Boy Scouts of America changes the name after multiple scandals

After years of various woes, the organization changes its name to a more inclusive one - Scouting America

The Boy Scouts of America is altering their name. This is the first time in 114 years since the organization is existing. The new 'woke' and inclusive name will be Scouting America. This is a shift as the organization emerges from many scandals.

The particular inclusive name change is coming after the bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims. The organization seemingly wants to open a new chapter and focus on inclusion. A group with a long history has made big changes after facing many challenges over the years. They have started allowing gay young people and girls to join their ranks^[1].

Hoping to attract more members, the organization, based in Irving, Texas, announced a name change at its yearly meeting in Florida. Since last fall, Roger Krone, the new president and CEO stated in an interview before the announcement, "We want all young people in America to feel very welcome to join our programs in the next 100 years."

The group started accepting gay young people in 2013 and stopped banning gay adult leaders in 2015

The organization altered its beliefs and rules to accept more people, and this inclusive change in this day and age was just a logical step. For some, this is a 'woke' moment, and not everyone is happy about these changes, which might mean that the organization is moving away from the image that started a hundred years ago.

However, the group started the journey of acceptance of others way back then. In 2017, they announced that girls could join as Cub Scouts starting in 2018 and the main Boy Scout program, now called Scouts BSA, in 2019. In 2021, the first class of female Eagle Scouts included nearly 1,000 young women, such as Selby Chipman. She helped start an all-girls troop in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, which grew from five to nearly 50 girls. She believes the name change will help more girls see that they can join^[2].

Chipman, now 20 and a college student and assistant scoutmaster, mentioned that girls often ask if they can join the Boy Scouts of America. Soon after announcing girls could join, Bob Brady, a father and Eagle Scout from New Jersey, started an all-girls troop. While some adult leaders were unsure during their first-weekend event, their concerns faded when the girls led a traditional cheer at the campfire.

Brady noticed a shift in attitude among those doubtful, seeing that these kids were no different; they just had ponytails. His daughters are among 13 girls in his troop and 6,000 nationwide who have earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.

Like many organizations, the scouts lost members during the pandemic

Many have suffered during the pandemic, including Scouts. They went from having over 2 million members in 2018 to just over 1 million now, including over 176,000 girls and young women. Their membership was at its peak in 1972 with nearly 5 million people.

There was a bit of trouble when the Boy Scouts started allowing girls to join because the Girl Scouts of the USA sued them. They felt it was confusing and affecting their numbers, but the courts didn't agree, and both groups settled, allowing them to use the terms "scouts" and "scouting."

Camping is still a big part of the Boy Scouts' work, but they also offer activities like high-adventure trips and badges for robotics and digital skills. The Scouts offer a structured way for kids to explore almost any interest they might have. The Boy Scouts also set up a $2.4 billion plan to reorganize after bankruptcy. This plan keeps them running and starts paying compensation to over 80,000 men who said they were abused in the Scouts when they were kids.

Angelique Minett, the first female chairperson of Scouts BSA, is optimistic about the future of Scouting. She's inspired by a youth council that proposes new ideas for the Scouts, like focusing on sustainability and improving uniform fit. Minett noted that while many think of Scouting as just about knots and camping, it's really about teaching kids a wide range of skills, including how to keep going when things get tough, life skills, and leadership^[3].

These changes are aimed at making the Scouts a more welcoming and inclusive place, which might help bring back some of the members they lost during the pandemic and from past problems. On February 8, 2025, to mark its 115th birthday, the organization will change its name to Scouting America. Krone believes people will start using the new name right away and that it sends a clear message that the program is open to everyone, encouraging them to join, be themselves, and feel welcomed.