Boy Scouts Are Dropping the Word 'Boy' as Girls Are Starting to Join
The Boy Scouts of America's program for 11- to 17-year-olds will be known as Scouts BSA starting next year.
By Julyssa Lopez
In 2017 the Boy Scouts of America announced that for the first time in their 108-year history, they would allow girls to join the organization. Now they're changing the name of their main program for 11- to 17-year-olds to reflect that inclusivity. The flagship program, which will formally open up to girls next year, will be called Scouts BSA, a change that takes effect in February of 2019.
"We wanted to land on something that evokes the past but also conveys the inclusive nature of the program going forward," chief scout executive Mike Surbaugh said, according to the Associated Press. "We're trying to find the right way to say we're here for both young men and young women."
The name change is part of the organization's recent efforts to build dwindling membership numbers by bringing girls into the fold. They've already started an Early Adopter Program for the Cub Scouts, which has welcomed more than 3,000 girls into approximately 170 packs for kids between the ages of seven and 10, according to USA Today. They've also launched the Scout Me In campaign, a marketing and rebranding effort that includes new images of both boys and girls participating in Scout activities.
While the name of the flagship program is changing, the organization will still be called Boy Scouts of America. The Cub Scouts name will also go unchanged.
While Scouts BSA will include boys and girls, the units will be divided among gender. There will be all-girl and all-boy units who will earn the same merit badges and participate in the same activities in an effort to earn the organization's top Eagle Scout award. According to the AP, "Surbaugh said that having separate units for boys and girls should alleviate concerns that girls joining the BSA for the first time might be at a disadvantage in seeking leadership opportunities."
The changes may also cause strains for the Girl Scouts, which was created two years after the Boy Scouts and has also experienced decreases in memberships. Still, Surbaugh has said that his organization supports the Girl Scouts, and told the AP that parents can choose their troops if they're the best fit.
"As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible," Saurbaugh said.
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