Sea Sirens from Greek mythology are infamous for being part woman and part animal, often luring sailors to their demise. On the contrary, the all-girl patrol of the Scouts BSA named the Sirens is far more supportable than sinister. 

Since February 2019, the Scouts BSA, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, has allowed troops to be constructed of members of all gender identities. Cecilia Brown (11) decided to join Scouts BSA Troop 1648 in January of 2022, a journey she began while already a committed member of Girl Scouts for 12 years prior. Since then, she balanced being a member of the Scouts BSA and a member of Girl Scouts Troop 3042, exceeding expectations and climbing the ranks in both.  

“With Girl Scouts, [rankings are] by age and grade,” Brown said. “Scouts BSA ranks are earned through a series of requirements. [The ranks] are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second class, First class, Star, Life, and then Eagle.”

Currently, she is 17 and in the rank of Star, leaving her with only 12 months to achieve her goal of obtaining Eagle rank before she ages out of the Scouts BSA at 18. 

“Eagle Scout rank has held its honor for so long,” Brown said. “It’s very set in stone, what you have to do to get there. [You need to] serve in leadership, earn enough merit badges, and do many hours of community [service]. You also have to do the Eagle Scout project, which is a service project that you have to lead.” 

The Girl Scout equivalent of Eagle rank, the Gold Award, also requires a project with the same deadline. For Brown, her Gold Award project will work hand-in-hand with the Eagle Scout project, which will rely on help from the community to supply old, abandoned, or unwanted instruments. 

“I’m hoping to provide a music instrument library where we lend instruments,” Brown said. 

She said that this would benefit the many students who buy musical instruments for band and orchestra programs in middle school, then quit playing once they enter high school. 

The cost of musical instruments usually ranges between $35 to over $5,000. The ability to financially support their child who wants to learn to play an instrument can be a challenge for many families. Plus, Brown’s Gold Award project aims to help families with additional costs. Mentors in the program will be primarily high school students interested in gaining teaching experience, as offering affordable music lessons is a common part-time job for musicians in college. 

“I’m planning on making a music organization, like a charitable community for music education,” Brown said. “I’m trying to provide financially stress-free musical instruction, and hopefully with the help of my Eagle Scout project, I’m going to aid this organization that I found.”

Brown plays five instruments and is currently a bassist in Westview Orchestra. Her love for music is incorporated into both projects to assist students who share her passion but cannot match the lesson fees. 

“I’ve been doing piano lessons since I was in kindergarten, and I know I could stress my mom out when I wasn’t practicing,” Brown said. “That’s a thing a lot of people struggle with. They burn out. But I also know that [playing an instrument] is something that people wish they would have had access to when they were younger.”

Brown, if successful, will join the fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts awarded the Gold Award annually, and strengthen the 2.5% of female Eagle Scouts in history. 

For now, Brown remains one of the nine members of her Girl Scout Troop in her 13th year. Meanwhile, the Sirens are making their presence in a male-dominated organization, proving that all genders can hold the spirit of adventure. 

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or boy,” Brown said. “We all get along and we all respect each other. I think that’s the beautiful part of it. Scouts, regardless of what beliefs they may have, and what differences and identities they may have, still live the Scout spirit, which is to be respectful, kind, courteous, and friendly to all people, which is really quite beautiful.”