SAN ANTONIO -- Girls can officially join the Boy Scouts.
- Boy Scouts formally changed its name toScouts BSA
- Girls and boys ages 11 to 17 can join Scouts BSA
- Its parent organization,The Boy Scouts of America,which will not be changing its name
On Friday,the program formerly known as the Boy Scouts formally changed its name to Scouts BSA.
“When I found out that they can let girls join Boy Scouts, that changed everything for me," Haylie, a 13-year-old Scout, Alamo Area Council, said.
Girls and boys ages 11 to 17 can join Scouts BSA,where they have the opportunity to eventually become Eagle Scouts.
“I have four brothers in it, and I really liked how they came back home all happy and they learned things and I wanted to be part of that," Jane, a 12-year-old Scout, Alamo Area Council, said.
Girls will use the same Scoutguide,with the images changed from boys to girls. However, the troops will remain single sex. Girls cannot join existing male troops or form new co-ed troops.
Since moving to Texas from Colorado, becoming a Scout has helped Haylie make new friends. She's also made it her mission to show other girls why they should join Scouts BSA and convince them it's not just for boys.
“Iknew from the start that I was going to try and help girls understand that they can do so much more than just watch from the sidelines and watch what boys can do, same thing we can," Haylie said.
Scouts BSA is one of four scouting programs offered by its parent organization,The Boy Scouts of America,which will not be changing its name.
“I just love doing it because it just makes me feel good helping others and doing more for my community," Haylie said.
Last year, girls were welcomed into Cub Scouts,the program for younger children.
