By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer Jul 7, 2021
Barry Bedlan I AP
In this June 10, 2021 photo provided by Barry Bedlan, members of
Troop 298 of Frisco, Texas are among the first to embark a 12-day
trek across the Philmont Scout Ranch, outside Cimarron, N.M. Boy
Scout and Girl Scoutsâ leadership say their summer camps are full,
special events are sold out, and theyâre expecting many thousands
of families â some new to scouting, some who left during the
pandemic â to sign up now that activities are occurring in-person
rather than virtually.
Americaâs most iconic youth organizations the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA â have been jolted by unprecedented one-year drops in membership, due partly to the pandemic, and partly to social trends that have been shrinking their ranks for decades.
Close
In this June 10, 2021 photo provided by Barry Bedlan, members of Troop 298 of Frisco, Texas are among the first to embark a 12-day trek across the Philmont Scout Ranch, outside Cimarron, N.M. Boy Scout and Girl Scoutsâ leadership say their summer camps are full, special events are sold out, and theyâre expecting many thousands of families â some new to scouting, some who left during the pandemic â to sign up now that activities are occurring in-person rather than virtually.
Barry Bedlan I AP
By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer Jul 7, 2021
AP Story talkradio1170.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from talkradio1170.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts suffer huge declines in membership
David Crary
The Associated Press
America’s most iconic youth organizations the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA have been jolted by unprecedented one-year drops in membership, due partly to the pandemic, and partly to social trends that have been shrinking their ranks for decades.
While both organizations insist they’ll survive, the dramatic declines raise questions about how effectively they’ll be able to carry out their time-honored missions – teaching skills and teamwork, providing outdoor adventure, encouraging community service.
Membership for the BSA’s flagship Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA programs dropped from 1.97 million in 2019 to 1.12 million in 2020, a 43% plunge, according to figures provided to The Associated Press. Court records show membership has fallen further since then, to about 762,000.
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts suffer huge declines in membership - Statesboro Herald statesboroherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from statesboroherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.