Scouting's Revival: Merging BSA & Girl Scouts

0:00It's March 30th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Durham News Today, local news powered by AI. Scouting groups like the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA are facing tough times with dropping membership and scandals hitting hard. A columnist argues they've lost their core mission, amid abuse cases, bankruptcy, and name changes from Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA to Scouting America. Both organizations, once powerhouses for building character, and leaders, now struggle to attract kids and volunteers. Behind the scenes, costs have spiked, bureaucracy bloated up top, and local units scramble with more red tape. The Girl Scouts deal with choir declines, while Boy Scouts grab headlines over policy shifts like letting girls join. Defense Secretary Pete Hexf even threatened to cut ties earlier this year before a deal with struck. Parents and families feel the squeeze, with busier lives and endless options pulling them away. Volunteers, key to scouting success are harder to find, leaving units under strain.

1:02These federally chartered groups set up by Congress over a century ago to teach patriotism, self-reliance, and virtues, produce presidents and astronauts back in the day. The piece calls for Congress to step in and merge the two into one national body with shared resources. This day Boy Scouts, Girls Girl Scouts, both chasing eagle awards in single-sex setups where it fits. CEO Roger Crone pushes recruitment first, but the writer says clarity on mission drives real growth. Reviving scouting this way could counter today's distractions and rebuild citizens who step up. It's a throwback fix for institutions that shape generations, including the column this own life and its kids.