Congratulations to our First Class Scouts
When a girl joins our Scouts BSA Troop, we hope she achieves the rank of First Class Scout. By doing so a girl learns the basic skills of the outdoors, how to maintain control and confidence in difficult situations, experiences leading fellow Scouts on important matters and elevates her outlook on what is possible in life. On December 7, First Class Rank was presented to Maddy Murnick, Evelyn Penhoet and Sophie Schell. They will forever share the distinction of being the first three girls to earn First Class Rank in the history of the District of Columbia. It is wonderful that some of our Scouts will eventually earn the “upper” ranks of Star, Life and Eagle – but the pathway to First Class Scout is the most important goal every Scout should attain. Congratulations!
Our first calendar year is ending and it makes sense to look at what our Scouts have achieved. 36 girls have experienced being a Scout in our Troop and 19 adult volunteer leaders have assisted them. Since beginning as a Troop on February 2, 2019 our Scouts have camped-out a total of twenty nights, including a week of summer camp and seven 2-night weekend campouts. They engaged in service projects, took hiking and biking day-trips, earned 36 rank advancements, 108 merit badges, and elected their first Troop youth officers. They have become good friends with girls from different schools and neighborhoods. They have come to know the wonderfully supportive people at All Souls Episcopal Church and have gained a greater appreciation of the goodness of this world and beyond. For all of this we are grateful to our nation, city, fellow Scouts and families.
I am especially grateful to the parents, community leaders, Episcopal Church leaders, Troop Committee members, Scoutmasters and BSA Council leaders who have been unfailingly cheerful in supporting our Scouts. May all of you enjoy celebrating holidays of importance during this season and store-up your energy for a very active 2020 with Scouts BSA Troop 248 for Girls.
Merry Christmas,
Craig Burkhardt, Scoutmaster