On Wednesday, October 11th, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced that they would start allowing girls to join their once gender-exclusive program and attain the rank of Eagle Scout. This comes after other major recent decisions from the BSA where they opened their doors to groups previously excluded from the organization (allowing boys to join regardless of sexual orientation, and individuals who identify as male).

Also, here’s your random Keegan fact for the day: I’m an Eagle Scout. (Well, maybe you already knew that, but nonetheless!) It has to do with how I first heard of the news about the BSA admitting girls! I was just wasting time on Facebook when I saw an article somebody posted on a public Eagle Scout page I’m a member of, and I must admit, I was quite surprised to see the title of the article... But surprised in a good way.

It had only been posted for about 20 minutes when I saw it but there were already 40+ comments on it. The first comment on it even aligned with my own views on the situation:

The Facebook commenter, I thought, was very fair and respectful to the idea of lettings girls in! And being the optimist I am, I guess I assumed that majority of ideas would be the same.

But no, I was wrong. Not everyone was happy about it. Immediately following that comment were these two that went to exact opposite side of the acceptance scale—

WOAHHH NOW. Why the hostility? Not only at letting girls join, but also at the organization itself? Not cool. Not cool at all. Apparently, some people have forgotten — or just chosen to ignore — the Scout Oath and Law.

For all you non-scouters out there, let me give you a quick lowdown on what they entail. There are three important promises to the Scout Oath: A duty to God and country, a duty to other people, and duty to self. The Scout Law consists of 12 words that a Scout should strive to be, three of those being friendly, courteous, and kind.

(The full Scout Oath and Law can be found here if you’d like to read more into them.)

I don’t see how being negative to this news would fit into the ideology Scouting. People who react negatively in such an outward way aren’t being friendly, courteous, or kind. That’s pretty easy to see. And is it not our duty as not only Scouts, but as humans as well, to help other people at all times? How is hate helping other people?

It’s not.

I know girls already have Girl Scouts, and have had it for over a hundred years. And with over 1.8 million members, I don’t see it going anywhere soon. I also know that I don’t know the most about Girl Scouts, but I think it’s safe to say there is a large difference between it and the BSA. From what I have personally seen there is a much bigger emphasis on hiking, camping, backpacking, forestry, and outdoorsmanship in BSA then compared to Girl Scouts. If a girl wants the opportunity to experience these things, then shouldn’t they be allowed to do so?

Also, as far as attaining the rank of Eagle, I had to work very hard to get there. Just as others before me had to, and just as others after me had to as well. I don’t see the BSA changing the requirements or making them easier for girls. If my sisters would have had the chance to become Eagle Scouts I hope they would have tried as it is such a positive experience.

Apparently, people thought this was happening like, right now. But everyone just calm down and take a chill pill. Girls are going to start being admitted to Cub Scout packs and dens starting in 2018. Cub Scouts are for those too young for Boy Scouts. A Cub Scout group is called a pack and a pack comprises dens. Girls who join Cub Scouts will be put into all-girl dens, and these dens can be apart of an all-girl pack, or a co-ed pack. It’s not until 2019 that a new program will be offered for older girls to attend and have the chance to earn the Eagle rank.

Being an Eagle Scout is one of my greatest accomplishments. I try to live by the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan every day. The values that BSA are built on are ones that can 100% be applied to everyone of all genders, and I’m glad that the BSA has finally recognized this.

Scout on.