By Nila Harris
BUTLER — Umbrielle Crawford has been around scouting her entire life.
With two brothers and a father who earned the highest rank advancement in scouting — Eagle Scout, a father who served as scoutmaster for several years, and a mother actively involved alongside her family, Crawford, who would achieve Eagle Scout herself, grew up in the scouting world.
At the age of 7, her parents introduced her to American Heritage Girls, and she fell in love with the program.
American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by a group of parents desiring “a faith-based, character development program to guide their daughters as women of God and integrity,” Americanheritagegirls.org states.
The AHG statement of faith calls the program “a Christ-centered leadership and character development ministry.”
Crawford joined AHG in 2016, then started Cub Scouts in 2018. As she worked through both programs, earning ranks and levels, Crawford eventually reached the top in both organizations — The Stars and Stripes Award in AHG and Eagle Scout in Scouting America.
For her combined Stars and Stripes and Eagle Scout project, Crawford chose to build a Gaga ball pit and two large, raised bed gardening planters for The Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, “a homeless shelter whose goal is to end homelessness,” Crawford said.
When thinking of a project to complete, Crawford spoke with someone from her church who works with different nonprofit organizations. The woman suggested The Welcome House and put Crawford in touch with someone in charge of volunteer opportunities.
Crawford wanted to do something meaningful for the children and families who stayed at The Welcome House. She chose a Gaga ball pit, because she enjoyed playing the game at Camp Friedlander, a Scouting America summer camp Crawford often attended.
Gaga ball is similar to dodge ball, but played inside an octagonal or hexagonal pit.
The project was completed at multiple locations to limit the time on The Welcome House property, so as not to disturb the residents. Various individuals helped Crawford in the completion of the Gaga ball pit and planters: scouts, American Heritage Girls, family and church members.
“There were maybe 30 to 40 people involved,” Crawford said. “Some helped build; some helped paint.”
The ball pit and planters were placed in a courtyard area between two family housing buildings.
To become an Eagle Scout, a candidate must earn 21 merit badges from several categories ranging from first aid to business. Candidates must assume leadership roles and complete a community service project before their 18th birthday. Only 6% of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank.
Girls were allowed to join Cub Scouts in 2018, and the Boy Scouts of America changed its name in February 2025 to Scouting America.
Although most of the scouts are boys, 196,000 girls participated in scouting programs in 2024, with 2,578 of those girls earning the Eagle Scout rank which accounts for less than 2% of the total girls involved, according to Scouting America.
The goal of the AHG Stars and Stripes award “is the experience and the realization of the servant’s heart that is needed to lead with integrity and humility.” The procedure helps girls develop skills in organization, responsibility, leadership, communication, time management, project direction, oversight and administration, according to the organization.
Crawford was credited with showing those characteristics as she sought out resources and people, communicated with multiple parties, found a cause near and dear to her heart, did the manual labor involved, culminating in something that can be used by people in need for many years to come.
In a few weeks, Crawford plans to attend Hellenic College in Boston, Massachusetts, to study psychology.
Scouting and AHG have shown her the importance of learning skills and growing into a better person, she said. She said she is interested in helping people grow into a stronger version of themselves.
For anyone interested in either Scouting America or American Heritage Girls, Crawford recommends searching for these organizations. She was a member of Troop 806 in Butler and an AHG troop in Fort Thomas.
“I’d really encourage it. The time spent was valuable, and it was a lot of fun,” she said.
Photos courtesy of Sharon Crawford
Some of Umbrielle Crawford’s scouting mates and friends give her Gaga ball pit a test drive before it is installed at TBy Nila Harris
Crawford stands in her Scouting America uniform, a sash displaying badges she has earned.
Crawford also has a sash full of badges as part of American Heritage Girls.