Boy Scouts Remove ‘Boy’ from Name before Girls Enter their Ranks

In a bid to welcome girls to its ranks, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will undergo a name change.

The iconic name will no longer sport the name “boy” as the organization will be known as “Scouts BSA” from now on. The new name will take effect in February 2019.

Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh explained that the non-profit has sought a name that could evoke the past while making girls feel welcome as well. The deliberations for the new moniker were “incredibly fun” but lengthy.

We wanted to land on something that evokes the past but also conveys the inclusive nature of the program going forward,

Surbaugh said.

Boy Scouts Will Start Accepting Girls Next Year

The parent organization and Cub Scouts, however, will not change their names. Cub Scouts serves children from kindergarten until the fifth grade. The Boy Scouts that include children aged 11 to 17 will be known as Scouts BSA starting next year.

• The Cub Scouts has already opened its gates to girls.
• The Boy Scouts will start accepting females in 2019.
• The members will use the word “scouts” to refer to one another instead of “boy scouts” or “girl scouts.”

The program will still remain tailored to each gender, with single-sex units remaining unchanged. Children will also earn the same type of badges and honors as they did before the name change.

Surbaugh explained that single-sex units will ensure that girls will not have to compete with boys for leadership positions. So far, around 3,000 females have joined the Cub Scouts.

More girls are expected to join Boy Scouts ranks as a new campaign called “Scout Me In” will debut this summer.

The name change was not met by everyone with enthusiasm as people noted that the political correctness would undercut the organization’s 108-year-old legacy.
Image Source: Defense.gov