Event Celebrated First Official Day for Girls to Join Girl Only Troops
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America welcomed troops for girls at its Scouts BSA Launch Party on Friday, February 1 at The Pavilion at Grace in Providence. The event celebrated the first official day that girls are able to join troops just for them – a program called Scouts BSA, which aims to provide fun, adventure, learning, challenge and responsibility to girls and boys in fifth grade through high school.
“The Narragansett Council is excited and proud to officially welcome girls into Scouting,” said Tim McCandless, Scout Executive and CEO of the Narragansett Council. “Scouting will now be more accessible to the whole family – something we’ve been working toward to accommodate families’ busy schedules. We have no doubt that girls will thrive in our program.”
Two of the first girl troops to be formed in the Council – Troop 438 Slatersville of North Smithfield and Troop 77 Buttonwoods of Warwick – attended the event. Over 10 girls are enrolled in each troop so far.
“The scouts of Troop 438 North Smithfield are looking forward to a great first year of Scouting. The Troop has monthly outdoor activities and camp outs scheduled along with weekly meetings and Summer Camp at Yawgoog,” said Joshua Thibeault, Scoutmaster of Troop 438. “We will be hiking, biking, and learning outdoor skills all while helping out our community.”
“The girls are very excited about becoming Scouts. They have grown up on the fringe of Scouting – watching their brothers and parents camp, go to Yawgoog and do community service projects,” said Christine Fitzgerald, Scoutmaster of Troop 77. “They have seen the friendships and camaraderie that the boys have and are thrilled to be able to do the same.”
The celebration hosted over 100 families, supporters and girls joining a Scouts BSA troop, Arrow of Light Scouts and their leaders, and featured a DJ, as well as include food and activities.
“Our Scouts BSA Launch Party was a fun and memorable night, and we were thrilled to get to know the girls who will be the Council’s first Scouts,” added McCandless.
About the Narragansett Council:
The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America’s mission is to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The Narragansett Council’s research-backed, youth development programs are for boys and girls ages 6 to 20.
Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Exploring are incuded in the traditional programs.
The council serves nearly 14,000 youth in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. People can learn about Scouting programs and find groups near them at
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