‘Friendly competition’ in Scouting brings brother and sister closer together
They’re in separate troops, but make no mistake: Charlotte and Alex Beatson are on this Scouting journey together.
They’ve worked on merit badges together, were inducted into the Order of the Arrow at the same time, and have even attended some of the same camporees and service projects.
“It is full of friendly competition,” says Charlotte, a 15-year-old Star Scout from Troop 114G. “This drives us to work our hardest and enjoy all we can learn.”
Alex, a 12-year-old Life Scout from Troop 361, agrees.
“It’s been fun to work on some merit badges together,” he says. “It’s been cool to see my sister finally get to do and be recognized for the things I have been doing in Scouting for years.”
Families like the Beatsons out of Littleton, Colo., illustrate why the BSA made the move to welcome girls into Scouting at all levels. Families want incredible experiences for their kids. And that’s exactly what Charlotte and Alex’s dad, Anselm, has seen so far.
“The principles and values of Scouting transcend all gender and social barriers,” he says. “It has been rewarding to watch both my son and my daughter develop the same sense of social responsibility and community involvement working off of the same equal platform and foundation.”
I wanted to know more about Charlotte and Alex’s Scouting journey so far, so I caught up with the Denver Area Council Scouts to learn more.