Starting next year, the organization will be known as Scouting America.
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Boy Scouts of America is a 114-year-old historic organization. For the first time in its long history, the group will be known by a new name: Scouting America. The reason for the change is to reflect its mission of inclusion for all young people.
The group’s name will officially change on February 8, 2025, a date that coincides with the organization’s 115th anniversary.
“While our name is new, our mission remains unchanged: we are committed to teaching young people to be Prepared. For the life,” Roger A. Crownsays the president and CEO of Scouting America in a press release. “This will be a simple but very important evolution, as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in Scouting.”
Then in 2018, the Boy Scouts of America had another big change. The group began to welcome girls. Today, more than 176,000 young women are enrolled. More than 6,000 of these girls have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
A spokesperson for the Boy Scouts of America also said Country, “As part of our membership policy, we welcome all young people, and this includes non-binary and transgender children.”
While all of these steps were very positive for the organization, there were also other controversies that followed the Boy Scouts.
The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020. At that time, according to the Associated Pressthe organization was named in 275 lawsuits related to sexual abuse allegations, and the Boy Scouts told insurers they were aware of about 1,400 other complaints.
The Boy Scouts eventually reached a settlement with more than 80,000 men who said troop leaders abused them as children. In February 2024, the US Supreme Court allowed the settlement worth almost US$2.4 million with victims of abuse to move forward.
Next Chapter of Scouting
Leaving this past behind, Scouting America intends to move forward. The organization’s press release states that its mission is “to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningfully life skill and have fun educational experiences, promoting their growth and future results as leaders, and be prepared for life.”
There are currently more than one million youth in the Boy Scouts of America. They are led by 477,000 adult volunteers across the country. Young people involved in scouting they also dedicate their time to volunteering in their communities.
“Scouting America provides a welcoming and safe environment where young people can become the best versions of themselves by learning and respecting each other,” says Krone. “I encourage everyone to join us and experience the benefits of Scouting.”
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Read the original article at Country.
