Managing Editor/Publisher
An exciting new opportunity is coming to Ulysses!
"We're excited to announce that our Scouting America family is expanding with the support of our charger organization, Heartland Faith," announced local Scout Troop 186 leaders recently. "We're launching Troop 186-G - a girl-led troop."
According to the leadership of the local troop, girls between the ages of 11 and 18 who love the outdoors, want to build leadership skills and are ready for new adventures are encouraged to sign up.
"It won't be Girl Scouts like where people think of cookies," said Troop 186-G Scout Master Jessica Reese-Cole, adding that there is still a Girl Scouts organization. "It will be a girl version of Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts is now called Scouting America and what we are doing is starting a girls' troop that will do the same thing as boys, just with girls. "
Reese -Cole said the leaders for the new troop and the boys' troop will be "intertwined".
"But we will be meeting at different times," she said. "We may do some events together, but it is not going to be like a co-ed troop. We will be doing a lot of outdoor activities like camping, hiking, a lot of leadership skills, and community service. The girls will be working on the same merit badges as the boys do. There are more than 130 merit badges they can earn."
The girls troop members will have the opportunity to eventually work their way up to Eagle Scout.
"We hope to get as many kids to Eagle Scout as want to get there," Reese-Cole said. "We have a very strong, supportive leadership team."
"Our Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are 186, and this will be 186-G," Reese-Cole said. "Before the age of 11 to 18 they can join Cub Scouts - Kindergarten through fifth grade. And then when our boys crossover and go into Boy Scouts then our girls 11 to 18 will go to the girl version."
During a recent Crossover ceremony, one of the girl Cub Scouts was old enough to crossover. The leaders for the local troop decided there was a need for a girls' version of the older group. Since they recently announced their plans to form a girls' troop, Reese-Cole said there has been some interest.
"We already have four or five girls who have expressed interest in it," she said. "We are just getting started and haven't had any meetings or anything. In fact we have just started with the logistics and we have announced the leadership, but haven't really started the recruitment."
Reese-Cole will serve as Scout Master and Craig Hampton is assistant Scout Master.
"For our leaders, we are all involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts," Reese-Cole said. "We have all agreed to help. When we decided to do this, we decided to take it on as a group just like we do with the Cub Scouts and what people know as the Boy Scouts. We said we would all work together to do the girl troop - so, it's the same leaders they are just in different positions."
"I am truly honored and excited to have been asked to serve as the Scoutmaster for the founding of Girl Troop 186-G," Reese-Cole said. "This is a wonderful opportunity to help empower and inspire young girls by fostering leadership skills, personal growth, and a love for outdoor adventures. I look forward to working with the girls as we build our program. Together, we will explore new challenges, learn valuable life skills, and create lasting memories along the way."
Committee Chair for the girls' troop is Eric Barb - he is the scout master for the boys.
Why is it important to have a girls' troop?
"I think it gives the girls a great opportunity," Reese-Cole said. "We really believe in our program as far as the leadership skills we are developing in our kids. We want to offer the same opportunities to the girls in our community and help them grow those leadership skills and have the experience of the outdoor activities. We want them to get that same camaraderie as there is in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
"We're really excited for all the opportunities and look forward to serving the community and helping the girls grow in leadership," she added.
Reese-Cole is ready to get this new troop going.
"(I want to)work together to create a strong and vibrant community where young women can thrive and grow into confident leaders of tomorrow," she said. "I can't wait to get started."
If you or you know someone who is interested in becoming part of Troop 186-G, message or call Jessica Reese-Cole at (620) 353-7224; Craig Hampton, (620) 424-7562; or email Claire Kepley at claire.pack186@gmail.com
Did you know?
νBoys Scouts of America was founded in 1910.
νBoy Scouts of America officially changed its name to Scouting America on February 8, 2025, which was also the organization's 115th birthday.
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