Eligibility Girls can join our Troop if 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 twice each month at All Souls Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave., NW (between Woodley Park Metro and the Zoo).

COVID  Meetings and activities are outside and in sheltered circumstances or by Zoom.  Under the supervision of a 4-physician parent committee, we are 100% social distanced and require masks and temperature checks.  To participate in any meeting or activity, Scout’s family must monitor temperature for 5 consecutive days in advance.

Program This is the program formerly known as “Boy Scouts” in an all-girl implementation.  Our Troop is all-girl, comprised of many sub-groups known as “patrols”. We follow the identical citizenship, outdoor adventure and physical fitness program that the all-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 will go in 2022).  Girls wear the same uniforms and experience the same advancement program, and can earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Annual Cost Per-semester $200 membership dues cover Scout Handbook and all meeting and program costs.  (paid at beginning of each semester) 50% dues discount for each additional girl in the same family. Participation in monthly campouts costs $50 each (includes food).  A week of summer camp is about $400. We collect online using VISA. We have a fund to help families who cannot pay our full fees.

Parent Obligations The parents or guardian of each girl are required to be either a member of our Troop Committee (for those who want to be episodically active with us) or otherwise help 3 times per year with tasks like transportation and chaperoning.  You must assure regular participation of your girl at our Saturday morning meetings or she will fall behind in acquiring her Scouting skills. The BSA conducts a background check for registered Troop Committee Members and out Scoutmaster Staff.

Fund Raising We have an event in October when families are asked to contribute to support our local BSA Council and to help our own Troop girls whose families that might not be able to afford all of our 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.  In order for your girl to register, you must make the first $200 dues payment by check or on our web site.  We accept payment by VISA/PayPal.

Uniforms Out-of-pocket start-up cost is about $125, including dress and casual uniforms.

Outings We 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 an optional trip each July.

Equipment Each girl needs a sleeping bag, pocket knife, hiking boots, rain suit, and daypack (like a book bag) and backpack.  Our web site provides low-cost purchase suggestions. These items are available at garage sales and low-cost sources.

Comprehensive Information www.ScoutsBsaDcGirls.org provides information on program, costs, schedule, parent obligations and our policies to protect the safety of your girl.  A single document for adults describing the full program is Scoutmaster’s Letter to Prospective Parents.

Parent and Friend Support  Each girl must have 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 Committee (which meets on the first Saturday of each month while the girls have their Troop meeting) or acting in a supportive manner:

• Assure 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 at least three camping trips per academic year.  These locations are always within a two-hour drive of All Souls Episcopal Church.
  • Serve as a chaperone on at least two outdoor overnight outings during the academic year (must register as member of BSA).
  • Serve as a chaperone on at least three of our 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).
  • Serve as one of the organizers of our annual October fund-raising reception.  The purpose of the reception is to raise funds to help pay the dues and other expenses of girls whose families cannot afford full payment.  Because we do not conduct product sales of any type, this is our only fundraising activity of any type all year).
  • To regularly escort a group of Scouts as they travel by public transportation to the Saturday morning Troop meetings.
• To attend and participate in the annual October fund-raising reception.  This is our only fundraising activity all year long and is intended to help raise funds to pay dues and costs for girls whose families cannot pay the entire amounts.