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Big Change for Boy Scouts

UNDERSTANDING FIRE SAFETY IS A WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE AREN’T THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVASTATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOY SCOUTS TEACH. AND NOW IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY’LL BE TEACHING BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS.

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED THAT, AFTER MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF BEING A GROUP EXCLUSIVELY FOR BOYS, THEY WILL BE LETTING GIRLS JOIN.

NOT EVERYBODY IS HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT IT’S GOT SOME GIRLS EXCITED, ESPECIALLY ONE LITTLE GIRL IN KANSAS. BRITTNI THOMPSON HAS THAT STORY.

BRITTNI: WHEN YOU GO TO A DEN MEETING, YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF BOYS.

LEIA: THERE'S LIKE ALL THESE COOL BADGES AND STUFF. AND LIKE YOU CAN EARN THE EAGLE IF YOU DO REALLY GOOD. AND LIKE I REALLY WANNA DO ALL THAT STUFF.

BRITTNI: LEIA PAMETICKY WANTED TO JOIN THE SCOUTS EVER SINCE SHE COULD REMEMBER.

LEIA: PEOPLE WERE LIKE YOU CAN'T JOIN! YOU'RE A GIRL!

BRITTNI: HER DAD ENCOURAGED HER TO JOIN GIRL SCOUTS, BUT THE SELF PROCLAIMED "PART TOMBOY" WAS MORE INTERESTED IN KEEPING UP WITH THE BOYS...

LEIA: I DON'T KNOW, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO DO WHAT MY DAD WAS DOING.

BRITTNI: HER DAD, TYE, SHARES HIS OLD BOY SCOUT STORIES WITH HIS TWO DAUGHTERS.

TYE: WHEN I HAD DAUGHTERS I'M VERY EXCITED. EVERYBODY IS HAPPY WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR KIDS, BUT I KNEW THAT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THEM, BUT NOW IT IS, SO IT'S PRETTY NEAT."

BRITTNI: WHEN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ANNOUNCED GIRLS COULD JOIN THE CUB SCOUTS STARTING NEXT YEAR, LEIA WAS THRILLED.

LEIA: I WAS LIKE, YES, FINALLY.

BRITTNI: SHE CAN'T WAIT TO USE A POCKET KNIFE, GO FISHING AND USE A COMPASS... ACTIVITIES SHE ADMITS MANY GIRLS HER AGE AREN'T EXCITED ABOUT.

LEIA: THERE IS NO BOY AND GIRL THINGS. THERE IS ONLY PEOPLE THINGS.

TYE: THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING IN IT THAT'S GENDER SPECIFIC. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT HELPS DEVELOP CHARACTER BASED IN AN OUTDOOR SORT OF SETTING. AND THAT CROSSES GENDER LINES, SO I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE THERE AT ALL.

BRITTNI: LEIA WALKS THROUGH THE BOY SCOUT STORE, DREAMING OF ALL THE ADVENTURES SHE CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE WITH HER PACK NEXT YEAR.


Find Out More


Website Article: Newsela, The Boy Scouts Will Allow Girls To Join Its Programs |  May need to sign in.

Encyclopedia Article: INFOhio, World Book Student, Boy Scouts |  Learn more about Scouting. May need password.