Although working toward a rank previously unavailable to girls, Beth Tfiloh high school senior Ada Key says she never felt like she didn’t belong in scouting.
In 2018, Key joined Scouting America — formerly the Boy Scouts of America — for the diverse community, camaraderie and valuable life skills.
Initially, she said she didn’t focus on rank advancement. But within the past couple of years, she changed her mind.
“I wanted to have something to show for it,” Key said.
It wasn’t until February of 2019 that girls were officially allowed to pursue the Eagle Scout rank. Following this decision, Key’s all-girls troop, Troop #1729, merged with an all-boys troop in Towson, Troop #729, as part of a pilot program.
Key said strong female leadership, including the presence of a female Scoutmaster, removed any pressure for her to prove herself. Key said the boys in the troop welcomed the girls and treated them as equals.
“There’s nothing different between girls and boys in scouting,” she said.
Key decided to pursue leadership positions, eventually becoming her troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, the highest youth leadership role. As Senior Patrol Leader, she helps support and guide younger Scouts.
“My leadership style is very much theatrical,” she said. “I foster an environment that lets you be fun-loving, but I will be stern if necessary. I try not to run the troop like a dictatorship.”
Earning an Eagle Scout rank requires extensive planning and leadership of a large service project. When it came time for Key’s project, it was a no-brainer that she would give back to her troop’s meeting spot — the American Legion Towson Post #22 in Towson.
“They give so much to the community, so I feel it’s necessary to give back to them,” she said.
Her service project, “Patio Makeover: American Legion Edition,” involved removing graffiti, replacing rotting picnic table boards, repairing the fence by sanding and staining it, and picking up trash.
On the day of the project, Key worked from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. restoring the space. But physical work was only part of the effort.
“The planning part of the project took at least 13 hours to complete,” she said.
Completing the project was only one part of the challenge. With her 18th birthday looming last December, Key faced a firm deadline. Scouts age out of the program at 18, leaving her limited time to complete the final requirements for Eagle Scout. She earned her Life rank in May, but Scouts must wait six months before becoming eligible for the Eagle Scout rank.
During this tightened timeframe, Key earned her remaining merit badges, completed her service project and held her Scoutmaster conference, a required conversation between a Scout and their Scoutmaster for each rank advancement. Ultimately, her determination paid off. Last January, Key completed the final step in the process to becoming an Eagle Scout: passing a Board of Review.
Although earning Eagle is an accomplishment, Key said she is most proud of her troop and the younger Scouts stepping into leadership roles.
“I’m so proud of them for being the next group of leaders within my troops,” she said. “Scouting is about creating confident leaders.”
Key plans to attend Towson University this upcoming fall. But she looks back at becoming an Eagle Scout as a way to give back to the community.
“I got to give back to Scouts what it gave to me,” she said.
Harper Goldberg is a local freelance writer.
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