Scouts of America

Well, that was fast!
Starting next year (2018), girls will be part of the BSA scouting program, not just Venturing, Sea Scouts, Explorers, and STEM. What, you did not realize they were in all that already?

Oh my, it will be a busy year of updates - the organization name, logos, training, uniforms, patches, stickers, books, signs, documents, ... Whew!

After unanimous approval by the BSA board of directors, girls will join Cub Scout Packs in 2018. The plan is to have separate dens for girls and for boys. Then, in 2019, girls will join Boy Scout Troops. See the BSA statement and Bryans blog post.

Will this cause the Girl Scouts of the United States of America to go under? Maybe.

In 1972, BSA had 6.5mil members, 5.1mil in 2012, and 2.3mil in 2016 - maybe this change will raise the numbers now that the entire organization welcomes anyone.

I do not know about the separate dens for girls thing (and a separate program for girls in troops is planned). Whenever I have heard the need discussed, parents were looking for siblings to join scouting "just like the boys". Finding more den leaders just for the girls will be daunting, and I bet most packs will have girls join boy dens no matter what the national organization says.

Best of luck to all you front line volunteers over the next few years. We live (scout) in interesting times! Please just remember to do your best for your scouts and keep adult stuff at adult gatherings to make their scouting experience the best you can.

When do you think the first female Eagle Scout will be awarded? My vote is for November 22, 2019. Whoever posts the closest guess here gets a cookie!

Posted: 14:13 10-11-2017 1330

Prev: Post Your Colors
Next: Chief Scout on Girls in BSA
Archives: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

Site Disclosure Statement

Comments:

Oct 11, 2017 - Bryan

They did not say Girls would join Boy Scout troops, they said they would announce a Girl Program. if you look at the Family Scouting page on the BSA Site, female cub scouts will crossover into the Girl PRogram while male cub scouts will crossover into the Boy Scouts.

Oct 11, 2017 - Kristian

I am doing the math and come up with something around June 20, 2021. You do have to meet the time requirements for ranks still. I see my daughter getting hers in early 2022.

Oct 11, 2017 - Pbev

Disappointed in this move. There already is a great girl scout program. My wife did that and earned her Gold Award. There's also Venturing. No need to change our BSA program at all, except to cave to political pressures.

Oct 11, 2017 - Patricia Hernandez

So upset and saddened by this. Is their no place for boys to be with boys? To have that special bond? Why ruin our program ? I am not sure if I want my son in this program anymore. Den leader. Cubmaster. U let our sons down. U should be ashamed

Oct 12, 2017 - BSss

This is horrible. Boy Scouts is a great organization but the nationals is rotten. BSA is falling apart. I am having a hard time seeing how I can stay involved when there is so little integrity at the top.

Oct 13, 2017 - Elmer

The biggest membership drop came AFTER 2013: when they caved to PC pressure and let gays in. Now that they’re caving to the feminists, you think the numbers are going to INCREASE?!?

You aren’t paying much attention.

Oct 25, 2017 - George Fox

My view is this...at the Cub Scout level, I don't see much of an issue. Packs usually have a family campout as opposed to a scout only function. Cub Scouts is family oriented. It's not really an issue to separate shower times, as most activities have separate facilities. Deep leadership usually isn't an issue.

At the troop level however, two deep leadership won't be enough. Teen boys and girls have no business being together on overnight outings. You'll be looking at needing 4-6 deep leadership with mixed sexes as leaders! That can be a huge obstacle at that level.

Just my two cents on the issue.

Oct 27, 2017 - Darcy Guill

Cubs Scouts have always been a family program. Girls have been participating for years. Now they can join. As for co-ed dens, that would be a violation of BSA policy and puts the unit at risk of having their charter revoked.

I don't know why youth protection policy is such an issue. There are already girls in BSA programs like Venturing. Sorry, but the BSA already has that issue covered. Nothing new here either.

I am not thrilled about how this came about and how quickly it is happening, which says to me that the BSA really is doing this for money and not families or girls. Are we really doing our daughters justice by putting them in programs designed for boys?

Nov 02, 2017 - Pete

This is a horrible development. I have 2 daughters and 2 sons. Each enjoyed Scouts....their own Scouts. The BSA is NOT the "Scouts of America" we are the BOY Scouts of America. No, girls will NOT be in male dens and girls will most certainly NEVER be in boy troops. This is yet another case of the professional BSA being completely out of touch with the volunteers who make the program a reality to millions of boys. They are destroying our beloved program as we watch. Sad and pathetic.

- Ask a Question - Add Content
Just for Fun: Socializing merit badge

This site is not officially associated with the Boy Scouts of America

Find more Scouting Resources at www.BoyScoutTrail.com