Cub Scout Pack 223 in Poughkeepsie, NY, has been holding annual Pinewood Derby races since its founding in 1966.

With more than a half-century of tradition to draw on, much about the March event at the Town of Poughkeepsie Senior Center felt familiar: Colorful wooden cars, hand-crafted by kids with help from their parents; the smell of popcorn and other treats in the air; and all eyes shifting anxiously from the long metal track to the leader board after every race.

Beyond that, however, this year’s race was a bit different. For the first time, girls were able to participate in the popular event as official members of the Boy Scouts of America.

In all, four area girls competed in their first Pinewood Derby as members of Hudson Valley Council Pack 223.

“They should have let girls in the club before,” said Cub Scout Hayley C., 7, in a story published by Spectrum News Albany. “Because maybe girls can learn the same as the (boys).”

In the article, the girls’ parents said the BSA’s welcoming of girls is going to show that some activities — once associated with just boys — are for everyone.

“She’s competing in other things with boys at the same levels of them,” said Danielle Daudier, whose daughter just joined Pack 223.

Some of the boys quoted in the story said they like the Scout experience even better with girls included.

“I mean, it’s just great,” Cub Scout Aiden T. said. “We needed girls this year, and, I think, a lot of years.”

To access the full article, plus a brief video on the event, visit Spectrum News Albany.

To learn more about some of the details on welcoming girls into the Cub Scout program, check out the Bryan on Scouting article on that topic.

For more information and the latest updates on Family Scouting, visit www.scouting.org/familyscouting.