Soar Like an Eagle

by JENNIFER JORDAN

he Boy Scouts organization has been internationally renowned for 112 years as a character and leadership program for boys. Heralded as a premier youth civic organization, BSA claims leaders such as Neil Armstrong, Hank Aaron, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bill Gates among its members. The Texarkana community, through our own Caddo Area Council, has taught hundreds of boys how to tie knots, build fires, and grow to become excellent citizens. Families have supported their sons’ troops, with Mom and me Cub Scout campouts, and dads serving as den, pack, and troop leaders. Girls have enjoyed some Scouting opportunities; they could join Cub Scout dens through the age of 10 and participate in the Venturing and Sea Scouts programs. However, they could not participate in Boy Scouts. Sisters would tag along on campouts, some of them wondering when they could participate in their older brothers’ adventures and earn their own prestigious Eagle rank, the highest rank possible in Scouting.

In 2019, these girls were granted their wish. BSA opened the Boy Scouts to include girls ages 11 through 17. The organization renamed itself Scouts BSA. Girl troops began to form within councils, as separate troops, to work alongside boy troops and complete the requirements to advance in Scouting.

Within the Caddo Area Council, three girl troops have been operating since 2019. Troop 1 welcomed its first group of girls through Scoutmaster Sigrunn Yost and Assistant Scoutmaster Phillip Jordan. Sigrunn’s two sons earned their Eagle rank, and Phillip also earned his Eagle rank, all through Troop 16, and they know the rigors of the Scouting program. Both wanted their daughters to experience the benefits of Scouting– the building of strong character traits and leadership skills that they can rely on for life. Originally, Sigrunn had to think through the idea of becoming a Scoutmaster. “When the Scouts recruit leaders they say ‘it’s only an hour a week’. I knew it was much more than an hour a week because both of

Tmy boys’ leaders put in many hours a week,” she says. “The reason I finally gave in is that the men/leaders that asked me were the men that were my sons’ leaders (Mike Asher, Bill Miller, Steve Rushing, Fred Norton). These men put in a lot of work for my boys and if they thought I could do it I knew I could and I also couldn’t tell them no.” Phillip comments, “ In an era where women are now serving in the highest offices in the land– the Vice Presidency, the Speaker of the House, numerous Justices of the Supreme Court and countless other public and private leadership roles– it only makes sense to equip our young ladies with the same leadership training and life skills we’ve spent generations teaching to our young men. When the opportunity came along to help make that happen, I jumped at the chance, because I do not believe that we can ever have too many Eagle Scouts in this country.” The five Scouts in Troop 1 have been earning merit badges, camping as a single troop and with other troops at Camp Orr and Camp Rockefeller in the summer, and volunteering in the community. Rosie Jordan, Olivia Kimmel, and Morgan Yost have so far earned the Star rank, and Payton and Ashlyn Shuman are First Class. Just like boys, girls need to complete 21 required merit badges for Eagle rank. Some of these required badges are more time-consuming than others. For the non-Eagle required merit badges, the Scouts can choose which ones they would like to earn. “Last summer I took the kayaking merit badge among others,” Olivia Kimmel explains. “I already knew how to kayak, so taking this class was very fun and relaxing. Except for the part where they flip you, I wouldn’t exactly call that relaxing, but I will say that part was the most fun. At Camp Orr we also hiked the infamous Antenna Pines– it’s straight up a mountain at 3 a.m.!” For Rosie Jordan, campouts are most enjoyable. “I love to wake up in the mornings in my tent at a campout; I love that feeling.”

Troop 5 out of Hope, led by Karen Smith, boasts six female Scouts–Aunna Golden, Makenzi Golden, Emma Wright, Mary Martinez, Melody Martinez and Dakota Greet. They meet weekly alongside the Troop 5 boys. The troop formed mainly out of Karen’s desire to teach Scouting to girls. “I was my son’s den leader and served as Cubmaster for about 10 years. When He crossed over into Scouts, I began working with the troop along with being Cubmaster. When my son was in Scouts my daughter used to tag along. When she turned 14 I started a Venturing crew here so that she could be a part. Even after my children aged out of the program, I stayed in,” Karen explains. “When I heard they were going to allow girls I was ecstatic. Troop 5 has always had sisters going to campouts and trips from the very beginning of me working with Scouts. Having 3 granddaughters, it was just natural for me to want to be a part of the girls troop.”

