The Boy Scouts of America, a 114-year-old organization, is undergoing a significant transformation by changing its name to Scouting America. This decision comes after years of challenges, including a flood of sexual abuse claims and bankruptcy. The rebranding is part of an effort to “increase inclusivity” and address the organization’s declining membership numbers.
In recent years, the Boy Scouts of America has made several changes to its policies, including allowing gay youth in 2013 and ending a ban on gay adult leaders in 2015. In 2017, the organization announced that girls would be accepted into Cub Scouts and the flagship Boy Scout program, which was renamed Scouts BSA. This change has led to nearly 1,000 young women becoming Eagle Scouts, including Selby Chipman, who has been a part of an all-girls troop that has grown from five to nearly 50 members.
Despite (or because of) these changes, the organization has faced challenges, particularly with membership numbers. After a high of over 2 million members in 2018, the organization currently serves just over 1 million youths, including more than 176,000 girls and young women. This is a significant decrease from the organization’s peak membership of almost 5 million in 1972.
The move to accept girls into the organization has also strained the relationship with the Girl Scouts of the USA, leading to a lawsuit that was eventually settled. However, both organizations are now free to use terms like “scouts” and “scouting.”
The Boy Scouts’ $2.4 billion bankruptcy reorganization plan took effect last year, allowing the organization to continue operating while compensating the more than 80,000 men who say they were sexually abused as children while scouting.
The name change to Scouting America is set to take effect on Feb. 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th birthday. However, it is expected that people will start using the new name immediately.