A Special Group of Girls, and Leaders

 

The 2019 opening of Girls in BSA created a special group of girls. I have thought about this many times. These ladies are doing something amazing, with every merit badge, every rank advancement, and every adventure they take. Sometimes the road is fun and easy.  Sometimes the is met with external challenges. The same is true for leaders. There is oftentimes that when you are doing something, you are the first in your area, state, or country. That is pretty amazing. Getting your messaging, and what you are doing out to your area is important. My daughter at 9 years old taught me that. 

I came across the above picture, my wife made it after my daughter's first Scout camping trip. The New Birth of Freedom's bi-annual council event Wizzard Safari. During this event, the VIPs and staff were given poker chips with Baden Powel's picture on it. They had value in their color with black being the rarest and saved for only a select few. Scott Perry - 10th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, was one of those individuals. Abby had spent a day going to over 20 stations and doing all kinds of fun things. I was with her due to the requirements, I was beaten down and exhausted from our day. However, not wanting to ruin Abby getting her prize for getting over 20 stations, I hung in, long after the rest of the troop went back to camp. We were just awarded our non-weight bearing carabiners. The camp was on top of the hill, I was dreading the last climb of the day when I spotted the Congressmen.  I pointed it out in passing, but my kid wanted to meet him. I walked over and introduced myself, and my child. While introducing herself, my kid, even at 9 years old was aware that she was doing something new and was excited, to tell this person, who seemed important. 

Honestly, I was not sure how he would react. Scott Perry is a former Lt. Colonel and seems as conservative as you can get. Yes, I made assumptions. I assumed that he would answer like a politician. With a smile, and handshake. This turned out completely different than expected. As my daughter told her story about being the first girl from our small town, and how important this event was. She was the first girl from Pack 233 to ever attend. She was proud of herself. She shared her whole story, from the confusion and bit of struggle getting her den on board. To the fact she was pushed down on the playground the day before her first meeting and told: "Scouts are for boys" (That attitude took a 180-degree change over the 2 years she was with her boys, they were quite sad to learn she would have to leave them). She told her whole story.  Not once did he attempt to stop her, not once did he try to get away. Even as the line to meet him grew. He listened to her, with this attention that you could feel. 

When she was done talking to him, he asked her if she would like a picture to remember this. My phone was dead, as happens almost every campout. His assistant took pictures with his phone. Asked me for my phone number, and texted them to me to make sure I did not miss this moment. I thought that was a moment. However, it got even better. 

He looked at my daughter and said, "I was given a chip that I was to award when I saw something special, and I think what you are doing is beyond special". He reached in his pocket and presented my 9-year-old with a black poker chip. She still has it. She understood the moment even at that young age and saw her chance to share her Scouting story. 

I share this story because getting our Scout's message out is important. Many do not understand what girls are looking for, or doing, or the impact their participation will have. What sharing their Scouting story with others does, is validates feelings. Many of those that have a scouting background will acknowledge, and appreciate the hunger and desire to be the best person they can be. They will remember the excitement as a young person doing these activities.  They will be less closed off to the idea of any child due to gender being denied the opportunities that Scouts provide. Many have realized that Scouts is not being destroyed by all of these changes, but is enhanced that other children get these experiences regardless of gender. My daughter does not have a 2019 founders patch from her troop. She was not officially a member at charter. She was a Webelo 1 in a pack with a long history. A pack that existed when her dad was a kid (I did not Scout as a child). Countless Halloween parades, Pinewood Derbys, Blue and Gold Banquets, and Crossing Over ceremonies. However, she knows that she was the first girl from town to get her AOL award. She has her arrow and her shadowbox. Those experiences will be hers forever. She is still close with the group of boys from her old den. 

As she progresses, she is now an unofficial founder for her Troop, excited to be a Den Chief so she can show other girls what they can do. Growing, learning, and most of all enjoying the process. We are blessed to have a great Scoutmaster that loves these girls like their own. We are lucky to have Troop 10's boys and Scoutmasters that love sharing their love of Scouting with them. I can only hope that through sharing their Scouting stories with others, some of the misinformation can be dismissed, and some of the apprehension from some can be eliminated. I look forward to a day that Girls being in Scouts is not new. When scout sign-ups occur it is just as normal for a girl to be there with her wide-eyed excitement about one day carrying her pocket knife, as the 3rd-grade boy. For this to happen, this special group of girls need to Scout on, continue to be amazing, and blaze the path. 

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