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This past fall, the BSA introduced the Family of Scouting which will allow girls to join Cub Scouts in 2018 and Boy Scouts in 2019. Here is a quick overview and some helpful links that I hope will better explain the new program. Alright let’s break it down.

First, it is important to note that the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts programs will not be co-ed. Instead these will incorporate single-gender programming while also providing character and leadership opportunities for both boys and girls. This is also not the first time that young women have been invited to join the BSA. Girls have been included in Boy Scouts since 1971 when Exploring extended their program to include girls. Venturing, Sea Scouts, and STEM Scouts also include girls. In fact, on average these programs consist of about 37% girls.

Okay so why the change? The BSA started considering allowing girls in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts due to recommendation from families. They evaluated input from thousands of volunteers who participated in the nationwide family listening sessions. The results were positive and families everywhere recommended to welcome girls into Cub Scouts and eventually earn the Eagle Scout rank. One of the main talking points that was brought up from our families around the nation was that they needed to have a convenient place to bring their son and daughter. The Boy Scouts of America is iconic and has a formidable reputation for molding our young people into great leaders in this country. This draws many families to our organization and they wanted the convenience of being allowed to have their daughters in the same units as their sons.

Let’s look at how the new program might look like. This is not a mandate so charter organizations do not have to accept girls into their packs. There are a couple options: a full boy pack, a girl and boy pack with singled gender dens, or a full girls pack. Girls and boys will complete the same activities and earn the same adventures but they will do so in their gender specific den.

I’m personally looking forward to the start of a very exciting program and I hope you all will be patient with our new families as we work out any issues we come across and learn through this process together. If you want more information click here to see the Family of Scouting national page. 

      

Black Swamp Area Council
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