How Girls Can Become Eagle Scouts
Girls ‘and Boy Scouts’ jobs look great when going to college, and the lessons tend to live with you forever. I climbed the rankings for Girl Scouts for seven years, from fifth grade as Junior Girl Scouts to high school as Ambassador-level Scouts. But some girls are not looking for Girl Scouts: Girls made history this year by becoming the first class of girls to receive Eagle Scout status. This is how they did it, so you can do it too.
First, a little history about the variety of Boy Scouts.
The Boy Scouts werefounded in Britain in the early 1900s by Lieutenant General Robert SS (later Lord) Baden-Powell, who recognized the importance of learning survival skills for youth development. The Boy Scouts have long been recognized as a same-sex youth program teaching ages 8 to 17 about fishing, camping and first aid.
Until 2013 , openly homosexual youth were prohibited from joining Boy Scout units, and untilJuly 2015 openly gay scout leaders were prohibited from joining the organization. When lawsuits reached a Supreme Court decision in 2000 against openly homosexual scout leaders, the public took notice and the situation began to change. Transgender youth who identify as male are now allowed to join as scouts at any age.
In 2017, the ban on women scouts was lifted and girls were allowed, but only as rookie scouts . In 2019, Boy Scouts of America lifted the age limit and girls could join squads from Cub Scouts and above.
The reform of the American Organization of Boy Scouts came later than others, as the UK allowed girls to join the ranks of the Boy Scouts since the 1980s. But now anyone looking for a Boy Scout title can join the Boy Scouts.
Why should girls join the Boy Scouts?
Now that Scouts are allowing girls to join their ranks, a struggle has arisen between the Girl Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America. Girl Scouts of America issued a statement in support of male and female Scouting roles that said, “The need for female leadership has never been more evident and urgent than it is today.” If the goal is women’s leadership, why are so many girls wanting to join the Boy Scouts?
The answer is simple: they are different. While Girl Scouts focus on entrepreneurship in STEM, Boy Scouts care about outdoor survival skills as well. In addition, there is internationally recognized prestige associated with achieving Eagle Scout status. Eagle Scouts receive recognition from colleges, scholarships, vacancies and even military applications. Girl Scouts have a similar achievement called the Gold Award , but it’s not as widely known.
What does it take to become an eagle scout?
This year 1,000 young women have reached the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scout organization. The Boy Scouts of America honored Scouts as the first women ever to receive the prestigious title at a special event called “Be The Change.” (You can watch the ceremony onthe Boy Scouts of AmericaYouTubepage .)
After the ban was lifted, these girls had a very limited time to meet the Eagle Scout requirements before their 18th birthday, so while most scouts work years to complete assignments and paperwork, they only had about a year. While only 6% of boys made it to Eagle Scout, these women made it in less than twice the expected time.
To become a scout, eagle, you must earn at least 21 merit badge ( 13 icons for eagle ) from 135 proposed by the icons . Badges range from rock climbing to agricultural mechanic, fire safety and even dentistry. These badges allow you to climb the career ladder to become eligible for the Eagle Scout program.
Scouts must then also complete the Eagle Scout Service Project using the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook . (The workbook must be completed to be eligible.) The service project must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts and must be signed by the beneficiary in the service project workbook. Eagle Scouts provides a bulleted list of requirements and application process on its website .
Application materials include:
- Dates: All suitable dates of advancement on the Scout path must be indicated.
- Signatures: The signatures of the applicant, the squad leader and the squad committee chairman date back to Scout’s 18th birthday.
- Links: There must be six links, contact information (five if the scout is unemployed).
- Badges of Merit: All details of the badge of merit must be indicated with dates and unit numbers.
- Position of Responsibility: Proof of the squad showing that the scout is eligible for rank among the scouts.
- Attachments: Service Project Workbook, Statement of Ambition and Aspiration, and List of Positions, Awards, and Awards.
After a bunch of bureaucratic steps, including board reviews, review committee approval, and reference checks, the application can be approved and the scout receives the ultimate award – the title of eagle scout, a title that the Boy Scouts say lives with them forever. America: “Those who earned it in their youth continue to earn it every day as adults. This is why the Eagle Scout is the Eagle Scout and was not. “