Angelina Feliz, 11, of North Smithfield, smiled as she took the Scout Oath before dozens of witnesses Friday night as the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America threw a party for its first troops of girl scouts: Troop 438 Slatersville, in North Smithfield, and Troop 77 Buttonwoods, in Warwick.

PROVIDENCE — Angelina Feliz, 11, of North Smithfield, smiled as she took the Scout Oath before dozens of witnesses Friday night as the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America threw a party for its first troops of female scouts: Troop 438 Slatersville, in North Smithfield, and Troop 77 Buttonwoods, in Warwick.

"My brother was in it and I used to see him do all these cool things I wanted to do," said Feliz, of Troop 438, her speech speeding with excitement. "Now I get to, and my friends are going to be in it, too."

The two troops are among six new girls' troops forming under the banner of the Narragansett Council. According to the council's CEO, Tim McCandless, nine more are on the way.

At a celebration of the two troops' inauguration Friday night at the Pavilion at Grace Church, McCandless said Feliz's feelings are familiar to him.

"I come from a scouting family," he said. "My sister would watch us do all of this fun stuff and say that they want to do it; we are talking in the 1970s. Now, she is happy to see her daughters have those opportunities."

Girls had previously been offered a chance to tag along in the Scout BSA program — previously called Boy Scouts and one of four programs offered by the Boy Scouts of America — but not officially join. When the change was announced last year, not all were happy, including the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

The Girls Scouts sued the organization over the name change — arguing the Scouts had infringed on its trademark, engaged in unfair business practices and sownconfusion among the public. The suit is pending. But Girl Scouts Southeastern New England said that, while they could not comment on a national level, they get along fine locally.

"I do not have any animosity," said Girl Scouts Southeastern New England CEO Pam Hyland. "There is no ill will.

"We have always taught girls that they need to make decisions that are right for them," she continued. "We still remain steadfast in our knowledge of Girl Scouts as the single best organization in leadership for girls in the world."

The Narragansett Council is already working on expanding opportunities for girls, including in marginalized communities in places such as Central Falls and Woonsocket.

"We already have 1,200 boys in organizations up there," McCandless said. "We are hoping to have 1,200 girls there."

This is about opportunity," said Heather Robertson, leader of Troop 438. "They are very excited to be included."

The historical weight of the moment — 119 years in the making — was not lost on Feliz.

"I think it was not fair that girls could not do it for so long," she said. "It makes me feel great that now we can."

— kandrade@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @Kevprojo