As any current or former Boy Scout knows, the title Eagle Scout doesn’t get bestowed lightly.
The full list of requirements is substantial; one of the biggest among them is the project. To become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must create a project that they oversee and lead.
That wasn’t a problem for Camryn Welch, though.
For her, putting in the hard work and showing leadership wasn’t new. She has served as her troop’s senior patrol leader, as well as serving on the joint patrol leader’s council. She has also trained others, attended more than a dozen camping trips and events as well as five weeklong scout summer camps. She’s participated in veterans’ parades and hosted flag retirements, as well as leading her patrol to many awards.
And this year, Camryn secured one more honor. She became the first female Eagle Scout in Miami Lakes scouting history.
“Camryn is just an amazing young lady,” longtime leader of MiamiLakes-based Troop 566 Sean Schwinghammer said. “She’s been my favorite female scout because of her great attitude and helpfulness. All the boys respect her and all the girls want to be like her, and that says a lot. She’s a great example of the best of young women and of Eagle scouts.”
Camryn’s Eagle project involved improvements at the Bill Sadowski Nature Center in Palmetto Bay. The center’s animal rescue facility needed work; over three weekends, Camryn led a team of volunteers in building a 60-foot fence around a patio for an area that will be used to house rescue animals. They also remodeled a kitchen and storage area to make them FDA-compliant.
“I’m especially proud that my Eagle Scout project has made a meaningful, lasting impact on the Bill Sadowski Nature Center and its ability to care for animals,” Camryn said. “As I close this chapter, I hope my journey encourages others, especially girls, to join scouting, embrace the adventures it offers and pursue the Eagle Scout rank, just as I did.”
While girls have had some access to Boy Scouts activities since the 1960s, they were not fully admitted into scouting – including the ability to earn Eagle Scout honors – until 2019. In 2025, the Boy Scouts’ parent organization changed its name from Boy Scouts of America to Scouting America to reflect these changes. Troop 566 now has a girls’ troop, Troop 566G; Camryn joined scouting as part of Troop 566G five years ago while a student at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School.
Camryn graduated this spring from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, where she captained the cheerleaders and competed with the swim team. She also took part in SADD, Key Club, WICC, Operation Smile, Best Buddies and Sisters of Support. She is now enrolled at the University of Central Florida; she plans to study education and become a teacher.
Photo courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 566/ Sean Schwinghammer