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Hermon-DeKalb Cub Scout Pack 144 to be first local pack to allow girls into Cub Scouts

Posted 1/18/18

HERMON -- Hermon-DeKalb Cub Scout Pack 144 will make history as the first northern New York pack to allow girls into the Cub Scout program. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) decided October 2017 to …

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Hermon-DeKalb Cub Scout Pack 144 to be first local pack to allow girls into Cub Scouts

Posted

HERMON -- Hermon-DeKalb Cub Scout Pack 144 will make history as the first northern New York pack to allow girls into the Cub Scout program.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) decided October 2017 to officially allow girls into the traditional boys’ program of Cub Scouts starting September 2018, with the plans of allowing older girls to join the Boy Scout program in 2019.

As the BSA prepares for a national launch of the “Family Program” in the Fall 2018, they decided to offer an early enrollment to a select few Cub Scout Packs nationwide who offer a superior program. There are a number of criteria that a Pack must meet to be selected for this early launch including having all volunteer leaders 100 percent trained in their position, having a strong and organized program for the Scouts, creating a curriculum to allow new girls to still earn their ranks in half the school year and allowing online registration.

“As I’ve been told by members of Longhouse Council, Hermon-DeKalb Pack 144 is the only Pack eligible so far in the entire Council. I am so honored that our Pack was selected and proud of all the hard work our leaders and committee members have done over the months in addition to the support of all of the parents in the Pack. They’re all a great group of people,” Valez said.

Cub Scout parent and Committee Chair of Pack 144 Darcie Velez while there are concerns from many people about the integration, those concerns are largely unfounded.

The new “Family Program” of Cub Scouts separates the dens by gender. So, the girls and boys would meet separately each week, but then come together for Pack activities.

The “Family Program” is only for Packs who decide to bring in the girls. Packs do not have to have to have both genders — the can decide to stay a traditional all-boy pack or create new girl-only packs. That is the decision of the Chartering Organization (religious institution, community/military organization, etc.) who sponsors the pack. The BSA is not forcing the girls into any pack, but rather offering that option for those who would benefit from it.

Early enrollment will take place from Jan. 15 - Mar. 15 and then it is closed until Sept. 1.

“I hope that a lot of girls take advantage of this opportunity. What a cool thing to tell their grandchildren—that they were the first ever girls in America to join the Cub Scouts. I’m sure 50 years from now it’ll seem like such a weird thing that girls weren’t always a part of this program. Also, as we just formed our Pack this last June, any new girls will be considered “Founding” members of Pack 144…even more history to be a part of,” Valez said.

If you have a girl from Kindergarten – fourth grade who is interested in joining the Hermon-DeKalb Cub Scout Pack, there will be an opportunity to check out the Pack before signing up on Friday, Jan. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at their Pack Meeting or Saturday, Jan. 20 from 1-3 p.m. at their Pinewood Derby. Both events are at the Hermon Fire Department, 1651 County Route 21.

Call Darcie Velez at 315-884-0215 for more details.