Making history

Thursday, March 21 was a historic night for Verona Cub Scouts Pack 549.

On this day, Scouts and their families gathered at the Verona Senior Center for the annual crossover event – a ceremony that marks the advancement from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts of America). 

For the first time ever, this year’s Pack 549 crossover event featured three Scouts who began as Lions in kindergarten: Eleanor Harwood, Shiloh Lazare and Liam Mohr. Eleanor is also the first girl to cross over from Pack 549 to Scouts BSA. 

Both girls and kindergarten students were not eligible to join Cub Scouts until 2018. Previously, the organization only accepted boys in grades 1-5.

Harwood, Lazare and Mohr were among the first kindergarteners to join Pack 549 when eligibility expanded in 2018. Six years later, as fifth graders, they became the first Scouts who started as Lions to advance from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA. 

Eileen Harwood has been the Pack 549 den leader for six years now. She took on the role when her daughter, Eleanor Harwood, joined in 2018. 

“I was super proud of her because you don’t want to risk being the first girl,” Eileen said. “I’m super proud of the boys in the den and their families for just being so welcoming and inclusive – she was never left out.” 

Eleanor knew she wanted to join Cub Scouts after watching her oldest brother participate in the Pinewood Derby, a racing event where wooden cars are sent down a sloped track. Since then, Eleanor has not only competed in the Pinewood Derby herself but has learned a lot of valuable skills from Scouting.

“She’s had chances to be a leader within it,” Eileen said. “It’s been a really positive experience for her.”

At the March 21 crossover event, the advancing Cub Scouts received the Arrow of Light – the highest award a Cub Scout can receive. After this, Scouts crossed over a bridge that displayed the 12 pillars of Scout Law, signifying the transition from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA.

“Regardless of when you joined, I am so happy that you did,” Eileen told Scouts at the ceremony. “I am proud of the work that you have put in to earn your Arrow of Light, but more importantly, I am proud of the people that you are. I hope that as you continue to grow, you will remember the things you learned in Cub Scouts and will continue to use them to improve the world around you, in Scouts and elsewhere.”

From Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA

Hazel Piñott, a Scout from BSA Troop 40 in Middleton, recalls sitting at the Verona Senior Center years ago watching Cub Scouts from Pack 549 cross over to Scouts BSA. 

Once a part of a BSA troop, Scouts work to advance through the six different ranks. Piñott dreamt of becoming an Eagle Scout herself one day – the highest rank attainable – but was unable to join the program as a girl. 

Despite not being eligible to join Scouting herself, Piñott still found ways to stay involved with the organization. Her brother was a Scout in Pack 549, and her mom held a leadership role, so she often tagged along to meetings. 

“They would send me to go grab pins, pin people, make sure people were in their spots – and this was before girls were even allowed in Cub Scouts,” she said. 

In 2018, the day finally came where girls could join Cub Scouts; however, Piñott was too old. 

She continued to serve as a runner for Pack 549 until more change came in 2019. That year, girls became eligible to join gender-specific BSA troops – and the name of the organization switched from Boy Scouts to the more inclusive Scouts BSA.

Aside from Cub Scout Pack 549 which welcomes boys and girls, there are no established BSA troops for girls in Verona. Eventually, in Oct. 2020, Piñott found a home in Middleton’s Troop 40. She has since advanced through four consecutive ranks to become a Star Scout and is on track to become an Eagle – something that didn’t seem possible for a girl just six years ago. 

And on March 21, Piñott got to watch Eleanor Harwood – the first girl to join Pack 549 in 2018 – officially cross over from Cub Scouts to BSA Troop 40. Piñott has witnessed Eleanor’s Scouting journey from day one and will now work alongside her in Troop 40. 

“I’ve pinned Eleanor for just about every rank advancement she’s had and I could not be more proud of her or any of the other kids because they put in the time and effort and the work,” she said. 

Piñott said she continues to encourage girls in the Verona area to get involved with Scouting, whether they join Cub Scout Pack 549 or Scouts BSA Troop 40. 

“There’s a place for them to go now,” she said. “It’s a big deal that girls are allowed in Scouts.”