9 months after asserting a reputation change was coming, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on Saturday formally modified its title in an try to “meet the evolving needs of young people.”
The group adopted the brand new title, Scouting America, on its a hundred and fifteenth anniversary, “marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey,” in keeping with an announcement launched Saturday.
The shift comes after a latest coverage change in 2018, permitting ladies to affix this system.
The group started permitting homosexual youth in 2013 and ended a blanket ban on homosexual grownup leaders in 2015.
President and CEO Roger Krone instructed the Related Press there was “some backlash,” however stated there was a small spike in membership after asserting the rebranding in Could.
“The fact that we were going with a more kind of gender-neutral name, a lot of people kind of wanted to know more about it,” Krone instructed the AP.
Greater than 15,000 scouts joined, the AP reported, bringing complete membership to greater than 1 million.
As the nation’s foremost youth program, Scouting America stated it supplies youngsters alternatives centered on character growth, management, enjoyable and outside exploration.
The difference will “ensure future generations have the opportunity to benefit from this transformative program,” in keeping with the assertion.
Whereas the title modified, the Texas-based group stated its mission has remained the identical for a century: to organize younger individuals to make moral and ethical decisions over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Regulation.
“Whether it’s a camping trip, a pinewood derby car race or a trail hike, every adventure encourages personal growth by teaching youth how to set goals and achieve them with determination,” spokespeople wrote within the assertion.
“As we look to the future, Scouting America is dedicated to providing young people with the values, skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
The group’s web site options its new title, however social media accounts nonetheless have the standard handles.
“Scouting America has helped instill timeless values for multiple generations of Americans,” Krone wrote within the assertion.
“In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the values and skills instilled by Scouting are more critical than ever and the need for strong character, ethical decision-making and effective leadership remains paramount.”
Krone added it’s reaffirming its dedication to offering a “safe and supportive environment” the place younger individuals can develop important qualities.
“Scouting America has remained committed to providing youth with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills, create lifelong memories and grow into tomorrow’s leaders,” the group wrote within the assertion.
“In fact, more than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting America programs since our founding in 1910.”
Fox Information Digital beforehand reported the rebranding got here after a considerable hit in membership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
It additionally follows a court docket order to pay out a $2.46 billion settlement involving about 82,000 former Boy Scouts who claimed they have been sexually abused by BSA officers and volunteers.
Submitting for chapter allowed the group to maintain working.
Fox Information Digital’s Michael Dorgan and the Related Press contributed to this report.
