Scouts BSA welcomes girls into its troops

by Laura Straub

The Boy Scouts of America reorganized in February with a new name and a new standard for membership. Now known as Scouts BSA, the organization has invited female Scouts to join their ranks.

That was exciting news for the eight girls from Independence, Brecksville and Broadview Heights who are now members of Troop 652.

“Most of the girls who have joined our Scouts BSA troop had friends, siblings or family members who were in Scouts BSA already,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Brian LeRoy. “The girls have been hearing about all of the adventures the Scouts had participated in, the awards they had earned and the leadership and life skills they had been learning. They were anxious to be able to participate in a similar program themselves.”

The troop has had an action-packed first six months.

“The main reason I joined Scouts BSA is for the adventure, which there has been plenty of,” said Joanna Alrabady. “I have enjoyed almost every activity that we have done and learned a lot along the way.”

Those lessons have come from earning merit badges in swimming, metalwork, animation, lifesaving, rowing, climbing, communication, environmental science, basketry, fingerprinting, family life, fish and wildlife, fishing, art, energy and aviation, to name several.

“The troop has been camping more than five times this year, including multiple weeks of summer camp, a week-long leadership training course, volunteering at the D-Day re-enactment in Conneaut, Ohio, and attending a Top Shot [shooting sports] Camporee,” said LeRoy. “They also provide community service through dozens of hours volunteering.”

On Aug. 25, the troop celebrated those achievements and experiences with family and friends at its first Court of Honor, which took place in the Brecksville Reservation.

“Being the inaugural Court of Honor, we wanted to make it really impressive for the Scouts. We invited the city of Independence Mayor Anthony Togliatti to come and talk with them,” LeRoy said. “All of the Scouts were extremely impressed that he took the time to come out and commend the girls for their hard work and share the value of the leadership skills they are learning.”

The semi-formal Court of Honor event is generally held every three to 12 months to recognize a troop’s achievements. With everything that Troop 652 has planned, there will be plenty to recognize at the next one.

“Plans for the upcoming year include monthly campouts, a 24-hour camporee with around-the-clock outdoor activities, hosting a ‘Campsgiving’ event to encourage younger Scouts to bridge to a troop, winter camporee, a klondike derby, which consists of pulling a sled that the Troop builds through an obstacle course of team-building activities in the snow and participating in Wreaths Across America, as well as several other volunteering events,” said LeRoy. “In addition, they are preparing for a week-long high adventure canoe trip in northern Canada next summer.”

As an Eagle Scout, LeRoy is enjoying his experience with Troop 652 as much as are the girls. Both of his daughters, Bryanna and MaryAnne, hope to become Eagle Scouts, too.

“I have a ton of extremely fond memories from being in Scouts as a kid, which I am happy to be able to share with my daughters,’’ LeRoy said. “Watching their leadership skills and confidence grow so quickly has been awesome. As my wife has told me, ‘Once my daughter puts on her Scout uniform, it’s like a uniform of confidence and bravery, she can and does accomplish anything.’”

He also appreciates the community’s support of the troop.

“I was initially concerned we would encounter a lot of negative feedback or comments that the girls would have to endure,” LeRoy said. “However, I have been very impressed with all interactions we have had with people in the community. It has been very impressive to watch our Scouts change people’s thoughts regarding girls participating in Scouts BSA after having an opportunity to see our Scouts in action.

According to LeRoy, all of the new Scouts BSA troops are single-gender. St. Basil’s sponsors a troop for boys and a troop for girls. The two troops are linked, sharing a common leadership structure and participating in activities together often.

“Girls began joining Scouts BSA beginning Feb. 1, 2019, all over the country,” said LeRoy. “As of the first week of September, there were over 23,000 girls in Scouts BSA in 2,792 troops across the country. In the first three weeks the gates were opened to allow girls to join, over 6,000 girls had signed up.”

LeRoy added that when Scouts BSA launched Cub Scouts, only 3,000 boys joined in the first full year. By comparison, when BSA allowed girls into Cub Scouts in 2019, over 77,000 girls joined in the first six months.

“This group is trailblazing, and I’m happy to be a part of the movement,” he said.

Featured image photo caption: Scouts BSA Troop 652 members (l-r) Sarah Christian, MaryAnne LeRoy, Joanna Alrabady, Molly Dubitsky, Maya Meilander, Ava Presot and Bryanna LeRoy attend their first Court of Honor at Brecksville Reservation. The girls are enjoying their first year as members of the Boy Scouts of America. Photo courtesy Brian LeRoy