Girls joining Boy Scouts next year debated by Pelham Scouts, boy and girl

File photo: Pelham Troop 1 Scouts at Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation for summer camp in 2014.

File photo: Pelham Troop 1 Scouts at Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation for summer camp in 2014.

By Jamie Burke, Education Editor
June 19, 2018

Plans by the Boy Scouts of America to include girls in the organization’s programming are raising concerns among Pelham Scouts—both boys and girls—about trips, sleeping arrangements and girl power, among others issues.

In 2017, BSA announced girls could join Cub Scouts this year, and in 2019, the organization would “deliver a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout.” In February, BSA provided more specifics, saying in a year each local scouting organization can run a boy troop and a girl troop, have the troops meet at the same time and place—though only opening and closing ceremonies would be held together—and plan common events. Camporees and other district events can be run with boy and girl troops attending. Each troop must have its own scoutmaster and an individual troop cannot have boy and girl patrols, BSA said.

Dylan Gurl, junior assistant scoutmaster for Pelham Troop 1, said he knew BSA was allowing transgender and gay members to join, so he was not surprised when it started to allow girls.

He also pointed to membership issues: “Nationally, the number of people registered as Boy Scouts has been on the decline.” 

Gurl said he believes that this could be because Boy Scouts are portrayed as nerdy, which is not popular among kids around the middle school age. This is a misperception, he said, since being a Boy Scout has provided Gurl with many opportunities he would not have had otherwise.

Though Scouts of both genders weren’t aware of the details of how girls will participate in Boy Scouts (being renamed Scouts BSA), they expressed concerns about sleeping arrangements and potential changes in usual activities.

First Class Scout Marco Gracie, a member of Troop 1, said an activity he participates in his troop called box push ups may have to be altered with the introduction of girls. He said that box push ups is an intense activity where four people link legs to lift each other up.

“It is not a good idea to mix a bunch of growing boys and girls together,” said Sofia Tahan, Pelham Senior Girl Scout. “They will be distracted and nervous and taken away from the whole point…and having teenagers sleep in the woods together is not a good idea.”

“It changes the overall experience for sure, the discussions and things we do and experiences,” said Gurl. “But good or bad? I guess that’s for people to decide for themselves.”

Gracie pointed to positives Girl Scouts might gain from Scouting. “I’ve heard girls talk about wanting to learn more about survival….and wanting to do more of the things Boy Scouts do, so if they join they could have that opportunity,” he said.

There are Girl Scout troops that do not participate in as many outdoor or athletic activities as the boys. Boy Scouts also learn survival techniques at a much deeper level than Girl Scouts. They start learning how to use knives and guns properly much earlier than the girls. This is one of the reasons some girls are interested in moving to Boy Scouts.

Tahan countered that Girls Scouts has its own important goals. “Girl Scouts is supposed to be a girl power motive. How can we be all about girl power when we are with a bunch of boys? We don’t need Boy Scouts to do survival activities. We can organize them ourselves.” She said that she has had many great experiences as a Girl Scout and does not need to join a Boy Scout troop to do so.

“You get exposed to a lot more different kinds of people and different kinds experiences,” said Gurl of his Boy Scouting experience. “I did a backpacking trip in New Mexico, and it was very different, and I wouldn’t have ever had that experience.” He was a senior patrol leader and was able to “work on merit badges, rank advancement and Scout skills.”

Editor’s note: Education Editor Jamie Burke is a Senior Girl Scout and a member of Troop 1664.