BEND, OR -- Local troops are adjusting to this week’s announcement from Boy Scouts of America that the youth organization is rebranding as simply “Scouting America.”

Crater Lake Council COO Jennifer Mooney says the name change solidifies work that started five years ago, when girls were first allowed to join, "It’s just an opportunity for those girls that have maybe sat on the sidelines and watched brothers do this program, and they want to be part of it. And the nice thing for a lot of us families that have daughters and sons is, we can do it as a whole family." She admits there's been some pushback, "In anything you do, change is scary, right? And it’s not just with our organization, it’s with anything in life. And, if they don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, they’re going to continue to want it the way it was." Mooney says those people typically don't realize the organization's mission and values haven't changed. She says it's still focused on character, leadership, citizenship and personal fitness. 

The Crater Lake Council has 69 packs and troops in 11 counties across Central and Southern Oregon and northern California. Mooney says for those existing members, not much will change. But, "For the incoming families that are curious about Scouting," she tells KBND News, "I think it just solidifies something that we’ve been working on for five years, of inclusivity." About a fifth of the Council's 1,300 youth members are female, "The 20% female is actually pretty encouraging. Of course, our hope is eventually to be 50/50. But, it’s just a continuation, as we continue to let more and more people understand and know what our program is."

Not all the boys are pleased with the shift. When they complain, Mooney says, "I’m a little snarky sometimes with that and say, ‘Well, prove yourself that you can do the skills just like the girls can. Because the girls have proven themselves.’" She adds, "It’s still very fresh for girls to learn these same skills. And I watch them in their troop meeting just really get very excited about getting these skills done."

The name change officially takes effect on the organization's 115th anniversary, February 8, 2025.