Camping Gear

ALPENA — Girls ages 11 to 17 are invited to join local Troop 92 of BSA Scouting, formerly called Boy Scouts of America.

An open house was held Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 S. 2nd Ave. in Alpena. Regular meetings of Troop 92 are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at the church.

Girls who want to learn outdoor skills, team building, survival skills, and much more are encouraged to join, even if they were unable to attend the open house. Female leaders are also encouraged to join.

In February 2019, Boy Scouts of America changed to BSA Scouting and started accepting girls into the program, said Troop 92 Assistant Scoutmaster Steven Donajkowski, adding that a lot of people may not know about that yet.

“We’ve had some girls that are interested, but the biggest thing is, we have to keep them separate from the boys,” Donajkowski said. “At camping trips, they would have their section, we would have our section, but we would still work together.”

He noted that they need at least five girls to start, one female adult leader 21 or older, and an assistant female leader 18 or older, as well.

“We go by two-deep leadership, so … our Scouts are never alone,” Donajkowski explained. “There’s always at least two adults with our Scouts at all times. That’s part of the youth protection training that we have to take.”

The girls would be included in the boys’ activities and programs, but they would have a slightly different workbook than the boys, Donajkowski noted.

“The girls would be meeting at the same place, at the same time,” he said. “They would be interacting, working right alongside the boys. We would treat them no differently. Once they sign up, they’re a Scout. They get held to the same level as the boys do.”

He explained why allowing girls into BSA Scouting will not detract from Girl Scouts.

“We’re more outside, we do more hands-on training,” Donajkowski said. “We’re not taking anything away from the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts have their program, it’s a good program. We know there are girls out there that like to get outside, that like to be more rugged, that like to have a challenge, and that’s what we’re offering.

“We’ve talked to other troops, and they’re not pulling girls from Girl Scouts,” he added. “We’re looking at a different crowd than what the Girl Scouts do … We think we are going to be pulling others in.”

He added that being a Scout involves physical training and requires strength and stamina, too.

“We do long hikes, we do long canoe trips, we do long camping trips,” Donajkowski said. “You have to be physically fit.”

He said Scouting teaches many lifelong skills and values.

“Our main goal is to turn these young men and women into productive citizens in the community that they live in,” Donajkowski said.

He said BSA Scouting presents a fun, challenging, competitive opportunity.

“We’re offering an outdoor adventure program for girls to join if they want,” Donajkowski said.