On May 1, 2018, history was made at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg as an 18-year-old female Venturer, Ripley Price of Maidencreek Township, presented the first ever report on the state of Scouting to the leadership of the State Senate and House of Representatives in the Main Rotunda. This was the first time such an event had occurred and it was sponsored by Senator John Gordner (R-27) and Representative Lynda Schlegel Culver (R108).
This historic event happened a day ahead of the BSA announcing a name change to include females in their 11 to 17-year-old program, which will now be called Scouts, BSA.
Price made history as she is the first person (male or female) to lead the Scout Oath and Scout Law in the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania along with approximately 100 other Scouts and Venturers from Councils across the Commonwealth, including her younger brother, Griffin Price, 15, an Eagle Scout representing Hawk Mountain Council and Jonathon Hope, 15, a STEM Scout also representing Hawk Mountain Council.
Price made sure the newest Cub Scouts were made to feel very welcome at the Capitol Building, especially twins Cole and Charlotte from Pack 55 in Washington Crossing Council who also spoke at the ceremony.
Price began her Scouting career as a Junior Girl Scout in Fleetwood in 2009 and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award last year. She is currently a Girl Scout Ambassador with Troop 11096 in Fleetwood. Price joined the Boy Scouts of America Venturing program with Crew 5.14 when she turned 14, which is based at Reading Rocks in Muhlenberg Township, and she serves as the Northeast Region Venturing President. Venturing is the BSA co-ed program established in 1998 for youth aged 14-21 years of age with a focus on adventure, leadership, personal growth, and service.
This year, Price will be serving on the National Youth Leadership Training staff in Patriot’s Path Council in New Jersey as the Senior Patrol Leader and last year attended the National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Price has earned the Region Venturing Leadership Award. She is a senior at Fleetwood Area High School and upon graduation next month will be attending Syracuse University to major in Finance.
