By Meredith Foss:
Local Scouting district celebrates first female Eagle Scout
Brooke Muzzy, 18, has become the first female Eagle Scout in Scouting’s local Pontiac-Manito District.
Muzzy grew up with the Scouting movement even before she joined as a member. Muzzy watched, participated and learned alongside her brothers as they grew from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, and Brooke was growing too. She started off by joining Crew 2128, a co-ed Scouting program dedicated to high adventure activities. In 2019, when girls were finally able to join the Boy Scouts of America’s traditional programs, she decided to join Scouts BSA Troop 185 with other girls who wanted to try out Scouting.
“Much like Dorothy needs the friends she finds as she followed the yellow brick road, a scout needs friends to help as they follow the trail to eagle,” Muzzy said. “Your parents, friends, and scout leaders will be the people you find along your trail through Scouting.”
Through Scouting Muzzy has been on many adventures, a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico being one of the most memorable. Philmont is a high adventure camp where scouts backpack hundreds of miles through the mountains. She was even selected to be crew leader for the expedition.
Brooke learned to become a great leader, as she was elected Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 185. She attended National Youth Leadership Training, a week long course teaching scouts how to become better leaders for their units, and she was selected to teach on staff the following year.
Muzzy started to plan an Eagle Project to benefit the community during summer of 2021. Muzzy faced a few challenges along the way, but successfully completed her Eagle project, clearing brush and invasive plants along a section of trail and building two permanent benches at Camp Agawam.
Brooke had her Eagle Court of Honor last Sunday at D-Bar-A Scout Ranch, surrounded by Scouting friends and family celebrating her achievements. Muzzy chose to thank several adult volunteers who helped her along the way, gifting commemorative mentor pins to Troop 185 Assistant Scoutmaster Lynn Foss, Committee Chair Jeff Egner, Scoutmaster Wayne Beutler and Pack 7 Cubmaster David Weatherwax.
“Not only has it been an honor to watch Brooke grow as a leader, it was also an honor to receive a mentor pin from her,” Lynn Foss said. “I look forward to her realizing that she can achieve any goal she sets her mind on.”
Meredith Foss, 14, is a youth journalist with the Scouting on Air television program.
