The new name reflects the continuing efforts to welcome everyone to experience the benefits of Scouting.
WASHINGTON, DC (May 7, 2024) – 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.
“Our commitment is to all youth in our community,” stated Scout Executive/CEO Mario A. Pérez. “In the National Capital Area Council we know that one of our greatest assets is the rich diversity that characterizes our community. Inclusivity broadens our perspectives, makes us stronger, and better equips our youth to navigate the challenges in life. The use of Scouting America will help us connect with more youth from all backgrounds as we continue our work to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
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.
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.
Last year, National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) delivered the promise of Scouting to over 33,000 youth including 4,315 girls and young women across all programs. NCAC’s programs train the next generation of leaders; give back to the community through service; and teach young people to “Be Prepared” for life, adventure, and education.
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.
About National Capital Area Council (NCAC)
NCAC was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and the largest councils in America. Scouts from NCAC perform in excess of 400,000 hours of community service each year under the guidance of over 14,000 adult leaders. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, and Culpeper as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and US Scouting families living abroad in North, Central, and South America. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.
