Ridgefield home to all-girls Cub Scout pack

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Those familiar with Cub Scouts might do a double-take around Ridgefield next time they see the iconic blue uniforms, as it might be girls, not boys, donning the garb.

This is because there’s an all-girls Cub Scout pack in Ridgefield, one of the first of its kind following the Boy Scouts of America’s recent decision to accept girls into their membership.

Pack 303 has been established featuring girls, a recent development in the BSA. Heading up 303 is Cubmaster Niah Henry, the former cubmaster of the all-boys Pack 310.

Henry had been cubmaster of the all-boys Cub Scout pack in Ridgefield, before her son, Wyatt, moved onto Boy Scouts this year, she explained. Henry’s daughter, Lorelai, along with other siblings, had been along for the many activities the pack did, essentially doing the same things as the pack members but without a uniform. This was due to the pack’s “family-friendly” focus as she put it, where anything but summer camp could be done by the whole family.

“Now they get to wear uniforms and actually get to earn badges,” Henry said.

Jan. 15 of this year was the official first day that girls could be accepted into Cub Scouts. Only a few days later On Jan. 21 was the first planning meeting where she drew in past leaders from 310 to help in the organization. 

Right now the pack is small with five girls all in the third-grade “Bear” level of Cub Scouts. Henry said there had been interest elsewhere, so she expects that each grade level will have a den in time.

Pack 303 was planting trees at Abrams Park March 10 as one of several activities the pack has done in its short existence, including outings to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and plans for a camping trip this month involving some beach cleanup.



Just because a girl is in Cub Scouts doesn’t preclude them from taking part in their traditional scouting group, as Henry’s own daughter is both in Cub Scouts and Brownies, the Girl Scout equivalent. Seeing how both groups work gave Henry an idea on their differences, saying Girl Scouts had more of a focus on business-minded leadership while Boy Scouts (and Cub Scouts by extension) had more of an outdoor focus.

Locally, Pack 303 had the support of American Legion Post 44 as the group’s charter organization, the official operator of the Pack. Henry spoke positively of the group for their willingness to step up, having already donated a Pinewood Derby track to the pack, she said.

“It’s a really good group to work with, and I appreciate them jumping on board with us and doing what they can,” Henry said.

Post 44 Commander Bryan Laycoe explained the post had always been strong supporters of scouting, Laycoe said, as the innate patriotism and civic-mindedness in both organizations made it a natural fit for Post 44 to take on Pack 303.

As to why a girl might want to join up, Henry said it’s not only about serving the community, but also about being active and possibly most importantly, having fun.

“We always say it gives us an excuse to do the things we want to do otherwise,” Henry said, explaining how scouting gives a structure that allows youth, and in the case of packs 303 and 310 whole families, the chance to get out and do something.

“For myself, it’s very important to me that we always have fun,” Henry added. “We are going to do some work, but we are going to have fun doing it.”