By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald
The ten members of Troop 665G of Rincon held its Court of Honor ceremony May 20 at Rincon Global Methodist Church.
The girls were presented with merit badges they had earned during the past year in addition to new ranks. Three young ladies earned the First Class rank; while two earned Second Class and three earned the Scout rank – the beginning rank of Scouting
For the past five years the Boy Scouts have welcomed girls to join Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops. According to the Scouting America website, Boy Scouts USA is rebranding itself as Scouting America. The official switch will take place Feb. 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary.
Scouting America isn’t a merger between Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. There will still be Girl Scout troops – and they will still sell Girl Scout cookies every spring.
There will be scout troops with boys (and girls) who are brave, clean, reverent, and thrifty.
In Scouting America, boys and girls will earn the same merit badges and ranks. According to the Scouting America website, the organization currently serves 176,000 girls and young women in its programs; and more than 6,000 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Troop 665G is a relatively new troop, according to Scoutmaster Lisa Scarbrough. “I had three girls when I started. They told their friends and we grew from there.”
Noting the rebranding that Boy Scouts is currently experiencing, Scarbrough added, “Fifteen to 20 percent of the membership in Effingham County are girls. At 14, girls can also become Venture Scouts. Girls don’t want to be limited about what they can do.”
Bob Hanovich was at the ceremony for his granddaughter Harper, 12, who received her Second Class rank in addition to merit badges for music and disabilities awareness.
Hanovich said, “Scouting brought her out. I’ve watched a lot of girls come from Cub Scouts. They get a lot of confidence, and they encourage each other.”
Joe Hanovich, Harper’s dad, is an assistant scoutmaster for the troop and also an Eagle Scout. “The best part is the challenge, and seeing them grow,” he said.
When the area troops go camping, the boys’ and girls’ troops are segregated in different locations of the campground, according to both Scarbrough and Hanovich.
“(Boy Scouts and Scouting America) take youth protection very seriously,” Hanovich added. “There are full background checks and training (for the adults) every two years.”
The troop will be busy all summer working on merit badges and learning.
“When they’re researching a (merit) badge, and fulfilling the requirements, they may also learn about a (potential) career,” said Wendy Hoogakker, a member of the troop committee, and mom to troop member Ariana, 12, who’s been in the troop for little more than a year.
