Portland all-gender Scouts’ edgy signs are only part of their appeal | Column
Portland Scouts Troop 1 Sparks Debate Over Recruitment Slogans
A summer of brightly‑colored signs outside Portland’s streets has brought both new members and a heated email exchange to the city’s most historic youth group. Scoutmaster Kelly McDonald’s Troop 1, the oldest troop in the city, has been using eye‑catching slogans to entice children to join, but one phrase—“Fire, Knives & Friends”—has drawn criticism from a former Boy Scout who felt it glorified violence and vandalism.
The signs were installed in August. McDonald, who took the helm of Troop 1 in 2018, remembers the first set of signs he placed in 2022 that read “Less Screens More Trees.” “The Scouts objected,” he said. “They like trees and screens, they said.” After a brief back‑and‑forth, he decided to let the troop’s own youth leaders draft the next set of slogans. The result was a lineup of four phrases printed in green block letters on 160 signs that now line Portland streets.
The slogans include “Get Lost With Friends” and this summer’s “Snow Camping? Fire Cooking?” The newest addition, “Fire, Knives & Friends,” was the one that triggered a public complaint. “Fire and knives are tools needed for camping and Scouting,” McDonald explained. “Kids who join the troop will learn how to use them safely, and they’re fun.”
An email from an individual who had previously been a Boy Scout warned that the phrase could encourage vandalism. The email sparked a brief discussion on the troop’s Facebook page, where other community members weighed in on the language used to promote youth programming. Some supporters defended the slogan, noting that “fire” and “knives” are legitimate skills taught in scouting, while critics worried the wording might be misunderstood by younger children.
Despite the backlash, the slogan has seemed to work for Troop 1. “I joined because of it,” said 13‑year‑old Ivan Deragon, now serving as senior patrol leader for a six‑month term. “My dad taught me how to build a campfire, and I love whittling, and I definitely love friends.” McDonald noted that at least three scouts joined after seeing the signs, and the troop’s numbers have risen to roughly 50 members, more than twice the size it was when he became scoutmaster.
Troop 1’s growth is part of a larger trend of gender‑inclusive recruiting. The troop has long advertised its open policy, a stance that has drawn comments from parents who question why a co‑ed troop is needed when Girl Scouts already exist. The organization’s national body, now known as Scouts America, rebranded in 2025 to distance itself from past sex‑abuse scandals and opened all programs to girls in 2019. Individual troops may choose to be single‑ or mixed‑gender.
Pine Tree Council, which serves southern, central, and western Maine, reports that 15% of its roughly 2,000 members are girls. CEO Gary Savignano said the council expects membership to return to pre‑pandemic levels within three to five years. “Most of our 130 units accept girls,” he said. “It’s growing each year.”
Troop 1’s meetings continue in the basement of the Stevens Avenue Congregational Church, a location the troop has used since 1911. The troop’s recent bring‑a‑friend night drew a crowd of prospective members, who watched youth leaders demonstrate fire‑starting, tent‑setting, stretcher‑building, and camp stove‑use under light rain. Ivan Deragon was seen holding up the familiar three‑finger Scout sign to keep order as volunteers ran through a series of stations.
The troop’s current roster includes an even mix of boys and girls, as well as transgender and non‑binary members, all between the ages of 11 and 17. One of the most active members, 15‑year‑old Lilly Eldridge, switched from a Girl Scout troop to Troop 1 after her brother introduced her to the experience. She has since led a canoeing trip down the Allagash River and demonstrated knot‑tying skills during a recent meeting.
As the debate over recruitment slogans continues, McDonald remains focused on the troop’s mission. “We’re here to teach skills, foster friendships, and help kids connect with nature,” he said. “The signs are just one part of a broader effort to bring kids into our community.”
