Girl Scout leaders in the Chicago area aren’t too worried, yet, that their members will be siphoned away after the recent decision by the Boy Scouts of America to start admitting girls.
“We’re optimistic if we just stay on task with our mission,” said L’Oreal Payton, director of external affairs for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
On Tuesday, the BSA announced girls will be able to join its Cub Scout troops starting next year for the first time in its more than 100-year history.
Nationally, Girl Scout officials have criticized the move saying it was motivated partly by a need to boost revenue.
Payton said Girl Scout membership has been rising regionally and doesn’t expect that trend to change because the organization offers what the Boy Scouts can’t.
She said Girl Scouts learn the same basic survival skills as Boy Scouts, such as building a fire, but in an all-female environment.
“Research has shown that girls thrive in this type of environment,” Payton said. “We really create space for girls.”
She said there are about 13,000 girls and 6,500 adults who are Girl Scout members in the south and southwest suburbs.
In the Chicago area, there are 73,907 Girl Scout members, Payton said, which from 72,810 last year.
Homewood Girl Scout leader Elizabeth Soehren-Jones said she wouldn’t consider enrolling her daughters in the Boy Scouts.
Her 11-year-old has been a Girl Scout for three years and her 8-year-old recently joined after “loving what the big sister was doing.”
Soehren-Jones said the Homewood area Girl Scouts focus on teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.
She said the girls frequently get to meet and learn from professional women and have access to role models who are leaders in STEM fields.
“Girls can’t be what they can’t see,” Soehren-Jones said.
She said the girls recently put their new skills to use by building and installing solar-powered lights on their cookie selling booth after frequently not being able to find nearby outlets.
Soehren-Jones said the cookie fundraising season is from January through March, and their solar-powered booth will be seen throughout the Southland.
Soehren-Jones has no sons. Supporters of the BSA’s move say allowing girls adds convenience for busy families with sisters and brothers being a part of the same organization.
Tim Vanek, who’s had two sons in the Homewood Boy Scouts and is an advisor with the organization’s Order of the Arrow, said the move to allow girls could work for some families.
“Women have been involved in Boy Scouts for years,” he said. “So, why would you prohibit young women from joining?”
More Top Picks Best Pottery Tool Kits For Beginners
Vanek said there has been backlash on social media over girls being allowed to join, but he said the U.S. scouting program is only of the only segregated by gender in the world.
“I’m glad to hear the program is now involving girls,” he said.
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.