Laura told the Times of San Diego that when she first heard the news that Cub Scouts would welcome girls like her, she actually screamed with delight.  “I was so excited that I could do more things with my brother and actually get prizes and get badges … all of the stuff that I did with my brother,” she said. 

For her mother, D.D., the experience would be one she’d long hoped to have available to her whole family. “I thought it was awesome,” D.D. said. “Yea! We can do one program, and not have to do two. I’m really excited about it.”

That exact thought, that parents are busy and are looking for opportunities to be involved in programs that serve their whole family, was a big part of why the BSA executive board voted unanimously to make the Scouting program available to girls. 

Evangeline R., another Cub Scout in the pack, had high praise for the experience she has been having so far in Cub Scouts.   “It’s just awesome!” she said. “I like what they do. It’s entertaining.”

From a parent’s perspective, Evangeline’s mother thinks that enrolling her daughter in Cub Scouts, while remaining active in other programs she belonged to before will help her be more well-rounded. 

Erin Brown, who is the Cubmaster for the pack, said that Scouting has always been something that families did together, but now it’s more open so that everyone can benefit evenly.  “In soccer, you drop your kids off and cheer them from the sidelines, but you’re not an active participant,” she added. “Whereas in Cub Scouting, the parent and siblings are active participants.” 

“These years go by so fast,” Brown went on to say. “We make memories together as a family and we start to teach them to be the independent people that we want them to be. The Boy Scouts allow both parents and siblings to participate in family camping.”

The Times of San Diego shares even more of this great story, including a wonderful gallery of photos of these new Cub Scouts participating in activities, learning Scout skills, and earning some of their very first achievements. Be sure to check out the article for the full story. 

For more information and the latest updates on Family Scouting, visit www.scouting.org/familyscouting. 

5 Quick Questions with: Jennifer Clutter, leader of an all-girl Cub Scout den in NC

Jennifer Clutter (back right) and Patty Smith each lead all-girl dens in Pack 3 of the Mecklenburg County Council.

When Jennifer Clutter first learned that girls could join Cub Scouting, she immediately rushed to tell her 8-year-old daughter, Kennedy.  “The first words she spoke were, ‘So I can earn my Eagle too?’ I nearly fell down,” Jennifer Clutter said. “I could only think, ‘Eagle? Let’s just have a Bear den first!'”

Kennedy has been an unofficial part of Pack 3 of Charlotte, N.C., since her older brother, Carson, was a Tiger. She has five family members who are Eagle Scouts.  But after years of participating from the sidelines, Kennedy is an official Cub Scout — blue uniform and all — thanks to the Early Adopter program that her pack launched earlier this spring.

She’s one of the first female Cub Scouts in the Mecklenburg County Council, according to the Charlotte Observer.  As the BSA welcomes girls into Cub Scouting, I contacted Clutter to ask her 5 Quick Questions about her family’s Scouting experience so far.

Bryan on Scouting: Your son, Carson, has been a Scout since Tigers and has crossed over into Boy Scouting. What has that experience been like so far?

Jennifer Clutter: “I still remember the day we went to the Scout Shop to get his Tiger uniform. He was beaming, and each year when he got his new neckerchief, hat and handbook he has beamed again. In Boy Scouts, Carson is most looking forward to all the camping and backpacking trips. He is very excited to learn to rock climb, take a canoeing trip or go whitewater rafting. Overall, he is excited for more independence and self reliance and looks forward to spending time with his Scout buddies.”

BOS: What has your daughter, Kennedy, thought as she’s observed Carson’s enjoyment of Scouting?

J.C.: “Kennedy has wanted to be a part of Scouting since day one. She would beg each week to attend his den meetings and pack meetings. She would help me prepare materials for the meetings and then be an active participant at the meetings. At a recent family campout we took with Carson’s Webelos den, she went along and participated fully in the campfire skits, stories and fellowship — even though she was the only sister there that weekend. She and the boys thought nothing of her being there and participating.”

BOS: What’s it been like recruiting girls to your pack?

3 Places to Get Answers to Your Questions About Family Scouting