Growing up and continuing the tradition: Boy and Girl Scouts

Senior Ella Riffenburg walking around with her order form containing pictures of the Tagalongs and Samoas can only mean one thing: it is Girl Scout Cookie season.

Girl Scout Cookie sales are quite common in middle and elementary schools, but finding members of Girl and Boy Scouts in high school can be a bit more difficult.

Freshman Girl Scout Cristina Ashbaugh explains, “There are fewer and fewer older girl scouts just because people think it is lame. For some reason, they think it is not cool to be in girl scouts after elementary school. I don’t view it as uncool, so I don’t mind,” she says.

Not only are there proud Girl Scouts at Aragon, but many boys also remain Boy Scouts in high school as well. Sophomore Boy Scout Thomas Bebbington, who has been doing Boy Scouts for about five years, says, “When people think of Boy Scouts, they usually think of Cub Scouts, badges, and silly uniforms so I don’t usually go around telling people I do it.”

Sophomore Boy Scout Derrick Leong, who is the leader of his troop says, “I want to continue so that I can get my Eagle Scout Rank. Usually, people they laugh at me when they find out I do Boy Scouts, but if they find out from seeing my first aid kit, they usually respect me,” he explains.

“I continued [Girl Scouts] because I did not see any reason to quit. I attend camps and group activities, and although most people I tell think that I am weird, it is worth it,” says freshman Erin Hull.

However, Girl and Boy Scouts aren’t for everyone. Junior Nicole Gilbert was once a Girl Scout but quit in fourth grade. “I didn’t like the environment of my troop,” she explains. “The kids would play pranks on me and I did not enjoy it.”

Similarly, sophomore Kevin Dwyer says, “I quit Boy Scouts when I was younger because it wasn’t really for me. Since all my friends quit, going to meetings became less fun.”

But not all students have the same experience as Gilbert and Dwyer. Freshman Girl Scout Emma Mamis explains, “I have made some really amazing friends at the Girl Scout camp I do every summer. I would not have met these people if I hadn’t continued Girl Scouts.”

Most students who continue doing Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts find it fun and appreciate the lasting memories.

“Two summers ago, we went to London and Paris as a troop. One of my favorite memories on the trip was when one of the girls got stuck on the tube and our fearless leader ran to the train door and started screaming at the locals to help her get the door back open,” says Riffenburg.

Mamis, who has been a member of her Girl Scout Troop since first grade, says, “I have had so many amazing experiences with my troop. Every year, I go to camp which is lots of fun. A couple years ago, we went outdoor rock climbing and did a ropes course which was one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

Ashbaugh explains, “We do many things like service projects. One of the other girls in my troop and I completed our Silver Award which requires 50 hours of work that goes to a service project. We did a fun run called ‘Jog in the Fog’ last February for all ages. It taught me many things that will help me later in life. That’s another benefit of Girl Scout.”

Bebbington agrees that a lot can be learned from Boy and Girl Scouts and many unique experiences can be had. “There are things I would have never done if I hadn’t continued Boy Scouts,” he says. “For example, I did this event called Klondike where we went up to the snow and built snow shelters and did activities in the snow. If I had quit Boy Scouts, I would have never had an experience like this.”
Although seeing tons of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts roaming the hallways in high school is rare, it seems as though there is no one reason a person chooses to participate or not. No matter what the experience may be for any individual, when those Girl Scout cookies come around, who can complain?