Boy Scouts to begin admitting girls next year

Boy Scouts of America announced Wednesday that it will begin admitting girls next year. The organization will also allow older girls to earn the rank of Eagle Scout for the first time in its 107-year history beginning in 2019. Previously, girls were allowed to join four scouting programs (Venturing, Sea Scouting, Exploring, and STEM), but none had paths to the Eagle Scout rank.

"This decision is true to the BSA's mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law," said the BSA's chief scout executive, Michael Surbaugh. "The values of Scouting — trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave, reverent, for example — are important for both young men and women."

A similar organization, Girl Scouts, has so far resisted allowing boys to join due to the desire to nurture an environment specifically to promote female leaders, NBC News reports.

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