LONG BEACH, Calif. - Learning how to identify plants is helping one woman earn a merit badge with the BSA Scouts. After a recent rule change, the Boy Scouts of America allowed girls aged 11-17 years old join the BSA Scouts and for the first-time work toward becoming Eagle Scouts. 

Cecilia McGlynn was formerly a Girl Scout for many years, but as she got older, she wanted to seek more adventure like the experience her father had in the Boy Scouts of America. That’s why she’s working with him and Troop 134 to follow in her father’s footsteps.

“It’s really nice to have that guide there because this is a very new experience for me,” Cecilia said.

In late February, Cecilia joined the first girl patrol in Troop 134 in Long beach -- the first co-ed troop in the area. Cecilia said she’s looking forward to experiencing more of the outdoors with her troop.

“When you are actually out camping and hiking like difficult trails, that’s a lot more strenuous activity and stuff. But I do enjoy looking at simple flowers you know because I really like them, they are really pretty,” Cecilia said.

Normally, a scout would earn their Eagle Scout patch by the age of 18, but since Cecilia was only recently allowed into the BSA Scouts, she and many girls like her were able to get a two year extension to hopefully get their patch. It’ll be a challenging effort that takes most scouts about six years to earn. But her father is happy to lead the way.

“I hope that she sees that there are a lot of opportunities available to her in the scouting program and that it really is an honor for her to be able to participate to have this opportunity to work on her eagle. I wish they had given girls this opportunity sooner,” her father, John McGlynn said.

It’s a path Cecilia is looking forward to following with the help of her father.

“I still don’t know entirely what’s going to happen so to have him there it’s reassuring,” Cecilia said.

That’s why for the next two years, she’ll be focusing on her BSA Scouts handbook and learning from the best in hopes of becoming one of the first women to hold the rank as an Eagle Scout.