What’s in a name, you may ask? Plenty if you want to promote inclusion in scouting.
That’s one of the reasons the Boy Scouts of America is changing its name to Scouting America after 114 years.
The organization, based in Irving, Texas, made the announcement Tuesday at its annual meeting in Florida.
“In the next 100 years we want any youth in America to feel very, very welcome to come into our programs,” said Roger Krone, president and chief executive officer. Krone was interviewed by the Associated Press before the announcement.
The change will take effect on Feb. 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th birthday.
The Boy Scouts of America, trying to recover from filing for bankruptcy and claims of sexual abuse, just recently allowed gay children or girls to join.
Gay youth were allowed to join in 2013 and a ban on gay adult leaders ended in 2015.
Girls were welcomed into the club in 2018 and the organization was renamed Scouts BSA.
More than 6,000 girls have achieved Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the organization.
Many have taken offense to the rebranding, including these posts on X, formerly Twitter.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boy Scouts of America lost members since it was hard to participate in group activities. Currently, there are 1 million members. In 1972, membership was at its highest at about 5 million, per the outlet.
Krone said it’s important to bring more youth on board.
“Part of my job is to reduce all the barriers I possibly can for people to accept us as an organization and to join,” he said.
Selby Chipman, one of the girl members, thinks the change will bring more girls into the organization.
“Girls were like: ‘You can join Boy Scouts of America?’” she said.
At the same time, David Aaker, vice chairman of the national branding and marketing firm Prophet, said the rebranding is risky because it could alienate supporters.
He added the rebranding opens a new conversation, while not deviating from its mission.
“It’s a one-time chance to tell a new story,” Aaker said.
The Girl Scouts of the USA sued after girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts. The Girl Scouts alleged this would harm its recruitment.
A settlement was reached after a judge said both groups were able to use words like “scouts” and “scouting.”
A $2.4 billion bankruptcy reorganization plan started in 2023, which allowed the organization to keep operating. The organization is compensating the more than 80,000 men who say they were sexually abused while in scouting.
Krone said people can immediately use the new name even though it does not officially go into effect until next year.
“It sends this really strong message to everyone in America that they can come to this program, they can bring their authentic self, they can be who they are and they will be welcomed here,” he said.
