Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 475 isn’t your average scouting group. This all-girl troop just formed in Guilford and is seeking any eligible candidates in Guilford to join, with what the organizers are referring to as an exciting alternative to traditional scouting for young women.

Bonnie Fleming of Guilford is a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 471, and the new scout master of Scouts BSA Troop 475 and her daughter is among those who have joined. BSA offers Cub Scouts for participants grades K to 5 and Scouts BSA for participants aged 11 to 18. Fleming said all of her children are involved with scouting and she cherishes the values and skills that scouting brings to her family.

“For me, scouting is a wonderful way for kids to learn leadership skills, to interact with other kids, to get involved in the community, and they do that through outdoor activities and through community service,” said Fleming. “The way scouting goals are accomplished is really wonderful and a great way for kids to engage with the outdoors and engage with the community. That’s why all my kids are in scouting. The outdoor activities are what my daughter really wanted to do, and now girls have an option now, Girl Scouts or Scouts BSA.”

The concept of all-girl Scout BSA troops was only recently enacted by the organization a few years ago and this will be Guilford’s first all-girl troop, according to Fleming. According to Scouts BSA, more than 31,000 young women have joined scouting since the program began in 2019, forming more than 3,300 troops.

The girl troops function the same as the boys, and attaining eagle scout status is the same for both groups.

“The concept in scouting is that activities are youth-led, and we as adults are there for support,” said Fleming. “This is really scout-led and a great way to develop leadership skills. This is such a great way to get involved and get engaged.”

Fleming said that her daughter’s desire to continue on in Scouting was a major impetus for the group’s formation.

“My daughter, who has been in my den for four years with Cub Scouts, didn’t have a place to crossover to, because there are no girl troops, so we started one,” Fleming said. “Within BSA, there can be boy troops and girl troops that can be separate or they can be somewhat linked. In our case we for example, we are linked with Troop 471 in town. For us, that means we meet at the same weekly meeting time, we do some activities as two troops together, but we do separate activities as well. How the BSA works is that we share the same organization that supports the group—the same group committee with adults that support the troop.”

Troop 471 and Troop 475 Committee Chairman Joe Sauer said everyone involved jumped on board with the idea when it was first presented.

“Bonnie approached me and asked if we would support the formation of an all-girl troop, and I went to our supporting Charter Organization, the VFW here in Guilford, [to ask] if they would support an all-girl troop and they said ‘Yes,’” Sauer said. “There was a gap there for girls. I think there is a lot of traditional Girl Scout troops in town, almost at every grade level, but it seems there was a lack of high adventure and outdoors activities available to the girls who were participating in those programs and I think that’s what intrigues the girls who have joined us so far.

“They have been very quick to sign up for white water rafting and back packing trip, and this is all since January. They are very excited to get outdoors and do some of this more rugged adventure stuff,” Sauer continued. “The group is really coming along and working toward advancement requirements. They are very excited being involved with that. We see it every week at the meetings.”

Troop 475 member Abbigail White said she was very excited to become a part of the troop.

“It was important for me to join scouting because I wanted a new experience that involved being outdoors and having fun. I like being able to experience new things and learn and grow, and I love the events and look forward to all of the upcoming events,” said White.

Girls aged 11 to 17 are encouraged to join Scouts BSA with Troop 475. The troop is open to all girls and touts the exciting outdoor adventures, camping, and girls having fun with their friends, all while learning skills and values that will prepare them for life.

“We have thought about reaching out to other towns as well, seeking more broadly, instead of just Guilford,” said Fleming. “We are seven scouts now and growing. And we certainly encourage any young woman who is eligible to join. The more the merrier.”

For more information about Troop 475, contact Bonnie Fleming at bonnie.fleming@yale.edu or 203-231-0733.