Girls to join Cub Scouts, rise to Eagle rank
Program for older girls to come in 2019 will allow them to advance to rank of Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts of America says it will welcome girls into its Cub Scout program next year and establish a program by 2019 for older girls that lets them advance to the rank of Eagle.
The Boy Scouts of America agreed Wednesday to start admitting girls into the Cub Scouts next year and to create a program for older girls in 2019.
The change calls for Cub Scout dens, which are the smallest groups, to have either all boys or all girls.
Larger Cub Scout packs could accept boys and girls.
The program for older girls is likely to allow them to earn the top rank of Eagle Scout.
“The values of Scouting — trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example — are important for both young men and women,” said Michael Surbaugh, the group’s chief Scout executive. “We believe it is criti- cal to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children.”
The plan was adopted unanimously by the organization’s board in Irving, Texas. The Boy Scouts has 2.3 million members ranging in age from 7 to 21.
The Girl Scouts of the USA criticized the initiative after warning in August that the boys were trying to recruit their members.
“I formally request that your organization stay focused on serving the 90% of American boys not currently participating in Boy Scouts … and not consider expanding to recruit girls,” Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, president of the Girl Scouts, wrote in August to Randall Stephenson, the Boy Scouts president.
The Boy Scouts was founded in
1910 and the Girl Scouts in 1912. The Boy Scouts framed the decision as a convenience for busy families with both parents working or with single parents.
Boy Scouts surveys conducted online from April to September
2017 found high interest in signing up daughters for programs such as the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
“I’ve seen nothing that develops leadership skills and discipline like this organization,” Stephenson said. “It is time to make these outstanding leadership development programs available to girls.”
“We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children.” Michael Surbaugh, chief Scout executive