement.

This case is yet another example of America’s long-trusted civic organizations abandoning neutrality in favor of pushing political and cultural agendas. The Girl Scouts, once synonymous with cookies, camping, and community service, have now aligned themselves with a growing movement to introduce activist causes into childhood spaces. For parents like Alexandra Bougher, the message is clear: either you promote the politics, or you and your children will be cast out.

Bougher’s courage should be applauded. She stood for what many parents believe—that childhood should be protected from political agendas, and that scouting should be about friendship, leadership, and personal growth, not social engineering.

The Girl Scouts may believe they’ve silenced one voice, but they may have ignited a much larger movement of parents who are tired of seeing their children’s organizations hijacked by political activism. Alexandra Bougher has made it clear she’s not backing down—and neither should we.