MARK HANCOCK: How America Should Raise Strong Men After Boy Scouts Ditches The ‘Boy’

The announcement of the Boy Scouts of America’s name change to “Scouting America” has sparked widespread reflection on the organization’s cultural significance and the state of boyhood in America. While some see this as a necessary evolution, others mourn what feels like the end of an era. But this moment also offers an opportunity to revisit the vision of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the scouting movement, and ask ourselves how we can honor his legacy in a way that meets the needs of today’s boys.

Baden-Powell’s vision wasn’t simply about outdoor skills or merit badges. He sought to build character and instill values like courage, resourcefulness and service to others. He understood that boys need both challenge and guidance — a structured adventure that draws out their best qualities while teaching them to overcome hardship and live with purpose. His approach wasn’t just a program; it was a philosophy, rooted in a profound understanding of what it means to raise boys into men of honor.

Today, as we grapple with cultural shifts and the unique challenges facing boys, it’s worth asking: What would Baden-Powell say about our current trajectory? The data is clear: boys are struggling. Rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among young men are alarmingly high. Boys are falling behind academically, with fewer men graduating from college than ever before. Many feel adrift, lacking a clear sense of purpose or direction. These issues don’t arise in a vacuum — they’re symptoms of a culture that has devalued traditional masculinity and failed to provide boys with a vision of what they can become.

Baden-Powell’s legacy offers a roadmap. He understood that boys thrive when they have opportunities to take risks, test their limits, and learn through failure. They need mentors who model integrity and grit, peers who hold them accountable, and a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves. They need to be encouraged to embrace the hard work of becoming men who are both strong and kind, courageous and humble, adventurous and disciplined.