Local girls join Cub Scouts

| January 17, 2018

On Monday, Jan. 15, four young ladies from Coshocton, made history. They gathered with their parents at the Muskingum Valley Council Scouting Resource Center and became the first girls to join Cub Scouting. Pack 403 Cubmaster, Michael Woolery and new Den Leader Chip Udischas had reason to want to be first. Both have daughters that have been tagging along with Scouts for years. Udischas is also the council’s vice president for membership. The Muskingum Valley Council was pleased to welcome: Zoey and Mikayla Girard, Alexis Udischas and Brianna Stevens-Woolery. Contributed | Beacon

COSHOCTON – On Monday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. a group of girls from Coshocton became the first girls in our area to join the Cub Scout Program. Cub Scouting was founded in 1930 as a Scouting program for younger boys. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of boys have grown up in Scouting, learning values, citizenship and life skills. But it wasn’t until last October that the BSA finally voted to allow girls to participate.

Michael Woolery has a son in Cub Scouting and his daughter has been tagging along for several years. “She has been doing everything the boys are doing, but she wasn’t able to wear the uniform or earn the badges” Woolery said. “Now we have a group of girls that will form their own Den and participate with the rest of the Cub Scout Pack. My daughter is very excited!”

Woolery’s daughter and several other girls from Coshocton visited the Muskingum Valley Council Scouting Resource Center on Jan. 15 to register, and try on their new Cub Scout uniforms.

“This is an historic moment for the council and for Scouting” said Chip Udischas, council membership vice president. “For the first time, we are making the proven programs of Scouting available to all youth.  Every child will have the same opportunity for fun, challenging outdoor adventures while benefitting from the values we teach in the Scout Oath and Law.”

According to the new policy, existing Cub Scout Packs may choose whether they wish to remain all-boy, or if they will admit girls into all-girl dens within the Pack. When a Cub Scout Pack chooses to remain all-boy, a separate, all-girl, Pack may be formed to serve the girls.

“Our mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” said Ed Mulholland, scout executive, “Welcoming girls will help us reach many more youth. Many of these girls have been tagging along with their brothers anyway, so the only real change for them will be the uniform and being recognized with the advancements they earn.”

Parents of elementary age youth who would like to learn more about Scouting should call the Muskingum Valley Council at 740-453-0571.

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Category: Clubs & Organizations

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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