The Boy Scouts of America officially changed its name to Scouting America. Officials made the announcement at the organization's annual meeting this week, saying they wanted to be more inclusive and welcoming to its gender-diverse ranks.
In a statement, Roger A. Krone, the president and chief executive officer of Scouting America, explained that although the name will change, the organization's mission will remain the same. "This will be a simple but very important evolution as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in scouting," he said.
While the rebranding has garnered polarized responses — supporters like the gender-neutral stance while critics don't — many observe that the news comes as the organization addresses bankruptcy and sexual abuse claims. However, Krone told the Associated Press that it has more to do with historically low membership.
The Boy Scouts is rebranding to Scouting America. Credit: Scouting America
According to reports, the Scouts have been struggling with low participation since membership fell 50% because of the pandemic. Currently, the organization has roughly 1 million members, including 176,000 girls. But that figure is down from its decade-high of 2 million in 2018 and nearly 5 million at its historic peak in 1972.
For many, the name change was inevitable. Starting in 2013, the Scouts began allowing gay youth to join, it ended a ban on gay leaders in 2015, and then in 2017, it announced that it would allow girls to join as well. Many of these decisions coincide with shifts in public opinion, especially about gay leaders, but also shifts in public policy.
Robert Gates, who was the president of the organization in 2015, argued that it would be better to "seize control of our own future" than have the court system force it to change. "The status quo in our movement's membership standards cannot be sustained. Our oath calls upon us to do our duty to God and our country. The country is changing, and we are increasingly at odds with the legal landscape at both the state and federal levels."
While the Boy Scouts have embraced the new name and are encouraging people to use it, it won't be official until February 2025. Until then, officials say it will be a rolling change, meaning all branded material will be updated over time. Therefore, members won't have to immediately change their badges and gear.
Article updated at 5:31 p.m. EST on May 8, 2024
