New Boy Scouts Have Historic Camp Out
Coast’s First all-girl troop celebrates at Sweetwood
By Sarah Griego Guz
Earlier in February, the first all-girl Boy Scouts of America troop on the coast launched its first meeting. One month later, the troop is nine members strong. Megan Claussen, Niamh Abrash, Sara Hunt, Catalina Gonzalez-Johnson, Fiona Larsen and Skye Larsen were the six who assisted at a Blue and Gold campout over the weekend.
The Blue and Gold campout was conducted at the Sweetwood campsite in Half Moon Bay. The event is a Cub Scout celebration of the organization’s birthday. Celebrating with a campout has been a tradition for the Cub Scout Pack 255.
The six girls braved the bone-chilling weather and damp conditions to attend the campout.
“The campout went ahead despite less than ideal weather,” emailed Mary Mahon, scoutmaster for Troop 4255. “We had a couple of girls unable to attend due to illness, but six of them camped out for the weekend.
“We braved torrential rain, which partly flooded the campsite Saturday morning, and very high winds,” she continued. “But had a lot of fun.”
On Friday night, the girls pitched their tents, cooked dinner and had a campfire with the Cub Scouts. On Saturday morning, the girls of Troop 4255 served up pancakes, eggs and sausages. Just as they were finishing breakfast, heavy sheets of rain pelted the camp. Troop 4255 adapted by moving morning activities, which included a lesson in knot-tying, into a nearby tent.
“We’ve been working on the skills we need for our first rank, called Scout Rank, including tying knots such as a square knot, taut-line hitch, and two half-hitches,” said Mahon. “They are useful in a lot of ways.”
There was a break in the rain. The troop took the opportunity to perform a flag ceremony. As the sun dipped behind the horizon, it was the Cub Scouts turn to cook a dinner of hot dogs. The evening was topped off by campfire skits and a decadent dessert of s’mores.
It is significant that the first Coastside all-girl Boy Scouts of America troop was able to work toward its Scout Rank during the campout. What may be equally significant is that the girls were able to camp alongside their younger male counterparts who were part of a Cub Scout troop.
“You asked how our parents felt about it being a mixed camp out. To be honest, I hadn’t really thought of it in those terms at all,” emailed Mahon. “The Cub Scouts are used to having girls on camp-outs because sisters of Cub Scouts have been attending campouts for years. And for the last year there have been girls in the Cub Scout pack.”