Boy Scouts Of America Changes Name To Become More Inclusive: ‘No Admission Requirements’
After a whopping 114 years, the legendary 'Boy Scouts of America' organization announced this month that they're changing the household name in an effort to prioritize "inclusion."
Now known as 'Scouting America', their goal is to finally move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse allegations, per the Associated Press. The rebranded organization hasn't allowed participation from gay youth or girls until recently.
In a shocking scandal, the Irving Texas-based organization has continued to run while compensating more than 80,000 men who filed claims alleging they were sexually abused as a scout. In March, a federal judge ruled to uphold their $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan.
New president and Chief Executive Officer Roger Krone gave a statement to The Press, saying: "In the next 100 years we want any youth in America to feel very, very welcome to come into our programs."
Krone took over last fall with the intention to revamp the declining membership and improve safety programs. "Scouting is safer today than it ever has been," Krone told AP by telephone. "And under my leadership, we will continue to evolve and improve our program so that we have the safest youth program that we can possibly have."
In his new leadership role, Krone has active plans on offering opportunities for kids to enjoy the outdoors, including sailing, paddling, canoeing, hiking, mountain climbing, rappelling, and cave exploring.
"That means we need to meet the kids where they are. Get them off the couch, get them away from their small screen device, get them outdoors," he said. Between 2019 and 2023, the organization fell from $319 million to $188 million — however, Kroner remains encouraged.
"There are no admission requirements," he explained. "We want everybody to participate."
Many U.S. presidents were scouts as boys, including John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.
