Troop 163

Troop 163 follows an all-girl Boy Scout troop based in Closter, NJ. As the Boy Scouts of America opened to girls in 2019, the project looks at their camaraderie, growth, and what it means to carve out space in a traditionally male environment.

Troop 163 follows the story of an all-girl "Boy Scout" troop based in Closter, New Jersey. In 2019, for the first time in its 100+ year history, the Boy Scouts of America officially opened its ranks to girls. Troop 163 was among the early adopters, offering young girls access to an institution long defined by outdoor survivalism, civic service, and codes rooted in masculine tradition. The troop also reflects the community around it: many of the scouts are Korean American, part of a strong and intergenerational Korean presence in Closter.

At a time when youth are increasingly affected by digital saturation and the mental health challenges it brings, Troop 163 offers a different path—one grounded in real-world connection, practical skills, and responsibility; one where traditional gender roles don’t define paths for curiosity and growth. These Scout girls learn by doing: camping in all seasons, hiking, building fires, learning first aid and wilderness survival, and taking on leadership roles within the troop.

The project explores what it means for girls to carve out space in an institution shaped by male tradition, structure, and a foundational motto of duty to God. It also considers how the troop’s unique makeup intersects with Scouting’s emphasis on advancement, responsibility, and service.

The ongoing project aims to create a body of work that moves between classic documentary and a more intuitive, symbolic visual language—capturing the tension between individual transformation and collective tradition. The result is a portrait of a generation coming of age inside a space where history, identity, and belief quietly converge.