To the editor:

My name is Ryli Ellard, and I am a female BSA Scout in Troop 165, an all-girls troop. I wanted to talk about my scouting experience and invite girls ages 11-17 to visit our troop. 

I looked at multiple troops before I settled on 165. All the troops that I saw had a few female leaders and then the rest were old men. I felt like I had stumbled into a military operation with these male leaders who were totally controlling the troops. The scouts hardly made any decisions about what they wanted to do, and they weren’t having fun. However, when I found Troop 165, I knew it was the place for me. 

The meetings are scout-led, and we choose where we want to go, what we want to do, and how to raise the money to achieve our goals. My favorite things we do in this troop are horseback riding, fishing, rock climbing, and water sports. We have more female leaders than any other troop I’ve visited, and I just feel so welcome and have so much fun in this troop with these girls.

So, to anyone struggling to find a troop they like or who isn’t sure if they want to join Scouting, I encourage you to come visit us in 165. We would love to have you! You are welcome to come to a meeting, join us for an activity, or come on a weekend camping trip. Please email us at troop165scoutmaster@gmail.com if you’re interested in learning more.

Ryli Ellard

Oakville