Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – May 9, 2024 – The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name. For 114 years, it’s been “Boy Scouts,” but in February of next year, it will become Scouting America.
The organization announced the change this week at its annual meeting in Florida. It’s a significant shift as the organization emerges from a 2020 bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and efforts to focus on inclusion.
Josh Fletcher of Jonesboro grew up in scouting. His dad was a Scout leader for 37 years. He’s had brothers, nephews, and sons in scouting. He’s been a Scout leader himself for almost 20 years. He was the Cub Master of Pack 134 for 5 years and then volunteered as Scout Master for 13 years, a position he recently stepped down from.
The organization currently serves a little over a million youths, and that already includes more than 176,000 girls and young women. But overall numbers are down. Boy Scout membership used to be around 5 million the US.
Fletcher wasn’t really surprised by the name change announcement. He said he likes it, but knows it’s not popular with some people, based on online comments.
The name change is part of an effort to be another recreational option in the lives of boys and girls. But there are already so many other options…is that why the numbers are down?
Fletcher recalled, “When I was growing up, I played Little League baseball until mid-May. Now, kids play baseball year in, year out. I think there’s just way too many other things out there that weren’t around when I was a kid. So many other options. Football players lift weights all summer. Even video games are a big distraction.”
Fletcher offered an opinion. “The organization was shrinking. You’re a boy organization. Invite the opposite sex and it will grow. I’ve been on many a campout where Johnny’s little sister was right there with him, starting a fire and roasting marshmallows…so it grew out of the little sisters that were attending. Anyway, why not invite them to come into the organization so they could be official?”
Female influence in the Boy Scouts has been around for a while. As early as the 1940’s there was a position for an adult female known as the Den Mother (later changed to Den Leader).
And all the way back in 1971, youth females were allowed to join one of a couple co-ed groups.
Explorers were first…a career exploration program for young men and women ages 10 – 20. The program gives students an opportunity to learn about career fields and network with professionals already working in those fields.
Venturing came along later…a program for males and females aged 14-21. A Venture crew is a lot like a Boy Scout Troop, but with a larger focus on leadership training and high-adventure activities.
Will the name change help to re-brand the Boy Scouts? And, just as important to Fletcher, will there be leaders to direct the troops?
“You’ve got to have leaders that are committed to these kids. And that’s very difficult these days. Lots of people like the idea of their kid being in the program, but they don’t want to do anything. You’ve got to find the right person to take over.”
