Boy Scouts of America welcoming girls into its ranks

Not a big deal, say local leaders

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Trustworthy, loyal, courteous and kind.

That’s part of Scout Law.

There are 11 different values that the Boy Scouts of America stress and emphasize with the ultimate goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest rank.

Now that aspiration can become a reality for girls.

For the first time in its 108-year history, the Boy Scouts of America will accept females into its extensive organization of troops across the United States beginning Feb. 1, 2019.

For Scott Sable, Scoutmaster of Troop 1087 for the American Legion in Charles City, he’s happy that an organization that he’s been a part of since the first grade is becoming all-inclusive.

“I’m a Scouter for life,” said Sable, who lives in Mason City and has been Scoutmaster for more than six years. “As a leader, I feel it’s all about the kids.”

Cub Scouts, a branch of Boy Scouts geared for kids 5-10 years of age, announced in October of 2017 that it was allowing girls into its packs and dens. The Boy Scouts, for ages 11-17 years, soon followed and its youth membership of more than 800,000 could grow with the addition of female members.

“It is a hot issue,” said Sable. “The Girl Scouts offers a completely different program than the Boys Scouts. “I’m for it, simply because the girls get the skills that boys get out of it and there are different skills in the Girls Scouts.”

The Cub Scouts allows its packs to include all-boy dens and all-girl dens.

“They can be a part of the pack, but the girls have to be in their own individual den,” said Sable.

The new rules for girls in the Scouts BSA – which will officially become the new name for local troops starting in February – will see girls create their own troops.

“They have to form their own troop underneath the same charter representative,” said Sable. “They will not participate in any troop activities with the boys. They’re separate, but underneath the same umbrella.”

According to Boy Scout by-laws, both girls and boys BSA troops can meet as one big group at the open and close of meetings, but other components of the meeting must be run separately. Different-gender troops can also meet at the same time and place, as well as plan events together.

“Nothing really changes with it other than just allowing girls in,” said Sable. “The program doesn’t change — the badges, the ranks.”

Sable’s daughter, Mackenzie, now a sophomore in college, attended and contributed to many of her brother Jack’s Boy Scout meetings and campouts. Scott said she was just never recognized for her efforts.

“She was kind of like a mascot for the boys,” said Sable. “She was like the honorary Scout. She did everything with them.”

In order to form a Scout troop – girl or boy – one must have at least five members to start. There must also be at least one female leader who is over the age of 21 in a girl troop, according to Sable.

“In the BSA, there’s always female leaders, so that’s not really even an issue,” he said.

Derek Abbott is the assistant Scoutmaster for BSA Troop 1078 for the Columbus Club in Charles City and he said he’s very supportive of girls joining the Boy Scouts.

“The girls that are already coming to meetings with their brothers, let ‘em in,” Abbott said.

He said his 12-year-old daughter, Loralie Naumann, is planning on becoming a member of the Boy Scouts at some point next year. Abbott has already signed her up for a Space Jamboree class in October.

The Space Jam is a Scout Merit Badge Workshop that features activities with space exploration and focuses on attaining more than 35 merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges that Boys Scouts can achieve.

“It’s just doing everything that her brother’s done. She just wants to do it, too,” said Abbott.

Abbott recently camped out by the Tosanak Recreation Area just after Thanksgiving this year and encountered some harsh, early winter weather. Abbott said the low temperature that evening was supposed to be nine degrees.

“It ended up being minus 6 when we woke up at 5 a.m.,” said Abbott. “We were out camping in that.”

Abbott said he’ll go over all the same precautions for winter preparation and how to keep yourself safe in the cold with the girls as he would with the guys.

“I’m fine with it. Women are already in scouting. People may not realize it, but a lot of the leadership roles are already manned by females,” said Abbott.

The Boy Scouts currently offer Venturing, which is a co-ed youth development program for girls or boys ages 14-20.

Numbers are dramatically down for Boy Scouts since its peak in the 1970s when it saw its membership rise to as high as 5 million.

“It would be about like 4H and FFA — everybody is experiencing lower numbers,” said Abbott.

Abbott also said there is a Lone Scout Program for anybody who wants to join Boy Scouts but is unable to become a member of a troop because of the five-person requirement.

“It’s basically like being in a troop, it’s just by yourself,” said Abbott.

The parent organization will continue to be called Boy Scouts of America once females are allowed membership in February.

The Boy Scouts has eased up on its restrictions and requirements for membership in recent years. Just five years ago, BSA allowed openly gay members and two years later in 2015, it lifted a ban on gay scout leaders. In January 2017, the organization accepted transgender members.

There will be a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Columbus Club in Charles City where Abbott and his troop will answer any questions for prospective Boy Scout members or those interested in the organization.