Girls Approved to Join Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR SCOUT EXECUTIVE

This afternoon we received word that the BSA's board of directors unanimously approved welcoming girls into our Cub Scouts program and delivering a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. It is important to note that the program will remain a single gender program. Cub Scout Packs will have an option of being an all boy pack, and all girl pack, or a mixed pack with boy and girl dens. At the troop level, there will be all male troops and all female troops, it will not be a co-ed program.

From feedback we have received from our own constituents, this is a good thing! We have observed that overall, those in our Scouting family are in favor of the idea to include girls in Scouting.

The timing of the change will allow for Cub Scout aged girls to join beginning with the fall program year, around September 1^st. The Boy Scout program option will become available in 2019.

The BSA thoughtfully evaluated how to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible and adapt to the changing needs of today’s families — all while remaining true to our mission and core values, outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. It evaluated the results of numerous research efforts, gaining input from current members and leaders — as well as parents and girls who have never been involved in Scouting — to understand how to offer families an important additional choice in meeting the character development needs of all their children.

So, starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the BSA also will deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable girls to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Again, Boy Scouts remains single-gender.

Linked below are some resources about today’s decision, for which there is also a media contact at pr@scouting.org. I can also be reached at dan.rogers@scouting.org if you have questions or concerns.

Official BSA news release
scoutingnewsroom.org

As always, the volunteers and staff at Georgia-Carolina Council look forward to supporting our families and Scouters in new ways with these expanded program offerings.

Yours in Scouting,

Daniel Rogers

Scout ExecutiveWeclome