Jeff Schiavone leads the Miami Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, serving Montgomery, Shelby, Darke and Preble counties.
After the name change was officially announced, Schiavone said he wanted to make sure that the public understands the change.
He said it was prompted by the scouts adding girls to the ranks, specifically to the Boy Scouts program for those ages 11 to 18.
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“I really think it’s important to get the messaging right with this name change,” Schiavone said. “This is part of the new Scout Me In campaign that allows us to continue providing scouting opportunities locally and nationally to girls, as well as boys.”
Cub Scouts will remain the name for its program for children ages 7 to 10.
Last October the BSA announced its intention to allow girls to join the Cub Scouts and earn the rank of Eagle Scout for the first time in the group’s history.
BSA said in a written statement that “dropping the boy” in Scouts will allow boys or girls to simply identify themselves as scouts without referring to gender.
“As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible. That is why it is important that the name for our Scouting program for older youth remain consistent with the single name approach used for the Cub Scouts,” Michael Surbaugh, Chief Scout Executive of the BSA noted in the statement. “Starting in February 2019, the name of the older youth program will be ‘Scouts BSA,’ and the name of our iconic organization will continue to be Boy Scouts of America.”
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Cub Scouts will allow for all-girls and all-boy groups, according to Schiavone.
Schiavone said that 3,000 girls across the country have already joined the Cub Scouts.
The Miami Valley Council is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and Schiavone says the organization will continue its dedication to the kids and families it has served.
“We will always provide a quality experience and welcome girls and boys into scouting,” he said.
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