Girls

BSA Mission & Vision Statement

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

Included Here:

Mission & Vision already had room for ‘more’ girls
Co-Ed?
BSA Chief on welcoming ‘more’ Girls into programs.
Almost 50 years of girls in the Golden Empire Council
Golden Empire Council is an ‘Early Adopter’.
Family Scouting Links
World Organization of the Scout Movement
Articles, Videos and Resources
FAQ’s

Co-Ed?

The BSA did not decide to make the Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs co-ed; instead, the organization has introduced a unique model that builds on the benefits of a single gender program while also providing character and leadership oppor-tunities for both boys and girls.

BSA Chief answers your questions about
welcoming girls into BSA programs

(Embedded YouTube video)

Almost 50 years of Girls in the Golden Empire Council?

In 1969, the BSA started the Explorer Division allowing young women 14 to 20 years old to participate. Then in 1998, that program re-organized and split into today’s Exploring programs that are primarily career-oriented and the more adventurous Venturing program for young women and men who are 14 to 21 years old.

Today there are over 300 young women in Golden Empire’s Exploring and Venturing units not to mention hundreds of adult women in virtually every leadership role from local volunteers to council board and staff members.

After the BSA Board of Directors’ historic decision to welcome girls into Scouting, many in the Scouting community had just one question: When can my daughter sign up?

Other Scouters had more specific questions about the reasons for the move, implementation and rollout plan. On Oct. 30, I asked Scouters to submit their questions for BSA Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh. By the time we recorded the video last week, we had received more than 400 questions.

I read each one, organized them by topic and took a representative sample of 22 questions directly to our Chief. He spoke openly and candidly for nearly 30 minutes.

For the best experience, watch the complete video of our discussion below. But if you’re short on time, scroll for a question-by-question breakdown. I’ve included the video timestamp so you can jump directly to the answers that most interest you.

GOLDEN EMPIRE IS AN EARLY ADOPTER

Our council is known for its success in building the ranks of Cub scouts and it’s been true for a long time that many Cub Scout Packs make provisions for families and often the sisters of Cubs too! So, it's not surprising that several 'Early Adopter' Cub Packs have already begun to sign-up girls. Starting last June (2018) All packs council-wide may add Cub dens for girls, or new all-girl Cub Packs can be registered with approval of local chartered partners and pack leaders.

Visit the FAMILY SCOUTING web-page with links to:

(And more…)

