Some Good News! The Boy Scouts Will Now Allow Girls to Join
PHOTO: Steven Gottlieb/Getty Images
There’s some major news from the Boys Scouts of America today: The organization will start accepting girls as soon as 2018.
Following “years of receiving requests from families and girls,” according to an official statement from the BSA, the board voted unanimously on Wednesday to make the change. Come next year, girls will be allowed to join the Cub Scouts (the program for first through fifth graders). A program for older girls—one that will allow them to earn an Eagle Scout ranking— will be announced sometime in 2018 with admission expected to open in 2019.
“This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting—trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example—are important for both young men and women,” Michael Surbaugh, the BSA’s Chief Scout Executive, said. “We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best—developing character and leadership for young people—to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders.”
There will still, however, be instances in which boys and girls will be gender-segregated. “Dens,” groups that are comprised of six to eight members, will still keep boys and girls separate. “Packs,” which are groups of dens, will be given one of three options. Per the BSA statement, “Existing packs may choose to establish a new girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack.”
In recent years, the Boy Scouts have been moving toward greater inclusivity: In 2013, the organization began accepting openly gay members and earlier this year they opened admissions to transgender members.