Boy Scouts changes name to Scouts BSA after allowing girls to join

Boy+Scouts+of+America+is+a+youth+development+organization+that+works+to+build+character.+The+program+announced+it+will+change+its+name+to+Scouts+BSA.+Photo+courtesy+Aaron+Chusid.+

Boy Scouts of America is a youth development organization that works to build character. The program announced it will change its name to Scouts BSA. Photo courtesy Aaron Chusid.

By Lily Cork

The Boy Scouts of America announced May 2 that they will change the name of their main scouting program from Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA, following their October 2017 decision to allow girls to become Scouts.

The 108-year-old organization has been criticized for being too conservative and barred openly gay boys from joining until May 2013. The name change is part of an effort by the organization to adapt to progressive times, Capitol Area Boy Scouts Communications Officer Aaron Chusid said.

“When our organization looked around, we saw that most other youth programs did not have a gender in the name of their program,” Chusid said. “We determined that the best way to move forward that retains the identity of our organization while still being welcoming to all people was Scouts BSA.”

There are mixed opinions about the name change among both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Junior Sam White, a Boy Scout since middle school and soon-to-be Eagle Scout, wonders if the change was truly a sign of progress.

“I find the change a little confusing because BSA stands for Boy Scouts of America, now it just means Scouts Boy Scouts of America,” White said. “They didn’t really necessarily get rid of the whole gender thing.”

The Girl Scouts organization has also been vocal about their disapproval, arguing that it undermines the importance of Girl Scouts. They took to twitter to re-establish their place as “the best leadership development organization for girls in the world,” and some Girl Scouts see the integration of girls into the program as a “marketing ploy.”

“I don’t think the name change was necessary and I don’t think it should have been changed to what it is,” Girl Scout Carter Witt said. “I appreciate the effort and they had the right idea aiming towards inclusiveness, but becoming ‘Scouts’ makes Girl Scouts seem like an inferior and secondary group, which it’s not at all.”

According to a New Civil Rights Movement article, some conservatives have also reacted negatively to the switch, arguing the organization is straying from its family values and sacrificing tradition to appease pressure from the progressive movement.

Many Boy Scouts in the area, however, don’t think the change will affect troop dynamic.

“Most people I know don’t really care that much,” Eagle Scout Peter Montgomery said. “People will want to do scouting stuff regardless of the name.”

Scout leaders hope the name change will improve outside perceptions of Boy Scouts and create a more inclusive atmosphere, scoutmaster T. Reid Lewis said.

“The organization now serves both men and women who will be leaders of society,” Lewis said. “Changing the name communicates this underlying change of mission.”