Leadership opportunities now open to girls in Scouts

     The Monticello Cub and Boy Scouts of Pack 66 are now inviting girls to join their efforts to become leaders.

     Earlier this year in June, news was passed down from the national Boy Scouts of America organization that scouting would be opened up not just for boys, but for girls as well. In an effort to implementing that directive, Pack 66 is seeking girls in grades kindergarten through fifth who want to become Cub Scouts.

     “Locally we have not heard a lot of negative comments,” said Jim Rueter, Cub Master for Pack 66 in Monticello.

     This week, Scout leaders will be visiting the younger kids in the elementary schools to promote Scouting for both boys and girls, and handing out fliers. Then, on Thursday, Sept. 6, there will be an informational meetings at 6 p.m. at the Jones County Youth Development Center. Reuter parents can register their kids that night or any time before or after.

     “There is no bad time to join Scouts,” he said.

     While they’re rolling out registration for Cub Scouts, Reuter explained registration for the older youth won’t happen until the summer of 2019.

     “They want to wait a year and work through things,” he said of the national movement.

     In terms of allowing girls to join the organization, Cub Scouts will remain as such because it’s a gender-neutral name. “Boy Scouts,” which is for the older youth, will become “Scouts USA.” The parent organization, Boy Scouts of America, will also remain as such.

     Locally, within Cub Scouts, dens are set up for each grade level. Additional dens will be in place for girls of corresponding grade, with a two adult leaders per den, one of those adults being a female.

     “Scouts pushes safe guards, even more with girls,” explained Reuter. He said they perform background checks on all adults involved in all levels of Scouts.

     Scouts has always and continues to be a family organization. Locally, the events and activities the Boy Scouts have taken part in have involved moms, dads, brothers, sisters, older and younger siblings.

     So why are Scouts opening the door for girls? Reuter said the biggest advantage to joining for both girls and boys is the leadership opportunities available.

     “They get the training to grow their self-confidence,” he said. “It’s about character building and leadership building.”

     With this change, Reuter said locally, they do not want to compete in any way with Camp Fire, an all-girls organization. Leaders from both groups have talked about encouraging girls not to leave Camp Fire.

     “I strongly encourage them not to,” said Reuter. He said both offer so much for the youth in the Monticello community. “We don’t want to take anything away from Camp Fire. We hate to see Camp Fire suffer.”

     In fact, Reuter’s own daughter was involved in Camp Fire and went on to earn her WoHeLo.

     Reuter said allowing girls to join Cub Scouts is merely providing some with an opportunity they can’t find anywhere else. With the offering of badges, Reuter said the activities expose girls to possible career opportunities they might not have ever considered.

     Girls will have the chance to earn Scouting badges alongside the boys, even working their way to becoming an Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout Award is the pinnacle achievement in Boy Scouts, now something boys and girls can reach for together.

     “Nationwide, there is a push to get girls outdoors,” explained Reuter. “There is no other organization anywhere else that offers those opportunities; we help fill a niche. We’re the one organization that offers it.”

     Aside from the great leadership opportunities, Scouts also teaches young people life skills such as cooking, cleaning, self-care, etc.

     “Girls will get the same benefits as the boys; character building and a boost in confident,” added Reuter.

     In terms of the Eagle Award, Reuter said for every Scout, it is about coming up with a project that benefits an outside organization other than Scouts and themselves. He said this project is a way for the scout to show off their level of leadership gained throughout their entire scouting experience.

     “Businesses nationwide, even the military recognize Eagle Scouts,” said Reuter of the distinction that girls can now look forward to.

     To find out more about the expansion of Scouts, plan to attend the Sept. 6 public meeting or contact Reuter at 563-542-3047.