Boy Scouts Changing Name: Flagship Goes Genderless as Girls Join

Boy Scouts of America will be changing the name of its flagship program to something more user friendly, as marketers say, while it prepares to welcome girls into the organization for the first time in 108 years.

The term "boy" will fall away and new members to the iconic program will now just say "scout me in" when they join later this year, MassLive reported.

Boy Scouts will remain the name for younger scouts, for now, and Cub Scouts will stay the name for the youngest scouts, but the name of the older youth program (where Eagle Scouts roost and merit badges accrue) will change to "Scouts BSA" next year.

"As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible," Michael Surbaugh, chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, said per Fox 13.

"That is why it is important that the name for our Scouting program for older youth remain consistent with the single name approach used for the Cub Scouts."

Stephen Medlicott, national marketing group director of Boy Scouts of America, explained that Cub Scouts had always been a lot of fun, and now it included all children.

"That's why we love 'Scout Me In' – because it speaks to girls and boys and tells them, 'This is for you. We want you to join!'" he said.

More than 3,000 girls across the U.S. have already enrolled in the BSA's Early Adopter Program and are participating in Cub Scouts ahead of the full launch later this year.

The name change follows various other changes implemented within the organization.

The group recently announced that transgender youth would be accepted and registered within its ranks, and in 2015 it lifted its ban on gay leaders, USA Today reported.

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