Women & Girls in the Golden Gate Area Council
Flory Dekovic, ACC Females in Scouting
Girls have found spots under the large and vast, welcoming tent of the Golden Gate Area Council. Historically, girls have been in Explorer Posts, Venturing Crews or Sea Scouts since 1969. In 2018, almost 50 years later, we welcomed younger girls into our Cub Packs; what followed in 2019 was an abundance of older girls who joined Scouts BSA troops. At nearly 21% of our GGAC youth membership, they are fully integrated in our record number of 48 “G” or girl units across our 15 districts. Likewise, girls populate the majority of our 26 newly formed “FT” or family troops. Council-wide, young women are also registered in 2 all-female Ships and 7 Co-ed Ships. And to-date, 259 Females have attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the GGAC (not including the Venturing Summit and Sea Scout Quartermaster Awards) the largest in our Council Service Territory (of 19 councils throughout California and Nevada)
The core of why these girl-led troops, crews and ships are so transformative is that they bridge the gap between community service and high-stakes outdoor activities. By stepping into leadership roles these girls aren’t only teaching and learning knots, they’re practicing resilience and ethical leadership in real-time – during high adventure treks or Sea Scouting elite experiences. Notably, Troop 2998 (Twin Valley District) with 74 female scouts has not only sent scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, but also to Scouting America Swamp Base for immersive high adventure canoeing deep in the Louisiana marshes.
Then there is Troop 402 with 117 female scouts (Briones District). It is most remarkable for partnering with other female troops in our Council by way of the All-Girls Rendezvous overnighter that highlights scout skills for rank advancement and camaraderie. T402 also offers their scouts a more readily accessible high adventure alternative to Philmont – for 5 nights/6 days traversing about 50 miles on their frequent Back Country Treks (BCT) – all around California’s exquisite landscapes – check out the image in this post’s title!
Women have also profoundly shaped the GGAC by transitioning from volunteer supporters to trailblazing participants and examples that girls can look up to. In our Council, women scouters are unsung heroes. Their unwavering support and encouragement cultivate a nurturing environment where young people can thrive. They are unit leaders, course directors, serve on District Operating Committees, and on the Executive Board. They attend conferences around the USA and the Jamboree; serve as commissioners and are Wood Badge trained. Their dedication and professional skills ensure that the core values of responsibility, compassion, and teamwork are instilled in young people. They are shaping our future leaders and safeguard the enduring principles of Scouting for generations to come.
