Plainfield Freshman Set To Become First Local Female Eagle Scout

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield freshman is set to become the first girl to earn the Eagle Scout rank in the local Rainbow Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Catherine Archer, a student at Plainfield South High School, will be a member of the inaugural class of girl Eagle Scouts in February 2021 if the Board of Review unanimously approves her application.

Archer joined the Boy Scouts in February, when the historically all-male organization began allowing female membership, to develop her leadership skills. Her brother has been a Boy Scout since he was in first grade and earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2017, according to a release from the Plainfield Community Consolidated School District.

In order to earn her merit badges for the Eagle Scout rank, Archer organized a food drive for Bags of Hope, a nonprofit that provides bags of food to District 202 families in need. She also organized an education campaign on local food insecurities in the community.

The drive netted more than 8,000 pounds of food for the nonprofit, which will feed more than 2,000 kids.

Archer said she encourages all girls to join the Boy Scouts.

"For the girls who want to earn Eagle (Scout), you have got to be brave, be a pioneer, be willing to blaze a path," she said in a prepared statement.

She also earned her Silver Award in Girl Scouts and is working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is equivalent to the Eagle Scout rank.