INDIANA – The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history, rebranding as Scouting America.
The change will officially take effect on Feb. 8, 2025, timed to the organization’s 115th birthday.
Seeking to boost membership numbers, the Irving, Texas-based organization announced the name change Tuesday at its annual meeting in Florida.
The significant shift comes as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
The organization began allowing gay youth in 2013 and ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015. In 2017, it made the historic announcement that girls would be accepted as Cub Scouts. In 2019, the program was renamed Scouts BSA. Over 6,000 girls have now achieved the vaunted Eagle Scout rank.
