The Co-Ed Scouts?

It is a new era when they allow girls to join the Boy Scouts of America. Well that is going to happen real soon. Last week the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors unanimously approved to welcome girls into its Cub Scout program and to deliver a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts will start admitting girls to its Cub Scout program in 2018 and initiate a separate program for older girls in 2019. Will they still be able to call it the Boy Scouts anymore?


Cub Scout “Dens” are for ages 7-10 and will still remain single gender. The larger Boy Scout “Packs” will have the option of welcoming girls. Critics say this bold move is an attempt to boost the Scouts diminishing membership for both boys and girls. So, being co-ed will make families want to join more? In 2013 there were 2.6 million Boy Scouts. That number has dropped down to 2.35 million members. The Girl Scouts is also facing declining numbers. In 2013 they had 2.3 million members that has now dropped in 2017 to 1.8 million members.

The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 and remains the largest Scouting organization as well as one of the largest youth development programs in the United States.

They have youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and almost a million volunteers throughout the United States and its territories. It is amazing that the girls want to join the boys. Is it because they don’t want to have to sell those damn box cookies every year? The boys don’t have to do that. They get to go camping, make fires, learn how to make rope knots and build rope bridges. That stuff is cool!