Scouting America builds skills for all
Scouting America, the new moniker of the 115-year-old organization formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, has undergone myriad changes in the past several years — not the least of which has been enabling young girls take part in its activities.
Boy Scout Troop 6405, based out of the Cranberry Elks Club, has embraced those changes and has celebrated as three young women have earned the rank of Eagle Scout since they were able to join just six years ago.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank available in the Scouting America organization. It requires accumulation of 21 merit badges — including a community project organized and led by the scout — and only 6% of all scouts ever attain that level.
Seneca Valley Senior High School freshman Emma Pichieri earned that rank at age 15 last summer, becoming the first girl in her very Scout-focused family to do so — she even managed to get it done a year earlier than her big brother.
Bridget Scott and Emerson Cushing are the other two in her troop to make Eagle Scout.
“When she saw some of the activities her brother’s troop was doing, things like backpacking, canoeing, kayaking … she wanted to become a part of that,” her father and Scoutmaster, Tom Pichieri, said.
Emma’s community project was rebuilding worn-out fire pits at Camp Kon-O-Kwee, located outside of Zelienople. Now she hopes to earn the highest honor as a Girl Scout, the Gold Award, by doing another community project.
Emma says Scouting America has improved her social skills and helped her grow as an individual. Her father says learning to care about the community, becoming a leader and growing socially are all reasons he wanted his children to be involved in scouting.
Scouting has always offered important life lessons and it’s so nice to see those lessons impact so many more now that young women are able to succeed within its ranks, too.
— KL
