Woman, 21, who fought for NINE YEARS to become a Boy Scout reveals how she transformed it into the co-ed program it is today while her mother battled terminal cancer - and now her story is set to become a feature film

Sydney Ireland, 21, from New York, has become known for her hard work  The trailblazer spent nearly a decade fighting to change Boy Scouts In 2019, her hard work paid off and the program became co-ed 

The young woman who fought to become a Boy Scout has lifted the lid on her nine-year battle that helped her transform the program into a co-ed club – and now her story is set to become a feature film.

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 group.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, the New York-based trailblazer detailed how she devoted her time to the organization to put young women on equal footing with those in Boy Scouts.

Sydney overcame every obstacle she encountered, and even pushed through the overwhelming grief she experienced after the tragic death of her mother, Nancy, to help inspire future generations of changemakers and allow girls to have the same opportunities as boys.

Sydney Ireland, 21, fought to become a Boy Scout and has now lifted the lid on her nine-year battle that helped her transform the program into a co-ed club

She has spent nearly a decade pushing for young girls to be able to join Boy Scouts and has finally achieved her goal (pictured as a child with her mom, Nancy, and her dad, Gary)

Speaking to DailyMail.com, the New York-based trailblazer detailed how she devoted her time to the organization (pictured with Nancy Pelosi and Carolyn Maloney)

Now, Sydney has recalled the powerful moment she joined the Girl Scouts and realized boys had more opportunities available to them – prompting her to begin her fight.

The 21-year-old first saw her brother, Bryan, participating in Boy Scouts as a child and wanted to tag along, so she joined Girl Scouts in hopes of getting the same experience.

‘I wanted to join, initially because my older brother Bryan joined the Cub Scouts,’ she told DailyMail.com.

‘I wanted to do the same fun things he got to do, like go camping, earn badges, and be a member of a group that cares about leadership and personal development.’

However, after going through every stage of Girl Scouts, Sydney quickly realized that the same opportunities that were given to her brother weren’t given to her.

At just 11 years old, Sydney earned the Arrow Light award, which is the highest achievement in Cub Scouts, which is the program dedicated to younger children.

And while she was ecstatic to be recognized for all her of her hard work, Sydney was soon disheartened that none of her efforts were official because she was a girl.

‘When I was 11 years old, I unofficially earned the highest award in the Cub Scouts (the younger version of the Boy Scouts), the Arrow of Light,’ Sydney explained.

Sydney (seen as a child with her family) overcame every obstacle she encountered, and even pushed through the overwhelming grief she experienced after the tragic death of her mother

Now, Sydney has recalled the powerful moment she joined the Girl Scouts and realized boys had more opportunities available to them – prompting her to begin her fight

The 21-year-old first saw her brother, Bryan, (pictured) participating in Boy Scouts as a child and wanted to tag along, so she joined Girl Scouts in hopes of getting the same experience

‘Once I realized that all the work that I had done to achieve the award was not official, I wanted to change that for other young girls and young women, so everyone could benefit from scouting.’

The 21-year-old explained that ‘young women should have all the same opportunities that boys have had since the beginning of time.’

And so began her fight to transform Boy Scouts into a co-ed program.

She noted that she wanted everyone to have the ability to achieve the highest Boy Scouts rank, which was once just available to boys.

‘The Boy Scouts’ highest rank of Eagle is too highly recognized and honored to only be open for boys to achieve. Earning the Eagle Rank opens doors and everyone should have the opportunity to earn this prestigious award,’ she explained.

Once she decided to fight for a change, she fully immersed herself in the battle.

Sydney told DailyMail.com: ‘My family and I started by writing resolutions asking the Boy Scouts to open their doors to young women, and, at the time, gay scouts and adult leaders.

‘I spoke at the NY Presbytery and the National Organization for Women, passing resolutions though both groups.

‘We then started a Change.org petition, which catalyzed the movement to become internationally supported.

However, after going through every stage of Girl Scouts, Sydney quickly realized that the same opportunities that were given to her brother weren’t given to her

From speaking sharing her story with iconic activist Gloria Steinem (pictured), and even attending the State of the Union in 2019 – Sydney convinced everyone to join her campaign

And her road to change wasn’t easy – although she was met with overwhelming support, she also faced furious criticism and was branded an ‘idiot’ and ‘hypocrite’ for attempting to try to change the traditions of Boy Scouts.

