Boy Scouts of America voted to allow girls

The Boy Scouts of America announced on Wednesday that girls will soon be allowed to become Cub Scouts and to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest honor. The Boy Scouts said the moves reflect the changing nature of American life, adding to the appeal of a scouting program that can serve the entire family. The move is also aimed at helping busy families consolidate programs for their children. It is also no secret that membership has been declining for years. In 2016, the organization reported 2.3 million youth members, a decrease from 2.8 million in 2012. The scouting board of directors voted unanimously to make the historic change in an organization that has been primarily for boys since its founding more than 100 years ago. Starting next year, young girls can join Cub Scout units, known as dens. Local scouting organizations can choose to have dens for girls and dens for boys. Cub Scout dens will be single-gender — all boys or all girls. Earlier this year, the National Organization for Women urged the Boy Scouts to admit girls to the entire program, supporting the efforts of a New York teenager, Sydney Ireland, to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, as her older brother did. The Girl Scouts of America, who are strongly opposed, said in a statement, "The need for female leadership has never been clearer or more urgent than it is today --and only Girl Scouts has the expertise to give girls and young women the tools they need for success."

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