Last year, the Boy Scouts of America announced that it was allowing girls into the troops as a part of its rebranding efforts to transform into Scouts BSA. On Feb. 11, La Jolla Troop 506 became a part of this national change by holding its first informational meeting at La Jolla United Methodist Church. Scoutmaster Marne Stransky — who got involved in the Boy Scouts after her son joined — said that including girls not only gives them more opportunities but makes it easier on parents who traditionally have had only one child in the troop and not the other. 
After all, what one sibling does, the other wants to do too. 
“Our troop has always been family-oriented,” said Stransky, who added that siblings and family members have always been invited to go on different outings. “The difference here is that they can enter the actual program and earn their ranks.” 
While BSA membership has declined since its peak five decades ago — The Washington Post reported a membership of 4 million boys in 1910 and a membership of 2.3 million boys in 2018 — Troop 506 has 53 members according to assistant scoutmaster Marc Jaffe. He claims it’s because of the troop’s high-adventure activities that include everything from backpacking and rafting in Montana to horseback riding in Temecula. 
“We have a very healthy troop,” he said. “And the reason is because we’re active. And we’re in California, so we can do things year-round.”
For more information about Girls Troop 506, call Stransky at 619-204-8194.