Cara Newbill

Cara Newbill is a friend maker and community creator – quiet and welcoming. She is quick to invite people into her circle and to model civility in spaces of conflict. She is the friend others call for help negotiating relationships and conflicts of all kinds, and she gives the best advice on setting boundaries, letting go, standing ground, and honoring the dignity of other humans.

As one of the first girls to join Scouts BSA (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) when it opened to girls in 2019, Cara navigated becoming a girl leader in what had been an all-boy environment with a longstanding tradition of male leadership. She worked to build bridges between the groups, to build trust between individuals, and to leverage social capital among her peers to help both the troop and the summer camp staff she worked with.

In leadership roles within Scouts BSA, she models civil behavior for other members and other leaders. When a peer frequently expressed frustration with misguided gender expectations, Cara chose to model how to manage boundaries in a male-dominated organization – without magnifying conflicts.

As a senior patrol leader alongside a male counterpart, she worked to co-design a meeting structure with equitable leadership and representation among boys and girls. As a scout, she was able to make friends across the gender divide and use relationships and consistent teaching to affect culture change.

Cara has also been a voice for the girls within the organization, including dealing with discomfort around male leaders. She carried peers' concerns to leadership and works within the existing leadership structure to improve the culture for all scouts. In her first year, she was one of only two girls in the group, and membership has now grown to more than five times that.

Cara's work with children, whether it is at summer camp or through her childcare work, exemplifies her civility as well. She treats children like the whole people they are, leading them with empathy and respect.

As a camp counselor or childcare provider, Cara teaches civility and establishes boundaries that preserve mutual respect and emotional safety. She is who you want watching your kids on the playground.

A junior majoring in Environmental Conservation and Society in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, Cara aspires to work in the National Park Service after graduation – reflecting her passion for all things nature – and teaching others about the wonders of the natural world.

Cara said, “In tough conversations, it’s best to remember that there is still good out there. Listening to and getting to know a person shows a level of respect needed when getting along with other people. My grandma used to find the smallest joys in the world, and I loved that way of being, so I try to bring it into every conversation I have.”

For growing respect at the roots of community, I am proud to present the Aspire! Award for PRACTICE CIVILITY to Cara Newbill.