Along with the furious backlash from trolls online, Sydney was trying to stay strong for her mom, who was battling ovarian cancer.

Even while watching her mom’s health deteriorate, the 21-year-old didn’t back down from her fight.

She poured all of her efforts into making a change so that no girl ever had to feel like they couldn’t accomplish the same successes as boys.

From speaking with former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to sharing her story with iconic activist Gloria Steinem, and even attending the State of the Union in 2019 – Sydney convinced everyone to join her campaign.

And, even at her worst, Sydney’s cancer-stricken mom supported her daughter’s mission and encouraged her to keep fighting.

‘My family was right beside me the entire time, supporting me, helping me, and speaking out with me; I could not have done it without them. My older brother, Bryan, was the reason I wanted to join Scouts in the first place – he had so much fun,’ Sydney told DailyMail.com.

And her road to change wasn’t easy. Although she was met with overwhelming support, Sydney (seen with her dad) faced furious criticism, and was branded an ‘idiot’ and ‘hypocrite’

In addition to having her family supporting her, Sydney (seen as a child) also had former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s backing

‘My dad, Gary, whose legal practice includes civil rights, helped me to develop a plan and worked with me on so many speeches and resolutions. I worked with my family and with so many supporters to get this done.’

In addition to having her family supporting her, Sydney also had former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s backing.

In 2017, Sydney finally started to see some of her hard work pay off when the Boy Scouts initially announced they would start accepting girls.

‘It took years from when I started my journey, to when the Boy Scout opened its program to girls, first announcing the change on October 11, 2017 (the International Day of the Girl),’ she said.

It took another two years until the Boy Scouts of America – which was renamed Scouts BSA – officially started allowing girls to become members and achieve the same rankings as boys.

‘I’ve been involved in the Boy Scouts since I was four years old and finally became an official member when I was 17 years old. I was officially awarded my Eagle Scout when I was 19 years old,’ Sydney told DailyMail.com.

And while she was overjoyed that there was finally change taking place, the 21-year-old slammed the leaders of the program for prolonging the process.

‘It didn’t need to take so long to make this important change. The leadership slow walked the process,’ she told DailyMail.com.

It’s because of Sydney that young girls can achieve the same rankings as boys.

‘It is because of the work of many of us that girls can join scouting. Now, any young girl or young woman can walk into any Scout troop meeting and sign up officially and become a member. Ultimately, they have the opportunity to work towards earning the highest award in the Scouts, the Eagle Rank,’ she told DailyMail.com.

It took another two years until the Boy Scouts of America – which is now known as the Scouts BSA – allowed girls to become members and achieve the same rankings as boys (Sydney pictured as a child)

She hopes that little girls will be inspired by her story and learn that anything is possible – something she was grateful to learn from an early age through the support of her loved ones (seen with her dad)

‘Earning this badge is highly respected and a credential opening doors to colleges, in business, and many other areas. Previously, the Eagle Rank, and for no legitimate reason, was only open to young men.’

Although Sydney’s mom passed before she could see her daughter achieve her goal, the 21-year-old honors her in all she does and knows her mom would be proud of how far she has come.

It’s because of her mom that Sydney was able to give other kids a voice.

Now, nearly four years after Sydney’s hard work paid off, she will get to see all of her devotion aired in a film.

Sydney Ireland — Eagle Scout is said to be a dramatic feature film that will reveal her unrelenting determination to transform the program forever.

The 21-year-old changemaker hopes that the movie will ‘motivate the next generation of relentless advocates for positive change.’ 

She hopes that little girls will be inspired by her story and learn that anything is possible – something she was grateful to learn from an early age through the support of her loved ones.  

She told DailyMail.com: ‘This is such a crucial time for young people to be active in their communities and organizations, holding them accountable and creating change where it ought to be made.

‘I hope this film inspires other young women, and young people to fight against injustice. Something that seems impossible to change is only going to be reconsidered once someone takes the courageous step to try and change it.’