Two AHS Seniors Among First Girls to Earn Eagle Scout Rank

Albany, CA. Albany High School seniors Lucille Marten and Monet Gagnon recently became the first Albany/Berkeley girls to earn the Scouts BSA rank of Eagle.

Lucille and Monet founded Scouts BSA Troop 42 in Berkeley, CA in 2019 with several other 8th grade girls and with parent and Scout Master JoAnne Skinner soon after Boy Scouts of America changed its name to Scouts BSA and started admitting girls to the formerly all boys program.

In order to earn the rank of Eagle, Lucille and Monet had to earn at least 21 merit badges, assume leadership roles in the troop and execute a large community service project. Over the years, both were elected Senior Patrol Leader and other leadership roles in the troop, both planned and participated in many hikes, camping trips, backpacking trips, volunteering opportunities in the community, and attended scout camps including Wolfboro in the Sierras and a week of hiking and backpacking at Philmont in New Mexico.

From the beginning , Troop 42 has partnered with Scouts BSA Troop 24. While troop 42 recently celebrated its 4th anniversary, troop 24 recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Both troops meet at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish in Berkeley. CNN has reported that because of the difficult requirements only 6% of Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts.

Monet’s Eagle project has not been typically seen before - she organized and trained a group of scouts to lead and create several presentations for parents/guardians within her community on the topic of anxiety and depression in teens. Lucille was one of the co-presenters. The 3 sessions were organized for Albany High School, School of the Madeleine and El Cerrito High School. She consulted a mental health professional throughout the creation of the presentation.

About scouting, Monet says “My favorite moments in scouting were when I worked at a council-wide summer camp. It was exciting to meet so many different scouts from all over the Bay Area and beyond as well as getting close with the other staff members.”

Lucille’s Eagle project was to build a shed and fence for the Jewish nonprofit urban farm and education center Urban Adamah in northwest Berkeley. To design and implement it she worked closely with its Facilities Director Aaron Vanderwerf and with her mentor, architect Alex Bergtraun. After a number of weeks planning and drawing designs she organized and led 7 work days with dozens of volunteers, including Monet, on site to build the structures.

About scouting, Lucille says “My favorite part of scouting has been seeing younger scouts maintain and improve the aspects of our troop that I love. They’ve done an incredible job of continuing to create an inclusive and scout-led environment as they step into leadership positions.”

Troop 42 has many adventures planned for the upcoming year including backpacking in Pt. Reyes and the Sierras, beach camping, redwood hikes, snow camping, and scout camps.

Families interested in joining a girl’s/gender inclusive Scout BSA troop in the East Bay including Troop 42 should go to the Scouts BSA troop locator website. Families interested in learning more about Troop 42 should visit its website.