For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – For the first time in the 100 year history of Boy Scouts of America, young women are able to join the organization. Recently a new troop was formed in the Marshfield area for females between the ages of 11 and 17 – Troop 9392.

 Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., will invest $1,000 in this new troop, as part of its Employee-Driven Corporate Giving grant program. Each month Security Health Plan awards a $1,000 grant to a different charity or organization that is nominated by a Marshfield Clinic Health System employee. Employees are encouraged to nominate organizations making a positive difference in the community.

An anonymous Marshfield Clinic Health System employee nominated the troop for the grant. Julie Degner said the grant is appreciated and she welcomes the support for the newly-formed troop. Degner serves on the committee for this troop and said the young women in the troop are working to strengthen their individual character, citizenship, leadership, mental fitness and physical fitness. She said this organization is giving young females an opportunity to grow their leadership skills in a way that was unavailable to them in the past.

“I am passionate about this organization,” Degner, who previously was an adult leader with Cub Scouts, said. “I have had the privilege of watching boys and girls in Cub Scouts grow in the scout law which is: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Without a Scouts BSA female troop, the young ladies who have been part of Cub Scouts and are growing in the Scout Law will need to end their participation.

“As a Cub Scout leader, I feel it is important that every cub scout, boy or girl, have the same opportunity to participate in the Scouts BSA program. In the end, having young adults in the community who focus on the core values of scouting will be beneficial to our future workforce.”

Degner said the troop is lacking equipment needed for some of their scouting activities. The troop was formed in February, so they currently borrow equipment when it is needed. She said the funds will be used to purchase things like tents, cooking equipment, first aid kits and water containers.

 “As a brand new troop, these grant funds will help this troop be successful, and will help us provide similar opportunities to what other Scouts BSA troops in this area have,” Degner said.

 To learn more about Scouts BSA, or to join a troop, go to www.beascout.org, or call 715-355-1450.