Submitted by Kris Julis
Noblesville Scouting America (BSA) Troop 222 for Girls awarded Abigail Vance, 17, Carmel, her Eagle Scout rank Saturday, June 1, at a Court of Honor at Cool Creek Park.
Abby, an incoming senior at Carmel High School, achieved the highest rank in Scouting America with her Board of Review in January. Her Eagle Scout project involved garden renovations at Janus Developmental Services in Noblesville. She built new raised planting beds and replaced the bricks surrounding garden beds at the facility on Westfield Road.
Catherine, Eagle Scout from Troop 219, replaces Abby’s scout neckerchief with an Eagle Scout neckerchief, while Troop 222 Senior Patrol Leader Ellador, Troop 219 Eagle Scout Alison, and Caroline from Troop 1610 in Indianapolis look on. (Photo provided)
Troop 222 is Noblesville’s only female BSA troop, founded in February of 2022 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 20650 Cumberland Road. Scouting America, the new name for Boy Scouts of America’s youth programs, began admitting girls in 2019. In order to earn the rank of Eagle, Scouts participate in outdoor activities, earn merit badges, and assume leadership roles in their troop. Each scouting rank leads the scout through the process of learning and then leading other scouts.
Abby Vance (center) thanks Stephen Herlt (right) and John Wiebke (left) for helping her get her start in scouting with Troop 219 in Zionsville. Abby achieved Eagle Scout with Troop 222 in Noblesville. (Photo provided)
Abby was a founding member of Troop 219 in Zionsville and joined Troop 222 in Noblesville in 2023. As a member of Troop 222, Abby served as the Senior Patrol Leader, the highest youth position in the troop. Abby is National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) trained and is a member of Order of the Arrow (OA). She was a member of the Crossroads of America Council contingent to the National Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve in West Virginia in 2023 and is headed to Philmont Scout Ranch’s Roving Outdoor Conservation School (ROCS) this month. Her troop members in Troop 222 admire Abby as a leader.
“She helped us all improve,” said Evelyn, a Life scout and founder of Troop 222. “She brought a fun, loving spirit – a lot of experience and amazing First Aid skills.”
“She’s very serious but also very silly,” said Robbin, Tenderfoot scout.
Members of Troop 222 came to support their first Eagle Scout in her Court of Honor. Abby began her scouting journey in 2019 in Troop 219, when she lived in Zionsville, and joined Troop 222 in 2023 after a move. (Photo provided)
Assistant Scoutmaster Annie Hilbert agreed that Abby made a difference in the troop. “It was really special to have someone experienced and grounded,” she said.
“She was the introduction we had to OA,” Meg Pulfer, parent of one of Troop 222’s newest inductees into the Order of the Arrow, added.
The Vance family – Russell, Kendall, Kristen, Abby, and Ledger – gather for a family photo. All the family members are involved in scouting; Ledger is a member of Troop 183, and Abby and Kendall are in Troop 222. Their parents serve as leaders in both troops. (Photo provided)
At her Court of Honor Saturday, Abby recognized her parents and grandparents for their support. Zane, Troop 101 of Noblesville, opened the program, and Catherine, Troop 219 of Zionsville, served as emcee. She recognized her first Scoutmaster, John Wiebke, and Stephen Herlt, with mentor pins for starting her on her journey.
After her trip to Philmont this summer, Abby will join other OA members at the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) in Denver before starting her senior year at Carmel High School. She serves Troop 222 as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.
Troop 222 Scoutmaster Jenny Sherrill and Committee Chair Stuart Hilbert presented the Troop Eagle plaque at Abby’s Court of Honor. This plaque will be on display at Bethel Lutheran Church, where a plaque like it celebrates the many Eagle Scouts from Troop 183, a boys’ troop that Bethel also charters. (Photo provided)