Boy Scouts of America announces plans to admit girls into Cub Scout program

The Boy Scouts of America recently announced they will soon be allowing girls into their Cub Scout program, meaning girls will be able to earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

Kevin Les Callette, the Development Director of the Delmarva Council for The Boy Scouts of America, said the main goal behind this change is to encourage more family engagement in scout programs.

Les Callette said, "In both cases, we're not reaching the number of youth and families that we should be, and this is a way we felt we could engage more families in our program, and that's what we wanted to be about. I think both organizations really want families engaged in whatever way we can."

Local Girl Scout representatives, however, admitted they are not as thrilled about the new change.

Denise Ebersealer, the Director of Development and Communications for Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, said they want to maintain as many girls in their program as they can.

Eberspeaker said, "We hope that local girls will still come to Girl Scouts because we are the best program for your daughters and for the girls and we still hope that everyone will still join Girl Scouts and have that all girl environment."

Eberspeaker said they offer many of the same programs as Boy Scouts do.

"We do many of the same activities that boy scouts do such as archery and rock climbing and zip lining and the low and high ropes class. We have canoes and kayaks at our camps. We have the archery set up at our camp. So our girls are doing high adventure outdoor activities," she said.

While the Eagle Scout award is the highest Boy Scout honor, the Girl Scouts can earn their gold award.

Eberspeaker said, "Every girl who is a Girl Scout has the opportunity to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award. and it is a very prestigious award. It has the same benefits that the Eagle Scout Award has."

Les Callette said it's not just about the awards, however. He said, "We have families that have a son in the program, the daughter is tagging along a lot of the time. She wants to be a part and if they can go one place, and get the same program, why not?"

As for how this change will play out – only time will tell.

Starting in 2018, the Boy Scouts of America will allow families to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts.

The program for older girls to earn the Eagle Scout rank is expected to kick off in 2019.