The Boy Scouts of America for more than 100 years created an outlet through which young men could grow and mature into honorable, responsible, and self-sufficient adults.
But five years ago that all changed.
The BSA opened their Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA to young women, and they’ve never looked back.
Coronado’s first all-girls troop
Now members and Scoutmasters of BSA Troop #1806 – Coronado’s first all-girls troop – are breaking barriers, building campfires and earning merit badges.
The weekly meetings of Troop #1806 look just like any other BSA meeting: a reserved room at the Coronado Public Library, khaki uniforms with neckerchiefs, and two volunteer Scoutmasters.
The goal of fostering self-sufficiency, trust, and growth remains the same.
Continuing with the trend of “firsts,” the troop leadership is new to BSA.
Chris Brown and Coronado Police Officer Amy Beebe are the troop’s Assistant Scoutmaster and Head Scoutmaster, respectively, and say they learn just as much as the girls.
“It’s particularly important that these young girls have female adult role models,” said Brown, “And, frankly, Amy’s fantastic.”
As an all-girls troop, Brown and Bebee facilitate the activities, events, and accomplishments for the troop with only minor differences from an all-boys troop.
For Beebe, her experience as a Girl Scout in her youth has made the challenge far less daunting.
Of course, her day job in the Coronado Police Department has prepared her for much worse than adolescent girls could offer, she said.
Common denominators with boys
On a recent camping trip, the girls of #1806 banded together with other troops, both boys and girls, for the weekend.
In the eyes of Beebe, the girls and boys have far more in common than not.
The whole goal is for them to have a lot of fun and have this Scout-led experience.”
-Coronado Police Office Amy Beebe who leads the girls in Troop #1806
“The only thing that’s really different for them is their gender and maybe certain rules,” she explained “But the whole goal is for them to have a lot of fun and have this Scout-led experience. They’re getting that whether it’s a boys’ troop or a girls’ troop.”
Those interested in joining can email: CoronadoTroop1806@gmail.com
