Courtesy photo
DiPasquale and Maciejewski earn Eagle Rank
Submitted by Joseph Basralian, BSA Troop 280
Berkeley Heights officially has its first two female BSA Eagle Scouts.
In February 2019, when the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) officially allowed girls to form BSA Troops, Berkeley Heights residents Maria DiPasquale and Sofia Maciejewski jumped at the opportunity. They were 13 and 11 at the time.
“We both saw our older brothers having so much fun in Scouting, and we really looked up to them,” said Maciejewski. “When Troop 280 formed in Chatham, we joined right away and became founding members of the troop,” added DiPasquale. The two have been friends since childhood, and now enjoy an even stronger bond through Scouting.
They’ve hiked 100 miles at the BSA Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, braved river rapids for a week in West Virginia, helped lead a marine science live-aboard sailboat trip in the Florida Keys, and together spent well over 100 nights camping around our region.
“The adventures pulled us together with so many new friends,” said Maciejewski, “And we’ve each grown in so many ways, in our abilities, confidence and leadership.”
Their Troop started with just eight girls, but has grown to 48 registered girls today, ages 11-17. “It grew really quickly because we had so much fun doing all the different things we did together. And we laugh a lot,” noted DiPasquale.
For their Eagle Projects, each built a hefty bridge to help hikers complete a 1.3 mile loop at the Green Village Conservation Trail in Chatham Township, noted by a sign and kiosk at 328 Green Village Road, Green Village. They fundraised to purchase the materials and led teams of Scouts to cut the lumber, construct the bridges and boardwalks, and move the bridges into place over a half-mile from the street. They also led volunteers to transport woodchips to enhance the trails.
“Signing up for a volunteer day is one thing,” said Maciejewski, “but leading a big project and volunteers from start-to-finish is another, and really satisfying.”
Both live busy lives outside of scouting. DiPasquale, a senior atGovernor Livingston High School, will attend Kean University in the fall and play on the basketball and lacrosse teams. Maciejewski, a sophomore at Mount Saint Mary Academy, is pursuing her pilot’s license. And they remain active in scouting. “Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout,” they concur.
To learn more about BSA Troop 280, email troop280chatham@gmail.com, visit their Facebook Page “Troop 280 Chatham” or website bsatroop280chathamnj.com. Meetings are most Thursday nights and outdoor adventures are one or more times per month.
