Emily Sachar is reporting for imby [dot] com two years after the Boy Scouts of America began welcoming girls into its ranks, Red Hook High School senior Alyssa Van Pelt is on her way to becoming one of the first girls in the Hudson Valley to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Van Pelt, 18, is planning a service project with Community at Brookmeade, a senior citizen retirement community in Rhinebeck. The details of the project are still under development, but she expects to create a relaxation area for residents, including birdhouses and bird feeders. Before moving on to Eagle, however, Van Pelt must first complete a series of merit badges and execute a service project. She is a former Girl Scout and was motivated to join the Boy Scouts to earn the rank of Eagle, a leadership and service position attained by only 6 percent of scouts. “I wanted to make the point that girls can do this and I also want to inspire other scouts, girl scouts, and male scouts, to achieve Eagle,” said Alyssa. Another girl from the Red Hook troop, Charlotte Read, is also working towards Eagle; she lives in Milan. The girls meet weekly on Zoom for 90 minutes, planning activities and discussing their progress towards badges. Van Pelt also has participated in several outdoor trips with the boys including a 15-mile canoeing trip on Indian Lake in the Adirondacks that involved camping on a small island. The Red Hook girls troop now has four members. Van Pelt’s mother, Kimberley, is the troop leader. Her father, Robert, is the committee chair for the companion boys troop. Read the full story at imbue [dot] com.