Girls *CAN* Do Scout Camp

It’s taken me longer than I’d hoped to write this post. I’ve learned that following up a week of Scout camp with a week of being on staff for cub scout training is not the best way to get things done in a hurry.

But we did learn this: Girls can certainly do Scout Camp.

Not that there was any doubt in my mind they could, of course.

Troop 1010 took four girls to Island Park Scout Camp this year, along with a member of Troop 154 from Shelley. Thanks for coming with us!

The best part for this pseudo-Scoutmaster (for Troop 1010, I’m the Troop Committee Chair and unofficial Assistant Scoutmaster) came when two of our more reluctant swimmers passed the Beginner and Swimmer tests in Pete’s Puddle’s 61-degree water. (Even this old guy passed once again.) Watching those smiles as the swimmers closed in on their final lap was precious.

And note, I’ve seen the same smiles on boys as they reached that milestone.

Combined, the five girls all earned their Tenderfoot Rank and took big leaps forward in completing Second Class and First Class. They also earned an average of six merit badges each.

More importantly, our Senior Patrol Leader showed her colors as a great leader of Scouts, with our Assistant Senior Patrol Leader stepping in and doing well when tasks were delegated to her. Our visiting Scout also caught the vision of what Scouting can be like in a group setting, and says she’s thinking about putting her name in the hat when her troop selects their new Senior Patrol Leader in the not-too-distant future.

All of our Scouts earned the First Aid, Environmental Science, Soil and Water Conservation and Orienteering merit badges, with others earning Indian Lore, Art, Climbing, and Wood Carving. They also got partials on the likes of Astronomy, Emergency Preparedness, and Rifle and Shotgun Shooting. I wish I’d been able to watch the two who earned their Climbing merit badges, but I was busy in other areas of camp, helping out with the essential Trail to Eagle. We’ve already got two girls who have received extensions to earn their Eagles, but they don’t want to waste any time doing so. Getting a number of merit badges under their belts will help – we just need to get them through Second Class and First Class now so they can start the clock on time served for the higher ranks. I’m confident we’ll get them there.

Note: An extension does not equal a watered-down program. The requirements to earn Eagle, the merit badges, and the other ranks haven’t changed a whit. These girls are just being given the time they need to finish the waiting periods required for the higher ranks. And it’ll be a squeeze to get them done. They’ll have to show a lot of motivation and ambition to get things done before the deadline passes.

There was some irony and laughter when we noted we stayed at the Chick Creek campsite at Island Park Scout Camp – not intentionally in any way. I got a good laugh out of the camp director teasing him about the assignment. But there would have been an irony in staying at our originally-assigned campsite – Cache – as some in the Scouting movement might want girls within it hidden away.

Ours was one of two girl troops to attend Island Park Scout Camp this summer. I heard a few querulous statements of “They’re GIRLS?!” from the boys at camp and had a few positive conversations with other Scout leaders about their presence there. One expressed a little sadness that his own girls weren’t all that interested in Scouting. He was ready to help them and others in their area start a girl troop when the opportunity opened but seeing his girls’ disinterest kind of quelled his enthusiasm. I felt bad for him. I didn’t hear any negative comments from adult leaders there. That doesn’t mean they weren’t said, but I sure didn’t hear them. Because Scouts are friendly, courteous, and kind.

Some might leap on this and say, “Aha! Girls aren’t meant for Scouting then, if they’re not interested!” Well, those girls weren’t. But the five we brought up certainly are, and remain so, enthused further by their camp experience. I’ve had boys who were less-than-happy about their Scouting participation. It’s due to temperament and other interests, issues that cross the gender line, to show that Scouting isn’t for certain youth. And while I earned my Eagle, I was at best a lukewarm Scout, one who finished his Eagle paperwork a week before my 18th birthday.

But we have two sons who are Eagle Scouts, and our three children – daughter included, who was one of the Red Cross Certified lifeguards at camp this summer – have worked at Scout camp for years. And my wife, who was the driving force in getting our kids to camp and on staff for eight years now, was awarded the Silver Beaver this year.

I’m calling this year’s Scout camp a success. Our goal is to have our girls through First Class by the end of August, something I think we can accomplish easily.

A side note: On our way home from camp this past weekend, we stopped to visit some old neighbors who recently moved from our neighborhood – we shared a fence line with them – and are building a home in the Ashton, Idaho area. They’re also a die-hard Scouting family, whose children have been to summer Scout camp year after year. It’s practice that’s serving them well as they camp out on their property, using two old outbuildings and a camp trailer as shelter, as they build their house. Their Scouting experience will serve them well as they’re temporarily camped out as they build their house. I’m not sure I could do what they’re doing, but I admire them for the effort they’re putting in. Their Scouting experience is paying off for the entire family.