The Boy Scouts of America, South Plains Council announced Friday that it is proud to welcome “the entire family” into its ranks.
On Wednesday, the Boy Scouts of America announced its decision to allow girls to enter and to reach the highest rank, Eagle Scout.
“This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values,” the South Plains Council said.
Girl Scouts USA has accused BSA of courting girls to boost falling enrollment. A board member with GSUSA said, “The Boy Scouts’ house is on fire.”
“It won’t force us to do anything different. We are constantly looking at our programming and talking to girls. We change things if they don’t work,” said Sue Else, CEO of Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
The Girl Scouts said on its website, “Girl Scouts is the best girl leadership organization in the world, created with and for girls. We believe strongly in the importance of the all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment that Girl Scouts provides, which creates a free space for girls to learn and thrive.”
The local Boy Scouts organization sees it differently.
“For decades, sisters have been an integral part of the Scouting family, but there has never been an avenue for them to officially participate in activities – until now,” said Lubbock Scout Executive Nathan Baie.
Baie also said, “The values of Scouting – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example – are important for both young men and women.”
The following is the full statement from The Boy Scouts of America, South Plains Council:
Boy Scouts to welcome girls into program, engage entire family
LUBBOCK – Earlier this week, on Wednesday, October 11, 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.
“For decades, sisters have been an integral part of the Scouting family, but there has never been an avenue for them to officially participate in activities – until now,” said Lubbock Scout Executive Nathan Baie. “The Boy Scouts of America, South Plains Council is proud to welcome the entire family into our ranks. This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example – are important for both young men and women.”
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.
