On February 8, 1910, Boy Scouts of America was officially established as an organization designed to challenge boys with age-appropriate programs, to learn valuable skills, and to encourage their sense of adventure.
Robert S. S. Baden-Powell was one of the Founders of Boy Scouts of America and his biography gives insight into the creation of this organized group:
As a youth, Robert Baden-Powell greatly enjoyed the outdoors, learning about nature and how to live in the wilderness. After returning as a military hero from service in Africa, Baden-Powell discovered that English boys were reading the manual on stalking and survival in the wilderness he had written for his military regiment.
Gathering ideas from Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, and others, he rewrote the manual as a nonmilitary nature skill book and called it Scouting for Boys.
To test his ideas, Baden-Powell brought together 22 boys to camp at Brownsea Island, off the coast of England. This historic campout was a success and resulted in the advent of Scouting.
Thus, the imagination and inspiration of Baden-Powell, later proclaimed Chief Scout of the World, brought Scouting to youth the world over.
Boy Scouts of America has been a beloved group throughout the United States for over 100 years.
Sadly, throughout the years, the original intent and mission of the Boy Scouts of America has become more and more twisted.
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 as of 2018 and into the flagship Boy Scout program — renamed Scouts BSA — in 2019.
Yet, the final blow came on May 7, 2024, when Boy Scouts of America announced that it was changing its 114-year-old, historic name to be more inclusive, thus changing it to “Scouting America.”
Roger Krone, the President and Chief Executive Officer of “Scouting America” commented,
“In the next 100 years, we want any youth in America to feel very, very welcome to come into our programs.”
The intent behind this politicized move is clear. The Boy Scouts of America name change has nothing to do with being more inclusive. The name change has everything to do with erasing the unique design of male and female.
Thankfully, Trail Life USA understands this intention and is fighting against it actively.
Trail Life USA’s CEO Mark Hancock responded to the Boy Scouts’ name change:
Our focus is different. Our number one job is not to get kids into the program.
Our number one job is to grow godly men.
The reality is that males and females are fundamentally different in many ways: physically, emotionally, and in their relationships. Pretending otherwise in the name of progress or permissiveness might be culturally acceptable, but it does both sexes a disservice.
Boys and girls deserve unique programs created with their specific needs in mind.
Trail Life USA not only recognizes the differences between male and female, but it also celebrates these differences.
Hancock continues,
While it may make financial sense for the Boy Scouts to abandon their traditional boy-centered roots and allow girls to join the ranks, how is this beneficial for boys at a time when so many statistics point to boys losing ground?
In the wake of this unfortunate decision, Trail Life USA declares again our dedication to providing boys and their families with an intentional program to raise godly boys.
If you are a parent looking for an organization for your son(s) to join, look no further. Trail Life USA is dedicated to giving your son a boy-focused program that celebrates and accentuates his unique strengths and skills.
Hancock goes on to say,
Trail Life USA has developed a battle plan for parents and Troop leaders to restore the wonder and winning elements of boyhood so boys can have a sure and secure future.
We guide them with vetted male mentors. We ground them in biblical truths. We appreciate their strengths. And we inspire them with outdoor adventure, character, and leadership challenges.
Find your local Trail Life Troop today!
