May 7, 2024
Contact:
Maggie McMahon - (864) 941.6490 or maggie.mcmahon@scouting.org
For Immediate Release:
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA IS CHANGING ITS NAME TO SCOUTING AMERICA
The new name reflects the continuing efforts to welcome everyone to experience the benefits of Scouting.
Spartanburg, SC, – The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will be changing its name to Scouting America. This change reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The name change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th birthday.
This announcement also comes as the organization celebrates the fifth anniversary of welcoming girls into Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs. Boy Scouts of America currently serves 176,234 girls and young women across all programs, including more than 6,000 who have earned Eagle Scout status.
Palmetto Council Scout Executive/CEO Justin Williams stated “Our name may change, but our dedication to fostering leadership, character development, and community service remains steadfast. We are proud to continue our legacy of preparing young people for life's adventures and challenges."
Scouting America builds on the organization’s 114 years of helping America’s youth. Its ongoing goal is to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills and have fun, educational experiences, fostering their growth and future outcomes as leaders, and be prepared for life. At the same time, values instilled by the Scout Oath and Law help prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.
The Palmetto Council serves 3,200 youth ages five through eighteen across six counties in SC: Cherokee, Chester, Lancaster, Spartanburg, Union and York and has 1,100 volunteers. The Council currently has a nineteen percent female membership, the largest in the state of South Carolina.
More than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting programs since its founding in 1910, and currently, more than 1 million youth, including both men and women, are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To date, more than 2.75 million youth have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.
In addition to supporting the nation’s youth, Scouting America will continue to be an important asset to strengthen our communities, having provided more than 7 million hours of volunteer services for community improvement and other projects across the country.
About Scouting America
Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®”
Scouting America welcomes all of America’s youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.
To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, visit Scouting.org.
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About Palmetto Council
Headquartered in Spartanburg SC, the Palmetto Council serves a six-county area sharing the fantastic benefits of Scouting to over 3,200 youth and 1,100 volunteer adults in its Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring programs. Learn more about the Palmetto Council at www.PalmettoCouncil.org