Washington Parent
spoke to Aaron Chusid of the National Capital Area Council to discuss the
recent changes to Boy Scouts of America’s program:
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been working for several years on
making its programs more open and inclusive to all children, most
recently adding girls into the Cub Scouting program. How long has this
initiative been in the pipeline and what impact have you seen so far in
the D.C. area?
BSA’s decision to welcome girls into our iconic programs is the result of
years of discussion and research. We found, unsurprisingly, that families
today are busier than ever. More than one-third of parents feel they spend
too little free time with their kids. We believe this new program structure
will better fit into their busy lives.
One of the most interesting early accomplishments is [that] a den of female
Webelos Scouts (4th grade) did the flag ceremony for a Nationals game this
spring. They were the first girls to represent Cub Scouts at a Major League
Baseball game, and as such, are now included in the Baseball Hall of Fame
in Cooperstown, New York!
How does BSA plan on recruiting girls into this program? Will any
activities or events differ between the girl troops and the boy troops?
This fall our new member theme is “Hooked on Scouting!” Girls and boys
interested in joining Cub Scouts are invited to attend local fishing
events, where they will get a free piece of fishing gear, learn more about
Cub Scouts and get introduced to some local packs.
As for the program, everything will be exactly the same for boys and girls.
Part of the advantage of having single-gender dens is parents and leaders
can customize activities to meet their sons’ and daughters’ specific
interests, but the basic framework, awards and methods are the same for
both.
With the inclusion of girls into the Cub Scouting program, how will the
face of Boy Scouts of America change? Will the name of the organization
remain the same?
The name of our organization is not changing. There is a lot of pride and
history around that name, and we want to maintain our connection to it. The
only name that is changing is our program for young people ages 11-18.
Starting in February 2019, it will be “Scouts BSA”. Our members will simply
be called scouts.
The face of our organization is not changing. For more than a century, the
face of scouting has been young people smiling while encountering new
adventures, doing good turns for their neighbors and gaining confidence in
their abilities. Family scouting is just giving more young people of both
genders the chance to share that smile.
For more information on BSA and where to register your child, visit
beascout.scouting.org/
