NORTHVILLE — Lauren James made history when she became the first female Eagle Scout from Troop 903G.
The 18-year-old senior at Northville High School not only celebrated her own achievement at a Court of Honor held May 9 but also paved the way for other girls rising behind her.
Lauren began her scouting journey at just 5 years old in Girl Scouts, but her older brother Andrew’s tales of adventure with Boy Scouts sparked her desire to take a different path.
At 13, shortly after Scouts BSA opened its ranks to girls, she joined Troop 903G as a founding member. The boys troop was founded in 1984 and meets at Winchester Elementary School.
“I did enjoy Girl Scouts when I was younger, but I was really interested in doing big scouting camp outs, sleeping in tents, going on hikes, going on those big trips,” Lauren said, noting her older brother, Andrew, had been a Scout since he was five. “I would hear all these amazing stories about his trips and I decided that I wanted to be a part of that, too.”
Troop 903G is the girls branch of Troop 903 – Andrew’s troop – and while the troops are technically separate for organizational purposes, the boys and girls do all activities together, functioning as one cohesive unit.
Though the girls’ troop officially formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lauren embraced the challenge and quickly took on leadership roles, serving as senior patrol leader for three years, assistant senior patrol leader for one year, and troop guide throughout her time in Scouts.
In 2023, she was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
Jim Weaver, a former scoutmaster who now serves as assistant scoutmaster – his daughter is also in the troop – said Lauren’s leadership made a significant impact.
“She immediately took on a leadership role and was a great leader as well as a great example to some of the younger girls who were joining the troop at that time,” he said, adding that the integration of girls into the longstanding boys’ troop went well, due in part to the maturity of the boys.
“It was a really good environment,” Weaver said. “That founding core group of girls was very motivated. They all worked together as a team to run the meetings.”
One of Lauren’s favorite memories from Scouts was a winter ski trip where she and friends bonded with two younger girls who had just joined the troop.
“We spent the whole weekend skiing, cooking and staying up late playing games,” she said. “By the end it felt like we were one big family.”
Lauren’s Eagle Project was a peaceful outdoor sanctuary at the Living and Learning Center at 801 Griswold St. in Northville. The project includes a pathway, a small garden, benches, and was designed to give people a calm, reflective space outdoors.
Lauren led the fundraising and construction, raising more than $750 in surplus funds, which she donated back to the center.
Like most Eagle Projects, the undertaking had its challenges.
“I had a hard time staying motivated during the planning process,” Lauren admitted. “There was so much paperwork, but once we started building, it all came together.”
Lauren also excelled beyond scouting. At Northville High, she was a member of the swim and dive team, played lacrosse, served in the National Honor Society and worked as a lifeguard and camp counselor.
This fall, she’ll begin studying elementary education at Ohio Wesleyan University, inspired by her passion for teaching younger Scouts.
“I love seeing people grow,” she said. “Working with younger Scouts helped me realize how much I love teaching, and that’s what I want to do.”
Her mother, Carrie James, said she feels “admiration, gratitude, and hope,” noting her daughter’s achievement is a milestone not just for their family, but for the troop and community.
“I know that the most important thing to Lauren is that the years she spent with her fellow female Scouts shaping the addition of girls in the Troop will make the path smooth and welcoming for girls in Scouting going forward,” she said. “It’s a great Troop and community and I’m so proud of this journey for her.”
This summer, after she walks across the stage at Northville High School to collect her diploma, Lauren plans to go on a new adventure: a backpacking trek through the rugged terrain of New Mexico at BSA’s Philmont Scout Ranch.
“It’s nine days of being outdoors with everything you need on your back,” she said.
Lauren plans to continue supporting the troop whenever she visits home from college and hopes to inspire younger girls just starting their own Scouting journeys.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Northville High student makes history as troop’s first female Eagle Scout
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