ARTICLES, VIDEOS & RESOURCES

07-10-2019	Chicago Sun-Times Girls can also be trustworthy, loyal, helpful ... At: https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2019/7/7/20684954/boy-scouts-girls-boys-girl-scouts-gender
05-06-2019	Davis Enterprise Boy Scouts… Let’s hear it for the girls At: https://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/boy-scouts-lets-hear-it-for-the-girls/
04-21-2019	Voice of America Boy Scout “Girls’ Troops Gain Popularly in the United States (video) At: https://www.voanews.com/a/boy-scout-girls-troops-gain-popularity-in-the-united-states/4884775.html
03-09-2019	CBS This Morning A new era begins for Boy Scouts of America At: https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs_this_morning/video/mUObu4_8ouVgu0VRyBo8BuwWgSwwGXcf/a-new-era-begins-for-the-boy-scouts-of-america/?fbclid=IwAR0KZPCwjPYxoRDnKAj3H0THv3_RP7aM_jU-lTh0M3jBs0hm13dFhy10TEk
02-19-2019	ARC10 Folsom teen among first girls to join Scouts BSA At: https://www.abc10.com/video/news/local/folsom-orangevale/folsom-teen-among-the-first-girls-to-join-scouts-bsa/103-78909a52-c0f2-4de4-b68e-1f130c7063e7
02-19-2019	KCRA3 Folsom Girl joins Boy Scouts, aims to become Eagle Scout At: https://www.kcra.com/article/folsom-girl-joins-boy-scouts-aims-to-become-eagle-scout/26400429
02-18-2019	Sacramento Bee Sacramento area girls take aim at becoming first female Eagle Scouts At: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article226290110.html
02-18-2019	FOX40 Sacramento Stockton Modesto Local Girl Vies to Become One of the First Female Eagle Scouts At: https://fox40.com/2019/02/18/local-girl-vies-to-become-one-of-the-first-female-eagle-scouts/
02-13-2019	Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL) Girls accepting Scouts BSA challenge isn't 'dumb' At: https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/02/11/olson-girls-accepting-scouts-bsa-challenge-isnt-dumb/awpzvyd/
02-09-2019	BBC News The US girl scouts hoping to soar like Eagles At: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47129302
02-08-2019	Scouting Magazine 50 states, 50 photos: Scouts BSA launch week was a huge success At: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/02/08/50-states-50-photos-scouts-bsa-launch-week-was-a-huge-success/
02-01-2019	13 CBS Sacramento, Davis Girls Officially Joining The Ranks Of Boy Scouts At: https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2019/02/01/davis-girl-boy-scouts/
02-01-2019	NPR Welcoming Girls, Boy Scouts Program Is Now Scouts BSA At: https://www.npr.org/2019/02/01/690024261/welcoming-girls-of-all-ages-boy-scouts-of-america-is-now-scouts-bsa
02-01-2019	CBS News Video Girls can now join Scouts BSA, once known as Boy Scouts At: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/girls-officially-join-boy-scouts-bsa-today/
12-10-2018	FOX40 Sacramento Stockton Modesto - First Local Female Scout Master Discusses All-Girl Troop At: https://fox40.com/2018/12/10/first-local-female-scout-master-discusses-all-girl-troop/
12-07-2018	Press Tribune Area’s first all-female scout troop lead by Dianne Cooper At: http://www.thepresstribune.com/article/12/07/18/area%E2%80%99s-first-all-female-scout-troop-led-dianne-cooper
11-09-2018	ScoutingWire.Org There’s no Confusion: Our Goal is to Serve All Youth *(Response to Girl Scouts of the USA law suit)* At: https://scoutingwire.org/theres-no-confusion-our-goal-is-to-serve-all-youth/
11-08-2018	ScoutingWire.Org This infographic shows the right way to refer to girls who will join Scouts BSA At: https://scoutingwire.org/this-infographic-shows-the-right-way-to-refer-to-girls-who-will-join-scouts-bsa/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer11092018&utm_medium=email&utm_content=
11-07-2018	The Nonprofit Times Girl Scouts Sue Boy Scouts For Trademark Infringement At: http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/legal/girl-scouts-sue-boy-scouts-for-trademark-infringement/ See also: The New York Times, CBS News, Rutgers, Jurist - Legal News & research
Sep/Oct 2018	Scouting Magazine Hello Scouts BSA At: https://scoutingmagazine.org/2018/10/hello-scouts-bsa/?tr=y&auid=17613456
07-30-2018	BSA Today videos from Heart of America Council on welcoming girls into Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA At: https://youtu.be/7qHFBO3a_nY
05-04-2018	Vacaville Reporter Scouting For All (with many pictures) At: http://photos.thereporter.com/2018/05/04/scouting-for-all/#1
05-03-2018	ScoutingWire.Org BSA’s Organization Name Not Changing, and Other Facts to Know and Share At: https://scoutingwire.org/the-boy-scouts-of-america-organization-name-is-not-changing-and-other-facts-to-set-the-record-straight/?tr=y&auid=17566620#
05-02-2018	The BSA Launches Historic 'Scout Me In' Campaign Inviting Girls and Boys to Experience Adventures Through a Cub Scout’s Point of View. ['Scouts BSA' unveiled as the Name of the Program for Older Boys and Girls to Ensure All Youth Are Welcome and can see Themselves in Scouting.] At: https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scout-me-in/
04-24-2018	ScoutingWire.Org Thousands of Girls Are Joining Cub Scouts At: https://scoutingwire.org/thousands-girls-joining-cub-scouts/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer4252018&utm_medium=email&utm_content=
04-16-2018	Scouting Magazine When and how you can start welcoming girls into Cub Scouting At: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/04/16/heres-when-and-how-you-can-start-welcoming-girls-into-your-cub-scout-pack/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swemployee4182018&utm_medium=email&utm_content
02-04-2018	CBS Sunday Morning Boy Scouts of America: Girls now admitted At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Kctx5hx1Wmc
02-03-2018	Family Program for Unit Leadership V3 At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3pMSLOKZKQ
02-01-2018	Press Tribune Letter to the Editor: Girls in the Boy Scouts - evolutionary, not revolutionary At: http://www.thepresstribune.com/article/2/01/18/letter-editor-girls-boy-scouts-evolutionary-not-revolutionary
01-30-2018	CBS 13 Girls Signing Up By The Hundreds In Northern California To Become Boy Scouts At: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/01/30/boy-scouts-girls-northern-california/
01-30-2018	The Pathway to Our Decision to Serve Boys and Girls in Scouting At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeBhghnsPOY
Jan/Feb 2018	Scouting Magazine BSA Invites Girls into Scouting Programs At: https://scoutingmagazine.org/2017/12/bsa-invites-girls/
11-21-2017	Scouting Magazine BSA Chief answers your questions about welcoming girls into BSA programs At: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/11/21/bsa-chief-answers-your-questions-about-welcoming-girls-into-bsa-programs/
11-07-2017	CNN Why the Boy Scouts are for girls now, too (video) At: https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/07/opinions/girls-boy-scouts-surbaugh-opinion/index.html
10-12-2017	CNN Mike Surbaugh speaks on Boy Scouts to Allow Girls to Join (video) At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdm4PBAFyoU&feature=youtu.be
10-11-2017	FOX40 Sacramento Stockton Modesto Boy Scouts Will Allow Girls to Join At: https://fox40.com/2017/10/11/boy-scouts-will-allow-girls-to-join/?utm_source=related_2
10-11-2017	The BSA Expands Programs to Welcome Girls from Cub Scouts to Highest Rank of Eagle Scout At: https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/bsa-expands-programs-welcome-girls-cub-scouts-highest-rank-eagle-scout/
10-11-2017	Scouting Magazine BSA to welcome girls into Scouting Programs- here’s what that means for your pack or troop. At: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/10/11/bsa-welcomes-girls/
05-04-2017	NBC News Boy Scout Leaders to Discuss Offering More Opportunities for Girls At: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boy-scout-leaders-discuss-offering-more-opportunities-girls-n754541
08-26-2016	The Voice of Scouting Chief Scout Executive Asks Us to Serve the Entire Family At: https://voiceofscouting.org/chief-scout-executive-asks-us-serve-entire-family

