After 108 years, the Boy Scouts of America is changing the name of its signature scouting program. The group announced that it would be dropping the word "boy" and will now be called Scouts BSA. The move comes as the organization is set to start admitting girls into the scouting program in February 2019.
The organization allowed girls to join its Cub Scouts program this summer. Thousands of young girls ages seven to ten signed up to join the youth scouting program.
The Scouts BSA program will be mostly separated along gender lines, but it will allow girls a chance to earn the same merit badges as boys and give them a chance to become Eagle Scouts.
Boy Scouts of America Chief Executive Michael Surbaugh said the name change, which is part of the new "Scout Me In" campaign, is about ensuring that "youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible."
"As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible. That is why it is important that the name for our Scouting program for older youth remain consistent with the single name approach used for the Cub Scouts."
The name change only affects what the scouting program is called. The name of the parent company, Boy Scouts of America, will remain unchanged.
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