The historic rebranding of the Boy Scouts of America to Scouting America has ignited a modest increase in the organization's membership, a hopeful sign as it strives to transcend past challenges. Celebrating its 115th anniversary, the organization continues to emphasize inclusivity, according to President and CEO Roger Krone.
Despite some initial resistance, the rebranding attracted curious interest, potentially due to its more gender-inclusive identity. As Krone commented, The fact that we were going with a more gender-neutral name, a lot of people kind of wanted to know more about it. This curiosity has led to an influx of approximately 16,000 new scouts, representing a growth of nearly 2% from the previous year, a welcome trend following the pandemic-induced decline.
The majority of these new participants are from the Cub Scouts category, reflecting a nearly 3% increase. While a significant portion of the membership is still male, Scouting America's programs have seen participation from over 196,000 girls, with more than 8,000 earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
The name change will be formally adopted during a nationwide celebration, illuminating landmarks like Niagara Falls and the Empire State Building in the colors of the American flag. This event will culminate with the raising of a new Scouting America flag at their Irving, Texas headquarters.
Over the past decade, Scouting America has navigated significant challenges, including a 2020 bankruptcy brought on by an influx of sexual abuse claims, predominantly filed by men who said they were abused as young scouts. Addressing this, the organization enacted a $2.4 billion bankruptcy restructuring plan, allowing it to continue operating and begin compensating survivors.
Inclusive Policies and Social Progress
Further reflecting its modernized stance, Scouting America began admitting gay youth in 2013, followed by lifting its ban on gay adult leaders in 2015. In a landmark move in 2017, girls were invited to join as Cub Scouts in 2018, transitioning into the renamed Scouts BSA program by 2019. These policies underscore Scouting America's commitment to an inclusive, progressive vision.
To fund the settlement trust for survivors, Scouting America has sold various assets, including campgrounds and iconic Norman Rockwell paintings. In advancing its modernization efforts, the organization is digitizing its materials, aiming to create a multilingual platform to enhance accessibility for non-English speaking families.
Diversity in Action
Wally Tirado, a district commissioner in the Circle Ten Council, highlighted the evident diversity within Scouting America's youth members, celebrating the cultural richness at a recent event honoring new Eagle Scouts. He remarked, It's still the same program. Just because we changed our name doesn't mean we changed what we do. This reflects the organization's dedication to maintaining its traditional values while embracing a broader, more inclusive future.
As Scouting America moves forward, its rebranding and inclusive policies may serve as an impetus for continued growth and positive change, demonstrating the organization's resilience and adaptability in the face of past adversities.
