Welcoming girls of all ages, Boy Scouts Of America is now Scouts BSA

The new older girls’ troop will be modeled on the boys’, combining the two groups for things like opening pledges and announcements. But the majority of activities and outings will be separate. Abby said because the idea is so new, they’ll be adjusting as they go.

“We’re going to share events, share equipment,” she said. “Then they have some established service projects and we’re going to kind of branch off and find out what the girls are interested in doing.”

Laurel Highlands Council Scouting Executive and CEO Sharon Moulds said the most common question is whether these older scouts troops will be co-ed.

“There are girl troops and there are boy troops,” Moulds said. “Generally what people are concerned about is they think they’re going to merge together … that’s never going to happen.”