She also broke new ground as the first female senior patrol leader of Troop 8, a co-ed scouting unit.

Under her leadership, the troop grew significantly from 17 youth to 35, culminating in an impressive showing at scout camp with over 40 participants, including adult leaders.

Gearhart’s journey in scouting began with a love for the outdoors.

“It goes back to when I was a kid – I loved camping,” she recalled.

Shown is Danielle English awarding Gearhart the prestigious Silver Wolf Award for excellent contributions to the Lodge.

When a friend discovered a co-ed scouting troop, they decided to check it out.

“The Scouts of America spoke to my outdoor spirit,” she said, though she laughed that her friend ultimately did not stay.

Despite being one of the first girls in her troop, she found strong encouragement from her adult leaders and parents.

Becoming the first female Senior Patrol Leader was a milestone, but not without its challenges.

“The biggest obstacle was getting over my fear,” Gearhart admitted. “But with my team and the support of Troop 8, I was able to overcome that.”

Pictured is Gearhart building an eight-by-12 picnic shelter at Werner Park, with Wendi Donachy watching on.

She was determined to take on the role; every adult leader and her parents encouraged her to move forward.

Adult leader Danielle English said, “I knew she was going to excel in the scouting program and had the potential to be a great youth leader.”

As a leader, Gearhart was instrumental in expanding Troop 8’s membership. She spearheaded outreach efforts, including organizing Webelo Weekend, where young scouts and parents toured camp, learned knot-tying, built fires, and got a hands-on introduction to scouting. She also updated recruitment materials and personally engaged with Cub Scouts through activities and presentations.

“I made brochures and flyers, called scout leaders,” she said, ensuring new members felt welcomed.

Adult leader Travis Cunningham praised Gearhart’s implementations as “new and innovative ways to improve communication, organization, and overall morale.”

A key initiative under her leadership was reviving the Patrol Leaders Council, reinforcing that “scouting is a youth-run organization, and my thought was to take it back to that place.”

While there were complexities to shifting more responsibility onto youth leadership, she successfully implemented a structured system, holding formal meetings once a month. This leadership structure remains in place today, with new Senior Patrol Leaders watching the role develop.

Reflecting on her new confidence, Gearhart said, “If I can do this, I can do other hard things.”

Beyond Troop 8, Gearhart’s leadership extended to the national level. As Eastern Region 14 Section Secretary of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society, she manages communications and social media for eight lodges across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York.

At the National Order of the Arrow Conference in Colorado, she participated in service projects like trail restoration and engaged with other section leaders.

“It’s a worldwide organization, and at the conference, I got to meet people from different lodges all over,” she said.

One of her proudest moments was delivering a speech at the Section Officer Seminar, where she collaborated with other secretaries to enhance communication efforts.

Scouting has also influenced Gearhart’s academic and career aspirations. She will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study Natural Science, with plans to pursue pre-dentistry. “Science, in general, started me on this path,” she explained, adding that she had the opportunity to shadow a dentist who was also a Scout mother.

“There’s a merit badge for everything–it opens up possibilities.”

Her dedication to service extends beyond Scouting, shaping her involvement in clubs like Key Club and the National Honor Society.

The volunteering requirements for Eagle Scout rank aligned naturally with her commitment to community service.

“I get to have fun with my friends while helping others,” she said.

Looking ahead, Gearhart hopes her legacy in Scouting will inspire others.

“I hope people look at what I have accomplished and see they can do it, especially for the 7-8 younger girls in the co-ed troop,” she said.

For Gearhart, leadership is about breaking barriers and proving that passion knows no limits.

“It doesn’t matter what it is–if you are passionate, nothing can stop you.”

Gearhart’s adult leaders agree that Gearhart stands out in terms of leadership by being an example and working alongside her team rather than just giving direction.

Additionally, she embraces feedback, continuously develops her skills through leadership training, and takes responsibility for her actions.

Most importantly, she fosters a supportive environment, encouraging teamwork and mentoring younger scouts to help them grow and succeed in Scouting.

Her journey in leadership continues. She recently led a communications training session at National Youth Leadership Training, working with over 30 participants.

Cunningham said, “It has been a pleasure to watch Zoe’s Scouting journey and we are all excited for what is in store for her.”

From a shy child to a confident leader, she now jokes, “People can’t get me to stop talking about the things I’m passionate about.”

With her trailblazing accomplishments, Gearhart embodies the Scout motto–“Be Prepared”–in every aspect of her life.