Scouts BSA launched in February 2019, enabling all eligible youth ages 11-17, to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Scouts BSA will be single gender – all girl troops or all boy troops. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single-gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families.

The BSA’s decision to offer a program for older girls comes from input we have received from our Scouting families, as well as prospective Scouting families. We understand that families today are busier and more diverse than ever. In fact:

• Most are dual-earners.
• There are more single-parent households than in previous decades.
• Many underserved communities, including fastest-growing Hispanic and Asian communities, prefer to participate in activities as a family.
• And, all families have less free time. More than one-third of parents feel they spend too little free time with their kids, and millennial parents are desperate to spend more time interacting with their kids.

The BSA believes we owe it to families to structure our program offerings in a way that fits into their busy lives to deliver character development and values-based leadership training that Scouting promises.

The Scouts BSA program is not co-ed. The leadership of the BSA determined that the best way to welcome girls and serve today’s families was to offer a unique model that builds on the proven benefits of our single-gender program, while also providing character and leadership opportunities for both boys and girls.

No. The Boy Scouts of America, in name and as an organization, has stood for character development and values-based leadership training for more than 108 years. It is, unequivocally, one of the most recognized, respected, and valuable brands on the planet. Therefore, while we have expanded the reach of our programs among today’s youth and their families, our name remains the same, and our brand will continue to be a source of pride that we will protect and foster as we look to extend the reach of our promise to more families.

No. Our existing programs are relevant for young men and women. After all, the values of Scouting as outlined in the Scout Law – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent – are relevant and important values for both young men and young women.

All uniforms continue to be reviewed and adjusted to meet participant needs. While the fit and styling may be a bit different, the uniforms will remain fundamentally the same.

Just as today, they will be called Scouts. For example, “I’m in Scouts BSA, so I am a Scout.”

Since all single-gender troops will run the same Scouting program, earn the same merit badges and achieve the same ranks, it became clear that there should be one program name.

Yes. All members of Scouts BSA will be eligible to earn merit badges.

Yes. Young women will have the opportunity to earn the Eagle Scout rank by meeting the same criteria and achievements as young men.