The Boy Scouts of America will officially include girls starting this Summer and will drop the word "Boy" from its name
Mike Surbaugh, chief scout executive, revealed their new "Scout Me In" campaign that hopes to promote inclusiveness. Letting girls into the program will help busy families by having all of their children enroll in a single schedule. That way, parents don't have to jump from one location to another for each child.
Over 3,000 girls nationwide have already enrolled in the Cub Scouts' "Early Adopter Program".
Stated on their website, "The traditional Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for children ages 7 to 11 years, Boy Scouting for youth ages 11 to 18 and Venturing for young men and women ages 14 (or 13 and having completed the 8th grade) through 21."
"Beginning in 2018, girls have the opportunity to join Cub Scout dens, and in 2019, programs for older girls will make it possible to earn the rank of Eagle Scout."
Older boys and girls will be divided by gender but will still do similar programs and activities before they reach the rank of Eagle Scout.
In October of 2017, the organization announced that it would include girls in the program. Earlier in the same year, they announced that transgendered youths would be allowed into their organization. Currently, there is almost 1 million adult (volunteers) who work in the BSA.
The BSA ended it's band on gay leaders in 2015
How will this affect the Girl Scouts of the USA? (You know, the one that has the cookie sales)
“Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls,” Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, said in a statement. “We are, and will remain, the first choice for girls and parents"
Here are some opinions about the recent change:
Photo: DES PLAINES, IL - JANUARY 5: Matthew Stieve of Boy Scout Troop 38 (2nd-R) serves soup to a guest at First United Methodist Church January 5, 2004 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Volunteers involved in a program called 'Bessie's Table' prepare and serve dinner to individuals or family members who are either unemployed, underemployed or just looking for a warm meal. Donations come from local grocery stores and other local companies. The program, which operates only on Monday evenings, serves an average of 70 people. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)