Who Is Sydney Ireland? The Young Woman Who Changed the Boy Scouts Forever and Landed The “Eagle Scout” Film Deal

Sydney Ireland is a young woman who has made history by becoming one of the first female Eagle Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Her remarkable story, which spans over a decade of advocacy, perseverance, and achievement, is set to be adapted into a feature film by award-winning filmmaker Michael Corso.

A Lifelong Passion for Scouting

Sydney Ireland was born in 2002 in New York City. She grew up with a passion for scouting, inspired by her older brother Bryan, who was a Cub Scout and later an Eagle Scout. Sydney wanted to join the BSA as well, but she faced a major obstacle: the BSA did not allow girls to join its ranks.

Sydney did not let that stop her. She became an unofficial member of her brother’s Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop, participating in all the activities, earning all the badges, and completing all the requirements, but without receiving any official recognition. She also joined the co-ed Venture Scout program in Canada, where she earned the top Chief Scout’s Award and received a letter of congratulations from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Sydney Ireland, 21, has spent nearly a decade pushing for young girls to be able to join Boy Scouts and has finally achieved her goal opening the door for more than 400,000 girls to join the male-dominated grouphttps://t.co/yh1qBcWRNI

— Amanda Vos (@AmandaVos7) January 14, 2024

A Crusade for Change

Ireland was not satisfied with being an unofficial scout. She wanted to be recognized as an equal member of the BSA and to earn its highest honor, the Eagle Scout rank. She also wanted to pave the way for other girls and young women who shared her love for scouting.

Sydney launched a campaign to change the BSA’s policy of excluding girls. She started an online petition, which garnered over 10,000 signatures, and wrote letters to the BSA’s leadership. She also appeared on various media outlets, such as The New York Times, CNN, NPR, and HuffPost, to raise awareness and garner support for her cause.

Sydney’s campaign caught the attention of many influential people, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who tweeted her support for Sydney in 2017. Sydney also received endorsements from several current and former scouts, who praised her as a trailblazer and a role model.

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A Historic Victory

Sydney Ireland’s efforts paid off in 2017, when the BSA’s board of directors unanimously approved a measure that welcomed girls into the Cub Scout program and announced plans to deliver a scouting program for older girls that would enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. In 2019, the BSA officially changed its name to Scouts BSA and opened its doors to girls and young women.

She was among the first to join Scouts BSA as a female member. She had to start from scratch, as none of her previous achievements as an unofficial scout were recognized by the BSA. She had to complete all the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank within a short time frame, as she was nearing the age limit of 18.

Sydney did not give up. She worked hard and completed her Eagle Scout project, Connect a Vet with a Pet, on Veteran’s Day, 2018. Her project involved partnering with a local animal shelter and a veterans organization to help veterans adopt pets and provide them with emotional support. She also earned 21 merit badges, covering various topics such as citizenship, communication, first aid, and environmental science.

Ireland had her official BSA Board of Review on Oct. 1, 2020, and became one of the first female Eagle Scouts in the BSA’s history. She received her Eagle Scout medal at a Court of Honor ceremony on June 24, 2022, in New York City.

A Feature Film in the Making

Sydney’s inspiring story caught the eye of Michael Corso, a filmmaker who has produced several acclaimed documentaries, such as “Forks Over Knives”, “PlantPure Nation”, and “Heal”. Corso decided to make a feature film based on Sydney’s life and her fight for gender equality in the BSA.

The film, titled “Sydney Ireland — Eagle Scout”, is described as a dramatic feature film “telling the true story of one young woman’s unrelenting determination toward a supreme achievement, opening membership to girls and young women in the male dominated organization, the Boy Scouts of America”.

Corso said he was drawn to Sydney’s story because of its relevance and resonance in today’s society. “Sydney Ireland is a role model for anyone fighting for equal rights for women and girls, thanks to her work in getting the Boy Scouts to start allowing girls to join its ranks,” he said. “Her story is timely, uplifting, and empowering, and I am honored to bring it to the big screen.”

The film is currently in pre-production, with casting and location scouting underway. Corso said he hopes to start filming in the summer of 2024, and to release the film in 2025. He said he plans to involve Sydney and her family in the filmmaking process, and to consult with the BSA and other scouting organizations.

Sydney said she was thrilled and humbled by the prospect of having her story turned into a film. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my story with a wider audience, and to inspire more girls and young women to pursue their dreams and passions, no matter what obstacles they face,” she said. “I hope this film will also show the positive impact of scouting on the lives of millions of people around the world, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the scouting movement.”

Sydney is currently a sophomore at Amherst College, where she is majoring in political science and minoring in French. She said she plans to continue her involvement in scouting, and to advocate for more social justice causes in the future. She said she hopes to see more girls and young women join Scouts BSA and earn the Eagle Scout rank, and to witness the BSA become a truly co-ed organization.

“I am proud to be an Eagle Scout, and to be part of the first class of female Eagle Scouts in the BSA’s history,” she said. “I am also proud to be part of a larger movement of change and progress, and to have contributed to making the world a better place for everyone.”

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