Local Scouts elect first female Lodge Chief

Cara Newbill, an Eagle Scout with Scouts BSA Troop 158 in Blacksburg, VA, has been elected as the area’s first female Lodge Chief in the Order of the Arrow – the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Tutelo Lodge 161 serves the Blue Ridge Mountains Council BSA, which provides scouting opportunities for youth in 21 counties and seven cities in central and southwest Virginia.

As Lodge Chief, Newbill will preside over the lodge’s youth Executive Committee, which is responsible for executing the annual program of the lodge, including campouts, ceremonies, awards, and events.

Newbill joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Venturer in 2018 at the age of 13. As a Venturer, she attended the prestigious National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Once girls were allowed to join Scouts BSA in 2019, she was immediately elected as her all-girls troop’s Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). Newbill has since served as her troop’s SPL, Assistant SPL, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Guide, and now as Assistant Scoutmaster. She also served as the youth staff Senior Patrol Leader for 2021 NYLT. She has served on summer camp staff since 2021, including directing the Nature Area at the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation’s resident camping program. She has backpacked to earn the 50-Miler award twice, and she led her troop through the Covid pandemic.

In 2020, having been recognized by her peers for her outstanding leadership and service, Newbill was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society for scouts that best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Shortly after her induction, Cara was elected as her four-county OA chapter’s first female Chapter Chief. In addition to her Chapter leadership, Newbill was elected as Vice Chief of Operations for the entire Tutelo Lodge, which serves central & southwest VA from Nelson to Smyth counties.

In her personal life, Newbill attended the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School for Math, Science, and Technology, and graduated with honors from Giles County High School before accepting admission into the Environmental Conservation and Society Program at Virginia Tech, where she is currently enrolled. She is also active in Girl Scouts and earned the Gold Award, which is Girls Scouting’s highest award.

The Boy Scouts of America’s traditional program was established in 1910 and has since served over 130 million youth. While membership in several of its programs including Exploring, Venturing, and Sea Scouts has been open to girls starting in 1969, the traditional program now called Scouts BSA, and by extension the Order of the Arrow, was first opened to girls ages 11-17 in 2019. Cub Scouting, for ages 5-10, opened its program to girls starting in 2018. Through its many youth-run programs, Scouting teaches young people to be physically and mentally prepared for any challenge. With over one million youth members across the country currently, scouting remains the nation’s foremost youth program offering values-based leadership and character development, outdoor skills training, and high-adventure and career-oriented opportunities.