Girls troop
Fun things to do in Scouts BSA
A scout is always prepared to learn and adapt to change, even if it means opening up the Boy Scouts program to girls and switching the name to Scouts BSA.
More than a year after the changes, the members of Maui’s only girls troop are enjoying the chance to pick up new skills and learn the ropes of scouting.
“I’ve already learned so much that I didn’t know before and I think it’s great,” said 15year-old Taylor Drahn Banaag, who’s been a member of Troop 0220 for eight months now.
Local scouting officials said the transition has been manageable since allowing Maui County girls ages 11 to 17 to join the Boy Scouts beginning in February 2019. The Cub Scouts program began admitting girls from kindergarten to 5th grade in 2018, but the Cub Scouts name remains.
And while the Scouts have a new look, the organization’s mission remains, which is to prepare youths to make ethical and moral decisions that reflect the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
“The challenges we are encountering would be the same as anyone starting a brand new troop, such as finding a charter organization and adult leaders to support the program,” said Brandon Cabanilla, scoutmaster for Troop 0220.
Aloha Council Scout Executive Jesse Lopez said Troop 0220 is the only girls troop on Maui, and added that BSA programs and the Girl Scouts of the USA programs are separate organizations and should not be compared.
Troop 0220 currently yields six girls and serves Central Maui, Cabanilla said.
“What I enjoy about the program is it’s a good way to interact and learn about a lot of things, such as how to tie different knots for different things, what to do when you get a cut, how to use things in the first aid kit properly, and so on,” Banaag said. “One of my favorite activities so far is when our troop was competing against each other to see who can tie the knots the fastest and save the person in the ‘middle of the ocean.’ ”
Both boys and girls who are part of the Scouts BSA have been participating in genderspecific troops, developing leadership skills, performing community service, going camping and working toward earning some of the 136 merit badges offered by the Scouts BSA program.
Girl Troops are separate from Boy Troops within the BSA and are not referred to as Girl Scout Troops. Boys and girls in the BSA program both go by the general title of “Scouts.”
“I think it did make a difference letting girls join Boy Scouts because although I’m in an all-girls troop I can’t call it Girl Scouts because boys can join our troop and whatnot,” Banaag said. “But I think it’s nice that anyone can do Scouts now. It’s a good learning experience for everyone to learn.”
All young women who join the BSA have the opportunity to advance and make Eagle rank, Lopez said, as well as be a part of the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts by completing the list of requirements.
Cabanilla’s daughter, Kaileigh Cabanilla, recently became a senior patrol leader for Maui’s Troop 0220 after the scouts’ first meeting. Elections for different positions are held every six months to give everyone a chance to experience being a leader.
A patrol leader runs all troop meetings, events and activities, and appoints other troop junior leaders with the advice and counsel of the scoutmaster, among many other responsibilities.
“It’s a lot of work but I enjoy being able to build my leadership skills and the work ethics it provides me,” said Kaileigh Cabanilla, 13. “I enjoy that I can bond with other Scouts and experience so many different things that will help to better me as a person.”
Her goal is to eventually earn Eagle Scout rank and “later give back to my community.”
Some young women who joined in 2019 may not have enough time to complete the list due to their age — the minimum time period to complete the requirements of the Eagle Scout rank is about 19 to 20 months, according to the BSA — so the National Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America has approved temporary transition rules regarding extensions for youth over 16, but not yet 18 years of age, to complete the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.
The extension for this year’s class is not available to any youth under 16 years old.
While the BSA has undergone some local and national changes, the COVID-19 pandemic has created some new ones, such as modified activities and weekly virtual meetings.
“We are constantly reevaluating and adjusting our planned activities and using the pandemic to teach them how to adapt, overcome and think beyond the norm,” Brandon Cabanilla said. “I feel critical thinking and flexibility is important, not just for this program, but for their future endeavors since Scouts are always prepared.”
■ Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.