Devon 50 Scout Nears Top Rank, Hopes To Be 1st Female Eagle Here

MALVERN, PA — Troop Devon 50G Scout Paige Cutler planned, managed, and constructed a new outdoor stairway at her church, and as the project nears an end, she hopes it will earn her the rank of Eagle Scout.

Culter one of a few contenders for the honor of being the first female to make Eagle rank from Devon 50 since the Boy Scouts of American admitted girls' troops two years ago. The "G" in Troop Devon 50G designates it as the girls' troop that is part of Devon 50, explained Scoutmaster Bob Tickner.

Paige's dad, Dave Cutler, gently encouraged her to join scouting. He and Paige's older brother both made Eagle rank when they were scouts. Paige said she was hesitant but agreed to give it a try.

"When I joined I had no intent to stay," she said. But, she confessed, "I fell in love with it."

Cutler is a senior at Conestoga High School who expects to study civil engineering in college. She planned an Eagle project that complimented the work her brother did at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Wayne.

Her brother Owen in 2018 built a retaining wall nearby that functions with the churchyard landscaping and looks nice. Alongside that structure, Paige's wide staircase project took our old stairs that were warping and replaced them with beautiful new steps and a rail, right next to the retaining wall, up a small hillside.

The job took some heavy lifting, cutting and measuring, and it was Cutler's job to recruit the help she needed and supervise anything she was not doing herself. She said she recruited help online, then most of the work was, of course, done outdoors at the staircase site.

To earn Eagle rank, Tickner explained, a scout must demonstrate leadership. He said Paige has lead the Girls' Devon 50 Troop since June 2019, planning campouts and service activities, arranging meetings, leading the 13 members of Devon 50G. She's been on Conestoga's dive team and color guard, as well.

Tickner said Cutler and one other Scout in Chester County are working toward Eagle rank right now, so either one might finish and become the first girl to hold the rank here. They have until Feb. 8 to complete their projects, he said.

Troop membership coordinator Dr. Tracy Simpson said Devon 50 has been holding as many activities as it can outdoors at Camp Jarvis. The troop still camps using single tents, doing whatever field activities it can, and operates in a COVID-safe way, she said.

"The youth lead the troop, and they elected Paige. She's served as a mentor and guide," Simpson said. Simpson is glad the girls now have the path to Eagle Scout open to them.

Devon 50 is holding its next food drive in March, and Tickner noted "the need for food is five times what it was" before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simpson recruits Cub Scouts into the next level and keeps membership open to anyone, even if they've never done scouting.

In case you missed it, read a story about another Eagle project by Devon 5o Scout Julian Lu here.