ROCKAWAY CUB SCOUT PACK FIRST IN NEW JERSEY TO WELCOME GIRLS AS FAMILY SCOUTING BEGINS ACROSS AMERICA

Local Cub Scout Pack 165 in Rockaway, New Jersey is one of the first across the nation to welcome girls into the Boy Scouts of America.  They are one of the first packs in the nation to participate in Family Scouting, a program that welcomes girls into the Boy Scouts of America and aims to serve the whole family. Starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts.

Photo Credit: Chirag Shah

Anika has wanted to be a Cub Scout since she attended her brother’s first meeting at age 3. “I saw all the fun things my older brother did in Cub Scouts, and now I get to do the same things too!” she says.  Soniya agrees, “I wanted to be part of history and be like my brother.  The Webelos do more fun things in the outdoors.”  Madison sums it up: “I joined Cub Scouts because we get to do fun activities like the Pinewood Derby, using pocket knives, and going camping!”

Existing charter organizations may choose to establish a new all-girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack.

The question remains, why join the Boy Scouts when there is the Girl Scouts? The two programs are different and unique in their own ways. It is also about the convenience of sisters and brothers being in the same den or pack.

“Our girls are thrilled to join Cub Scouts while they continue as Girl Scouts; they now have twice the opportunities to build their leadership, service, and outdoor skills,” says Nisha Zoeller, leader for the new Webelos Den.  “Like athletes that have always had the opportunity to play more than one sport, our future leaders now have multiple Scouting programs to help them develop into responsible, thoughtful citizens. The girls are very excited at the prospect of becoming Eagle Scouts in a few years, something that was not possible for any girl until this past October.”

For more information on Family Scouting, visit https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/family-scouting.  To find a local Cub Scout pack that welcomes girls, you can visit www.beascout.org or please contact Bill SanFilippo at (973)765-9322 x 227 or bill.sanfilippo@scouting.org.