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Girls to be eligible for Boy Scout program next month

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LOS ANGELES – Girls will be able to be part of what was known as the Boy Scout program next month.

The organization’s governing body, Boy Scouts of America, announced  last year that girls ages 11-17 would be allowed to join the Boy Scout program which was rebranded as Scouts BSA.

Troops will be single-gender and meet independently. Numerous troops have already formed in anticipation for the launch of Scouts BSA, including units in Lancaster, Palmdale and Quartz Hill.

“The experiences and skills that Scouting provides are incredibly valuable to all youth — not just boys,” said Troop 2019 adult volunteer leader Jessica Pazdernik. “I’m honored to help offer this opportunity to the girls and young women in our community.”

Future Scout Alexis Shrewsbury said she “can’t wait to go camping, earn merit badges and go on adventures with my friends.”

Some of the girls who plan to join Troop 2019 are coming from the BSA’s Cub Scout program, which opened to girls ages 5-10 last year. Since then, more than 77,000 girls have joined the program, but the troop is also seeing interest from girls who would be joining a BSA program for the first time.

“When I heard it would be possible for me to join Scouting and work to become an Eagle Scout, I knew I had to find a Scouts BSA troop to join,” Anna Fineberg said. “I can’t wait for our troop’s adventures. This is something I have been excited to do for a long time.”

Girls and families who are interested in learning more about Scouts BSA can find a unit near them by visiting BeAScout.org.

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Filed Under: Home, Lancaster, Palmdale

16 comments for "Girls to be eligible for Boy Scout program next month"

  1. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS DEPORT MELANIA TRUMP SHES IN NOT EVEN AMERICAN AND PLUS SHE WAS A INTERRACIAL PORN STAR IN RUSSIA WHAT A SHAME SHE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO HER COUNTRY.

  2. There are Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Boys should able to be Boys and Girls should be able to be Girls. This is a worse scenario waiting to happen. I just don’t understand why a girl wants to be around a lot of adolescent young boys as they are starting puberty. This isn’t Democrats or Republicans. This is Parenting making a bad choice.

  4. If their going to be single gender troops, then why not just call them Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts?

  5. So will the Girl Scouts allow boys into their ranks? Doesn’t Girl Scouts having outing similar to the Boy Scouts? Doesn’t the Girl Scouts have outdoor activities for them? Why not ask the Girls Scouts to change their program to match the interest of the girls.

  6. Here is a great article on the whys of the decision.
    To me it makes sense to bolster the ranks. Also many Scouts go on to join the military. That place where men and women receive the same training.
    Human is human. Strive to be the best one you can be.

    • Did you read about the rise in sexual assaults at military academies? Human is human, and boys will be boys, as some men define this stain.

      • Are you implying that Scouts would act the same as dumb adults just because they are blended together? (Gotta keep ’em seperated!)

        • To your comment. I wonder how many scouts go on to join the military. That place where men and women receive the same training, and too many of the men are sexually assaulting the women receiving the same training. What’s really going on here where even boys (17), and even younger are violating women? It’s on the rise.

  7. Ridiculous! Why does everything have to be so PC? Stop bringing politics into EVERYTHING! Especially something as innocent as the Scouts.

  9. How about keep Boy Scouts just for boys and young men, and Girl Scouts for girls, and improving the Girl Scouts training, offer more areas of study. Not everything in this world has to be available to everyone.