Troop 5 attends campouts in Arkansas most months of the year and summer camp as well. “We float the Buffalo rIver and fish the White River in March; we stay at Camp Orr. We have attended summer camp at Kinsey in Louisiana, and we go to Lake DeGray and stay at the scout camp there every year,” Karen states. The girls have enjoyed earning their kayaking, canoeing, and small boat sailing merit badges at these locations. Aunna Golden and Emma Wright are pursuing their Eagle rank and should earn it by the end of the year, according to Karen. “I like the fact that I am learning leadership skills, responsibilities and to be honorable,” says Emma. Makenzi Golden adds, “I enjoy getting to do different stuff that I wouldn’t get to do without Scouts.”

When Big Momma Phillips learned that BSA was opening to girls, she contacted Glenn Crowder, the Scoutmaster of the Troop 8 boys, and asked for her granddaughters to join Troop 8 as a separate female troop in early 2019. Currently, the girls’ Troop 8 hosts seven girls who love “anything to do with camping,” according to Big Momma, who serves as Scoutmaster. The troop participates in campouts or a service activity every month, and also attends summer camp in Kinsey, like Troop 5. Leighton Kelems has reached her Second Class rank; Lilly Kisselburg is a Tenderfoot and Nevaeh Matlock is Scout rank. Dakota Kisselburg, and Noami Creer have earned Star Scout rank, and Ashlyn Kelems serves as the Scout mascot.

Arianna (Anna) DePoi holds the distinct honor of being the Caddo Area Council’s first female Scout to earn Eagle rank. Anna was the first girl to be welcomed into Order of the Arrow and hold office as Second Vice Chief. She was also the first BSA girl to give a report to the State of Texas. Anna now serves as a Junior Scoutmaster adult leader for Troop 8.

Although some people were initially hesitant about having girls in Scouts, Karen says that “once I talked to them and explained that we have been having girls go with us and be a part of us for the last 20 years, but now they can earn the badges, people seem to look at it in a different light. The community here in Hope has been great.” Sigrunn Yost echoes this sentiment. “At first I heard a lot of grumbling but as time goes on and the more we do the more it’s being accepted. We have gone to summer camp the past two years and have had only positive experiences.” Big Momma Phillips adds, “The start had several learning curves and showed others we are here to stay and dedicated to the Scout way. There is a 92% acceptance of girls in Scouts now and the other percentage, well, they will learn what Scouting means one day. The few obstacles have helped the girls to work harder, be team focused, and do more to prove they belong.” Kandice Kimmel, a Troop 1 parent who also has a son in Troop 16, is thrilled to have her daughter in Scouting. “I am so proud of Troop 1 and my daughter. They had to overcome a lot of controversy concerning girls in Scouts, but they both have done it with humility and grace. Through Scouting, Olivia has learned she has the determination and grit to do

most things, and sometimes even better than the boys (twin brother included)!”

As for whether the girls can accomplish as much as the boys, the Scoutmasters give a resounding affirmation. “They are just as hard working if not more than some of our boys,” Karen comments. “They will push a boy that is being a little lazy. I can ask that boy, ‘are you going to let those girls out do you?’, and he will put in a higher gear. The men say that our group’s IQ increased when we allowed girls in. I say we do smell better now.”

All three Scoutmasters love their roles in these girls’ lives and they want all of their girls to earn Eagle. Karen remarks, “If through Scouting I can keep a child out of trouble or from going down that wrong path, then it is a good day.” Sigrunn adds, “I love seeing the look on their face when they have done or learned something for the first time. I love seeing them want to help and volunteer. It’s also a huge bonus that I get to have all of this time with my daughter.” Big Momma concurs, “all these girls amaze me every year, the growth and dedication to be the best is fascinating to watch.”

These three troops demonstrate that girls are thriving in Scouting. What an admirable task it is to help to train these girls to become future leaders and productive citizens of our city, our states, and our country. Big Momma sums it up best: “our goals are to seek change in this ever changing world and learn to accept others on the merit of kindness, to learn the skills for life, to be willing to change ourselves, and to always have forever fun.”