In October, Boy Scouts of America announced it would allow girls to join — the first time the organization has fully included girls since its founding in 1910 — as a way to get the whole family involved in scouting.

Scoutmaster Kes Stadler is forming the first all-girl scout troop for Scouts, BSA in East Cobb, Troop 2019 is an all-female scout troop that will make history when they launch on February 1. “We are actively recruiting young ladies now so we can get to know each other and prepare for registration,” says Kes.

Here are some important things to note as you and your daughter consider membership, the all-girls troop will:

  • include weekly meetings to learn and practice leadership skills, work on a merit badge and advancement requirements, and to plan the calendar.
  • have monthly events and campouts/outdoor adventures at least once per quarter.
  • have its own trained volunteer staff
  • require all adults to maintain BSA Youth Protection Training certification
  • require registered adult female leaders at all events
  • have its own Class A and Class B uniforms
  • have separate meetings from the boys’ troop at St. Peter & St. Paul
  • host its own troop-level campouts
  • work to acquire and maintain its own equipment
  • attend council-wide functions and campouts, such as summer camp, jamboree, etc.
  • attend courts of honor and other celebrations with boys’ troops
  • have every opportunity to earn the requirements to become an Eagle Scout.

“We have had 31 girls that have shown interest in joining and will gladly invite any girl aged 11-17 to join us and have some fun camping and scouting. Five high schools are represented and four middle schools. We are the first all girls troop in East Cobb and will be a stand-alone troop. We will meet on our own night, have our own group of leaders and be led by the girls. We have male and female adult leaders with about a 50/50 split ranging in age from 20-75-year-olds,” explains Kes.

The next parent/girl information meeting is Tuesday, January 15 at 7:30pm. Anyone interested is invited to come and hear more about this new troop and meet the scouts and leaders. Girls and parents are also invited to the first official troop/scout meeting which will be held on Tuesday, February 5 at 7:15pm. The troop will meet every Tuesday after that from 7:15 to 8:45pm. All meetings will be held at The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1795 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta/ East Cobb.

Scoutmaster Kes has already scheduled three campouts and a summer camp in the North Georgia Mountains will be offered. “We are on track to have the first female Eagle Scouts in Cobb County within a few years,” says Kes. “We are a separate troop and will not camp or do many activities with the boy troops.”

For more information, contact Scoutmaster Kes at kes@kesstadler.com or visit the troop’s Facebook page: “Girls Troop 2019 Scouts BSA.”

This article originally appeared in our January issue of EAST COBBER, on page 19. Click here to view the digital edition.