BALTIMORE — History is being made in Baltimore as 17 local teens are celebrated as some of the nation’s first female Eagle Scouts.
These 17 women are among hundreds of young ladies that make up the Inaugural Class of female Eagle Scouts across the country and are the first in the greater Baltimore area to achieve this milestone.
“Earning the rank of Eagle Scout takes hard work and perseverance, and we are honored to recognize these young ladies for this significant accomplishment,” said Kenn Miller, Scout Executive/CEO for the Baltimore Area Council. “Along the journey to Eagle Scout, young people gain new skills, learn to overcome obstacles and demonstrate leadership among their peers and in their communities. These benefits are invaluable for everyone, and we are thrilled that they are now available to even more youth.”
The Baltimore Area Council is one of the leading Councils in the nation for the number of young women being recognized in this inaugural class.
Annually the Baltimore Area Council has on average 500 youth achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. It is estimated that there are over 18,000 Eagle Scouts residing in the greater Baltimore area.
Young women have been part of Scouting for decades in co-ed programs offered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), including Sea Scouts, Venturing and Exploring.
The BSA expanded that legacy further in recent years by welcoming girls into Cub Scouts and then into Scouts BSA in 2019. Scouts BSA is the program for youth ages 11 to 17 previously known as Boy Scouts.
Since then, tens of thousands of young women throughout greater Baltimore and across the country have joined the organization’s most iconic program with many working their way toward the rank of Eagle Scout.
Eagle Scout is the program’s highest rank, which only about 6% of Scouts achieve on average.
To earn it, an individual has to take on leadership roles within their troop and their community; earn a minimum of 21 merit badges that cover a broad range of topics including first aid and safety, civics, business and the environment; and they must research, organize and complete a significant community service project.
In addition to gaining skills that last a lifetime, individuals who earn the esteemed Eagle Scout rank can reference it for academic, vocational, and military recognition, including scholarships and advanced enlistment grade.
