On Wednesday, the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors voted to allow girls to join the organization. The vote was unanimous and will allow girls to join the Cub Scout program and allow them to advance to earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

According to a press release, the move is so that Boy Scouts can meet the needs of more families:

“This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example – are important for both young men and women,” said Michael Surbaugh, the BSA’s Chief Scout Executive. “We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best – developing character and leadership for young people – to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders.”

Girls will be able to join Boy Scouts in 2018, and according to the same press release, all Cub Scout dens will remain single gender:

Existing packs may choose to establish a new girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack.  Cub Scout dens will be single-gender — all boys or all girls. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the organization will also deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families.

Back in August, the Girl Scouts made news when they accused the Boy Scouts of recruiting girls.

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