OTHER RESOURCES

Scouts BSA information presentation
Available as:
[1] = PDF file (with links to videos. 2.5 MB),
[2] = PowerPoint (download zip file with links to videos, 14.4 MB),
[3] = PowerPoint (online with videos linked),
[4] = PowerPoint (download zip file with videos embedded, 217 MB)
Fact Sheet - The BSA Expands Programs to Welcome Girls from
Cub Scouts to Highest Rank of Eagle Scout (PDF)
Family Scouting publicity release (PDF)
Early adopter program talking points (PDF)
Early adopter soft launch program overview (PDF)
Family Scouting Infographic with Pack and Troop Structures (PDF)
Family Scouting Timeline (PDF)
Message from the National Key 3 (PDF)

Image result for World Organization of the Scout Movement

World Organization
of the Scout Movement
(At: https://www.scout.org)

Around the world 162 national Scout organizations belong to this association. A large majority of member countries have offered programs for both boys and girls for many years.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

Early Adopter Program Q&A
Family Scouting FAQ (06-12-2018 Update)
Family Scouting FAQ (10-26-2017)
Find a Scout unit nearby (aka BeAScout.Scouting.org)
Get your Top 10 Questions about Scouts BSA answered right here
Program for Older Girls Update and FAQ
Scouts BSA members one-time extension for becoming an Eagle Scout
Scouts BSA Uniforms and Handbook Q&A
Welcoming Girls into BSA Programs (Links to 22 questions asked of Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh)
What is GEC-BSA's position on the Girl Scouts?