Eligibility Girls can join our Troop 248 if they are 11 through 17 years of age. They can also join if they have earned the Cub Scout “Arrow of Light” Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10.
Meetings We meet from 10 AM to Noon on Saturday 2-3 times per month at All Souls Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave., NW (between Woodley Park Metro and the Zoo).
Program This is the program formerly known as “Boy Scouts” in an all-girl implementation. Our Troop is all-girl, comprised of sub-groups known as “patrols”. We follow the identical citizenship, outdoor adventure and physical fitness program that the traditionally boy Troops follow. Girls are welcome to everything in the Scouting program – all of the outstanding local facilities and iconic national programs like the National Scout Jamborees and expeditions at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico (where we have gone in 2023 and 2025). Girls wear the same uniforms and experience the same advancement program, and can earn the rank of Eagle Scout. From time to time we will be at same event or campground with other troops / boy troops but will have separate camp sites and separate bathroom facilities.
Annual Cost Per-semester $106 membership dues cover Scout Handbook and all meeting and program costs. (paid at beginning of each semester). Ask about a dues discount for each additional girl in the same family. Participation in monthly campouts costs $40 each (includes food). A week of summer camp is about $500. We collect online. We have a fund for “camperships” to provide financial assistance to those who need it.
Parent Obligations Scouting is run by volunteers for youth. The parents or guardian of each girl are requested to consider how they may help. Opportunities exist on Troop Committee (for those who want to be episodically active with us) or with tasks like transportation and chaperoning. We ask that you encourage your scout’s regular attendance at our Saturday morning meetings and campouts. To chaperone overnight, the parent must register through Scouts BSA and complete an online training to level-set on our safety culture. The BSA conducts a background check for registered Troop Committee Members and out Scoutmaster Staff. If you have specific ways you’d like to share your time, talent, or treasure, please contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair.
Fund Raising Most expenses are covered by our regular fees. We don’t sell products. No cookies, popcorn, or candy bars!
Leadership Adults involved include individuals credentialed in Scouting and all have completed BSA adult training for their positions and child protection and abuse-avoidance training. All are overseen by our parent-involved Troop Committee, BSA Council and All Souls.
How to Join A parent or guardian should accompany the interested girl to one of our upcoming Saturday Troop meetings at 10 AM at All Souls.
Uniforms: Usually the family will buy uniforms for the scout in their first weeks with the troop. You are welcome to come to first meetings without the uniform and we can show the uniform bank, where we might be able to share lightly used uniform shirt and pants.
Outings We aim to offer eight nearby weekend overnight outings during the academic year (we recommend each girl participate in at least four), one week of residential summer camp in June at nearby Goshen Scout Reservation (strongly recommended), and often high adventure trips for experienced and dedicated campers age 13 and older.
Equipment The equipment needs are minimal. Each girl will eventually want some basic personal gear including sleeping bag, pocket knife, hiking boots, rain suit, and daypack (like a book bag) and backpack, flashlight, water bottle. Expensive or ultralight gear is NOT required. Your scout will learn what they need from their iconic Scout Handbook, more experienced scouts and leaders. If there are questions or concerns, just ask for help! These items are available at garage sales and low-cost sources, and sometimes can be borrowed from our supply closet or fellow scouts when getting started. The troop has a well-stocked closet of tents, tarps, cooking equipment, and other communal gear that we take on our campouts.
Comprehensive Information www.ScoutsBsaDcGirls.org provides information on program, costs, schedule, parent obligations and our policies to protect the safety of your girl.
Parent and Friend Support When possible we request a parent, guardian or an adult friend over the age of 21 able to provide occasional support to the operation of the Troop. Ways to do this include serving either on either the Troop Committeeor acting in a supportive manner:
- Encourage timely and regular attendance of their Scout (s) to Troop meetings.
- Select one or more of the following:
- Drive a group of Scouts to and from camping trips. These locations are always within a two-hour drive of All Souls Episcopal Church.
- Serve as a chaperone on outdoor overnight outings during the academic year (must register as member of BSA).
- Serve as a chaperone at service projects or other day-only activities.
- Serve as a registered Merit Badge Counselor for Scouts across the District (to occasionally provide specialized instruction on a particular hobby, profession sport or other endeavors to small groups of Scouts).
- If needed, to regularly escort a group of Scouts as they travel by public transportation to the Saturday morning Troop meetings.