Female Scouts

I have been a Boy Scouts of America assistant scout leader, and my one son is an Eagle Scout and the other is a Life Scout. Both my sons served proudly in Iraq and Afghanistan. In both military deployments, my sons told me the skills they learned in the Boy Scouts helped them survive the elements of war. They also told me woman soldiers served next to them in combat with honor and heroism.

During my volunteer work, our troop worked closely with the Girl Scout troop at our church. Activities were very different and positive for each troop, but it was very apparent the girls wanted to participate in the boys’ activities. I applaud the Boy Scouts for allowing girls to join.

The simple fact is, girls like the same positive activities offered in the Boy Scouts that are not offered in the Girl Scouts (i.e. the 23 merit badges required to be an Eagle Scout, high adventure camp trips in the Grand Canyon, BSA camps throughout America). The Boy Scouts create great citizens and leaders in our community. Why not give our girls the same opportunities?

The addition of girls to the Boy Scouts can be an opportunity for girls and boys to develop positive skills together as young men and women, teaching them how to respect each other under the Scout’s Oath and Promise to their “duty of God and country, duty to other people and duty to self.”

Let’s open the doors for these potential girl Eagle Scouts and let them fly with the best of the Scouts here in America. Let’s show our support for creating these new opportunities for girls and young women.