OKEMOS, MI - February 1st, 2019 became a monumental day for adolescent girls across the United States. It meant that girls aged 11-17 were allowed to join Scouts BSA, formally Boy Scouts, and work towards the rank of Eagle Scout. And now, a year and a half later, two local high schoolers from Troop 164 will be the first females in the area to reach the rank of Eagle Scout.

Autumn Eyre of Laingsburg and Reagan Woods of Okemos have just completed their Eagle Scout projects. Autumn chose to update the landscaping at First Congregational Church in Laingsburg, while Reagan’s project involved updating the youth room at Okemos Community Church.

Troop 164 meets at Okemos Community Church, specifically the room that Reagan chose to renovate, and also holds special significance for her, “I did the home improvement merit badge and the painting merit badge,” said Woods. “I did those and it kind of just led into it. I really enjoy this and I really think it could benefit the Scouts and also the youth group because I grew up in that youth group.”

Reagan wanted the space to feel comfortable and cozy, drawing inspiration from Blue Owl Coffee in Lansing. She started planning the project back in April, and it was just completed in mid-August.

This new opportunity will provide a chance for girls all over the country to take part in something that they were originally excluded from.

When asked how important it is to have that representation for other girls, Regan had this to say, “If a little girl in Cub Scouts sees me, she can grow up and be me. She can see me getting my Eagle Scout award and be like, ‘that’s what I want to do’. I just think that’s so important to little girls all around.”

HOMTV will be conducting an interview with Autumn Eyre at a later time, as well as providing a more in-depth view of Autumn and Reagan’s journey to Eagle Scout. Stay tuned for more, only on HOMTV.