Celebrating 5 Years of Girls in the Scouts BSA Program
Today we mark the 5th anniversary of a historic moment in scouting history: we celebrate the incredible journey of girls in the Scouts BSA program. On February 1st, 2019, the Boy Scouts of America welcomed girls into its iconic program, breaking down barriers and opening up new avenues for adventure, leadership, and personal growth.
On February 1, 2019 girls gained full access to all of Scouting’s programs, and for five years now they’ve thrived—learning, adventuring, and developing leadership skills just as their fathers. brothers, and grandfathers have since 1910. “As we start 2024, 20% of the Cascade Pacific Council’s youth membership is made up of girls; we have girls serving troop leadership roles, girls serving as Chapter Chiefs and Lodge officers in the Order of the Arrow, and girls leading the way in Venturing and Sea Scouts,” says CPC Council Commissioner, Kathleen Jordan. “And those girls have some wonderful role models in the many women who have stepped up to provide exemplary adult leadership at the unit, district and council level.”
The Inclusive Evolution: Scouting throughout the BSA is now for Everyone
Five years ago, the Scouts BSA program took a bold step towards inclusivity, recognizing that the principles of scouting were not exclusive to gender. This progressive move allowed girls to join the ranks, bridging the gap and offering them the same opportunities for skill development, leadership training, and outdoor exploration that boys had enjoyed for decades.
The Trailblazers: 60 Eagle Scouts in the CPC & Counting!
Since that historic day, countless girls across the nation have embraced the scouting spirit in the BSA, becoming trailblazers in their own right. These young pioneers have shattered stereotypes and proven that the values instilled by scouting are universal. From mastering outdoor survival skills to earning merit badges, these girls have shown resilience, determination, and a commitment to the Scout Oath and Law.
Since that moment, 60 local girls in Scouts BSA have become Eagle Scouts, earning 2,107 rank advancements and more than 7,000 merit badges! Today, nearly 20% of our Scouts in the CPC are girls.
“Today we celebrate all of these milestones, and we look forward to 10 years from now when we won’t have any girls in BSA programs who can recall a time when they were not welcome to be full participants in Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA,” says CPC Board Chair, Kaleen Deatherage. “Here’s to Scouting’s future as a movement fully prepared to welcome all youth!”
As we celebrate this 5th anniversary, we also look forward to the continued growth and evolution of the Scouts BSA program. The inclusion of girls has enriched the scouting experience for everyone involved, and the movement is poised to inspire even more young minds in the years to come.
Please join us in this momentous occasion by sharing our social media posts over the coming weeks (Facebook | Instagram) and congratulating girls in our program for being the go-getters and trailblazers who have embraced the Scout spirit with gusto and vigor. Here’s to another year of adventure, grit and growth as we continue to welcome everyone into the Boy Scouts of America.
Do you know girls who should join the BSA? Share this page and hear stories from Scouts BSA girls from throughout the CPC
Throwback: CPC Welcomes Girls into Scouts BSA
Watch the Scouts BSA Launch video from February 1, 2019, welcoming girls into the Scouts BSA program and check ou the pics from the party!
