Breaking news on girls joining the Boy Scouts of America.
Special Scout News Bulletin: October 11
October 11, 2017

To: Council Executive Board & Parents of Long Beach Area Council
From: John Fullerton, Scout Executive/CEO

RE: Girls in the Boy Scouts of America

Dear Long Beach Area Council,

Today, the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors unanimously approved to welcome girls into its iconic Cub Scout program and to deliver a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

The historic decision comes after years of receiving requests from families and girls, the organization evaluated the results of numerous research efforts, gaining input from current members and leaders, as well as parents and girls who've never been involved in Scouting -- to understand how to offer families an important additional choice in meeting the character development needs of all their children.

Families today are busier and more diverse than ever. Most are dual-earners and there are more single-parent households than ever before, making convenient programs that serve the whole family more appealing. Additionally, many groups currently underserved by Scouting, including the Hispanic and Asian communities, prefer to participate in activities as a family. Recent surveys of parents not involved with Scouting showed high interest in getting their daughters signed up for programs like Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, with 90 percent expressing interest in a program like Cub Scouts and 87 percent expressing interest in a program like Boy Scouts.  Education experts also evaluated the curriculum and content and confirmed relevancy of the program for young women.

"The BSA's record of producing leaders with high character and integrity is amazing" said Randall Stephenson, BSA's national board chairman. "I've seen nothing that develops leadership skills and discipline like this organization.  It is time to make these outstanding leadership development programs available to girls."

Starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Existing packs may choose to establish a new girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack.  Cub Scout dens will be single-gender -- all boys or all girls. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the organization will also deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single gender model while also meeting the needs of today's families.

For more information, please visit: http://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/family-scouting/

To read or download this letter, click here for PDF version.

In Scouting,

John Fullerton
Scout Executive/CEO
Marc Bonner | E-News Editor
Long Beach Area Council
401 E 37th St Long Beach CA 90807 
Visit us online at www.longbeachbsa.org
562-427-0911
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