Last October, leaders from Boy Scouts of America surprised everyone when they announced Cub Scout enrollment, for kids ages 7 to 10, would open up to girls.
“For many years, girls have been the unofficial, unregistered members on the sidelines of [scout] meetings and outings,” said Ethan Draddy, CEO of the New York City branch of Boy Scouts of America, noting that parents of scouting sons sometimes bring daughters along to events. “Those families have been asking us . . . ‘Why can’t my daughter register?’ ”
As of this school year, they can. Since last spring’s pilot program launched, nearly 56,000 girls have joined the Cubs, with 1,260 of them in the five boroughs.
Here are four members of the first local class of girl Cubs.
Kelly Griffith: Pack 164, Yorktown Heights, Westchester
As a sister to three boys (and one girl), Kelly has been attending [Boy] “scout things” her whole life. She remembers wishing she could try whittling, but “it was only for the [boys].”
Now she has her chance. “The other weekend we carved soap,” said the sixth-grader at Mildred E. Strang Middle School. “It was super-duper fun!”
Katie Sheridan sells popcorn to Officer Ben Fox to raise funds for her boy scout troopZandy Mangold
She’s also still a Girl Scout. “I love both,” she said. “But in my experience, [Girl Scouts] is more arts and crafts and community service. Boy Scouts is a lot of camping, hiking, knot-tying.”
Her mom/den leader, Elaine, said the 11-year-old has “taken her role as a pioneer to heart.”
In fact, Kelly’s big goal is to be a “Golden Eagle”: earning both the Girl Scouts Gold and the Boy Scout Eagle designations — the highest in each organization. “I hope to be one of the first!”
Katie Sheridan: Pack 245, Paramus, NJ
Before she became a Cub, Katie tried out a few Girl Scout meetings. But “it wasn’t really that fun,” she said. “All I did was watch a movie and make a poster. That’s it.”
The second-grader at Ridge Ranch Elementary was craving the kind of adventures her brother Jimmy, 8, had with his Cub Scout den. “They were camping, fishing, hiking,” she said.
Since August, Katie, 7, has been camping with her den and is building her own miniature sailboat for a regatta. Her favorite activity? Shooting off bottle rockets. (She’s been a hit selling snacks to local police officers, too.)
Renee Caviness is in a WEBELOS den in the Cub ScoutsAnnie Wermiel/NY Post
Katie also loves donning the iconic uniform.
“I feel really proud when I wear it, because I’m the first Boy Scout that’s a girl, ever, in our town.”
Renee Caviness: Pack 333, Cambria Heights
This city kid is a country girl at heart. “I like to do outdoorsy things like go to the park or bike,” Renee said.
So she decided to follow in the footsteps of her dad, Jason, an Eagle Scout. The fourth-grader at Achievement First Brownsville Elementary School said she has particularly loved activities such as “Cast Iron chef” — cooking a grilled-cheese sandwich over a campfire.
The benefits of scouting are obvious to Renee’s mom. “She’s questioning herself less,” said Luchana Haynes, adding that the once-shy girl is coming out of her shell.
Brielle Roberts, age 8, of Washington HeightsZandy Mangold
The 9-year-old is even an advocate. “I told a girl in my class that I was a Cub Scout, and she said, ‘I thought that was for boys.’ I said, ‘No, girls can be Boy Scouts now.”
Brielle Roberts: Pack 729, Washington Heights
A champion chess player, Brielle approaches Cub Scouts with the same intensity that she brings to her tournaments.
”My favorite part about chess is winning,” said the third-grader at Success Academy Charter School. Just as she collects chess trophies, the self-described “daredevil” has been racking up activity badges since becoming a Cub last spring.
“Some boys I know have 30 badges,” said Brielle, 8, who has received hers for hands-on experiences such as archery, ice skating and selling lemonade in front of her apartment building. “Right now I only have 11, but I’m really looking forward to having a lot.”
