In a historic ceremony on Saturday, Marblehead Troop 79G conducted a Court of Honor for Marblehead’s first female Eagle Scouts, Zoe Gast and Katie Jenkins, at Abbot Hall.
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement attainable in the Scouts BSA program. Troop 79G, founded just over four years ago, opened scouting to adventurous young women willing to break stereotypes.
Integrated into Marblehead Troop 79, which was founded in 1937, the girls troop has seen over 20 young women participate under the leadership of Scoutmaster Jennifer Stoddard.
“Today marks a historic milestone for BSA Troop 79G as we celebrate our first Eagle Scouts, Katie Jenkins and Zoe Gast,” said Stoddard. “Their achievement is a testament to the resilience, dedication and leadership that define the spirit of scouting.”
In the Boston Spirit of Adventure Council, there are 47 female troops made up of just over 900 scouts. To date, just over 50 have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Across all of the BSA, only 6% of all Scouts achieve BSA’s highest rank.
Through perseverance and hard work, Gast and Jenkins paved the way for future female Scouts by camping across New England, leading backpacking trips to Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico and giving back to the community through significant service projects, many said Saturday.
Gast’s Eagle Project focused on contributing to the Prison Book Program of Quincy, while Jenkins hosted a drive collecting supplies for transitional housing residents at the Centerboard Salem State Shelter.
State Rep. Jenny Armini, who spoke at the ceremony, emphasized the significance of Gast and Jenkins’ achievements in the context of the broader movement for gender equality.
“We all think about social change happening on a bigger stage than this one,” Armini said. “But in reality, social change, if it’s going to be meaningful, starts in places like this one, and moves on from here.”
Armini commended the young women for being part of a generation seeking to expand opportunities for girls and women.
“You’re part of a generation seeking to expand opportunities for women and girls. Because you stepped up, others will follow. What can be more emblematic of the Eagle Scout than that?” she said.
Looking to the future, Armini expressed optimism about the potential for Gast and Jenkins to inspire future generations of scouts.
“I’m hopeful that we will continue to encourage future Scouts along the way who no doubt will be inspired by their story,” she said.
Armini presented the scouts with citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, recognizing their historic achievement and the significance of their leadership in the community.
“We can now add ‘lead like Zoe’ and ‘lead like Katie’ to the list of inspiring women,” Armini said, referencing the “Persist Like Elizabeth” sign in her office that encourages her to emulate the leadership of trailblazing women like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and poet Maya Angelou.
Don Doliber, a representative of the Masons of Marblehead, presented the Scouts with a special statue commissioned from an art studio in Marblehead.
“Today, I see two women who have lived up to their potential, two women who live up to their obligations and their commitments,” said Doliber.
Gast, a Florida State University freshman focusing on international affairs, is the second Eagle Scout in her family. Her great-grandfather, Stanley Vanderbeck, received his Eagle Scout rank in 1932.
Jenkins, a freshman at Scripps College studying psychology, joined Scouting to support her best friend’s dream of participating in the program.
Both young women faced challenges balancing the rigorous demands of achieving Eagle Scout rank with other aspects of their lives.
“It’s hard in the sense that it is a lot of work and a lot of planning and a lot of time management,” said Jenkins.
Gast added, “I think the challenge is always just motivating yourself to do it. When there’s a long goal in the future, it can be hard to get the little steps done.”
Despite the obstacles, Gast and Jenkins hope their achievements send a message to other girls and young women considering joining the BSA.
“It’s not as unattainable as people think,” said Gast. “I think with the right planning and with the right people to support you, you can really do anything.”
Andy Barnett, Troop 79 Scoutmaster, offered historical context and personal insights during his remarks at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He noted that while girls have been participating in BSA programs through Special Interest Exploring and Venturing units since 1969, it was not until the Boy Scout program was rebranded to Scouts BSA in 2019 that girls became eligible for membership and could advance through the ranks, including earning the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.
Barnett shared the story of how Georgia Lloyd, Jenkins and Gast, with support from their parents and the Troop 79 committee, established Troop 79G in 2020 as a linked unit for girls.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding how well the programs would integrate and what the reactions might be, Barnett and the leadership team were confident that the Scouting program would be equally successful for everyone.
“Eagle Scouts Zoe Gast and Katie Jenkins represent the future — a future embracing a sense of what is right and fair and just, guided by the ideals imbued in the Scout Oath and Law,” Barnett said. “Reaching the rank of Eagle for these two, two of the founding members of Troop 79G, is an impressive accomplishment.”
