Why The Boy Scouts Vanished

With over a century of history, the Boy Scouts were one America’s greatest outdoors organization for children.
So what happened? Why did the Boy Scouts fail?
~

Got a "why" you want answered? Give us your questions here:

[paulne]

47 years ago, my cousin was involved in an industrial accident. A guy took off his belt to make a tourniquet and saved her life. I never got to meet him, but was told he was a Vietnam vet. Recently I was parking my car next to an old car and on the way to the store, started chatting with the driver, about old cars. After talking for about 15 minutes, he introduced himself. Surprised, I told him, you’re the guy who saved my cousins life 47 years ago! I asked him about being a Vietnam vet, and he said, hell no, that was Cub Scout training!

[davidmengle]

A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverant. 48 years ago and I still remember those words.

[LordReginaldMeowmont]

As an Eagle Scout I'm disappointed in what the Boy Scouts has become. It is a mockery of what it once was. I'm thankful I had an ex-army scoutmaster.

[danielloveridge]

I am a current Scoutmaster. I just received a text from my council asking if my boys troop wanted to go coed. I guess the wisdom of the national leaders in 2021 where they stated that all other international scouting organizations as well as the BSA venturing program lost 50% of their boys by going coed has been forgotten in 2024.
It gets harder every year to keep my troop isolated from Nationals interjection of DEI and identity politics.

[blakeashley]

Rarely a week passes in which I don't use one of the basic knots I learned in Boy Scouts. And I still remember this: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Can't have people teaching THAT toxic stuff.

[DogeMcLovin]

I find it astonishing that people will demand to released from these "shackles" of society, just to turn around and become "liberated" through reducing their own self-worth.

[armageddonready]

Because our system no longer wants MEN, just humans.
Without scouting, my time in the Marine corps would have been much different. I was gifted with the position of Forward Observer, a very independent position relying on field craft, survival and endurance. All skills I learned in the BOY SCOUTS.

[daffidkane]

We need to bring back the original Boy Scouts. Our boys need it more than ever.

[dofqoyc]

As a former scout master, I endorsed this message. I was raised in the ghetto by a single mother who worked 26 years in a foundery with men. Scouting was not a possibility in my world.
My son spent 11 years in scouting. He eagled and is also Order of the Arrow. Today, he is EXTREEMLY successful. He has his own family. Since he was a kid he spoke of being a scout master for his sons.
If you ask him today, he will quickly denounce the BSA.
Trail Life USA for the win!

[docmulvin]

As a former scout and scout master for 14 years. The scouting program became less about teaching morals values and teaching young boys to become leaders and more about being a babysitting service. It’s a terrible shame what the parents and the administrators turned the program into.

[DocuNamics]

As an Eagle Scout from the birthplace of the founder William D. Boyce (and troop meetings at his church), I am vastly disappointed in the direction the Boy Scouts is heading. When the changes came down to allow girls into the troop, my Scoutmaster refused and continued doing things usually. Throughout my time there, I am grateful to have learned many skills, such as camping, first aid, and emergency preparedness. I will always remember the memories of weeklong campouts and Scouting for Food drives, where we volunteered for the needy. Thank God I received my Eagle three years ago when it was already sinking, and not now, as this desperate pandering will only sink the Boy Scouts further than it already has (bankruptcy, scandals, etc). To me, I will always call it Boy Scouts and nothing will change that.

[stevethirdcitymo]

I cannot count the number of times as an adult that I would meet a single mom entering her boy into Scouts because he needed “male role models”. When we began actually teaching her boy what it meant to be a man, she would inevitably remove her son from the program; my theory being she had to keep her boy from becoming that from which she was divorced - a man!

[Bad.Pappy.Official]

I was a Boy Scout and it was an incredible experience. What a shame.

[Barga]

I am an Eagle Scout. I earned that in 2018 a few months before I turned 18. I started in cub scouts and went all the way up. A few months after I left BSA was no more and simply became scouts, as it allowed women into the organizations training. I have left my accomplishment of Eagle Scout in my resume, although I understand its value has been taught to a select few and it has never assisted me in getting a job. No one really knows what it means anymore. Its good to see so many Eagles and other members in the comments.

The decision that was made by the BSA leaders was short sighted. I don't believe they fundamentally understood what they were changing. But their org has taken a massive blow from this. It is my hope that through the blows that have followed after their decision someone wiser will revert the choice and bring back what this was.

I was fortunate enough in my training to have been taught by old guard members of Hawaii's BSA. That state gets its news far later than anywhere else and is more resistant to change as a result. My skills are the same as the old guard. I can only hope as a result my efforts can bring back the old BSA, as I assure you there are people trying. We must do our best now, and hope it is enough.

[billthompson]

I am Eagle Scout and very proud of it. I meet people all the time that are still impressed with the accomplishment. I can’t tell you how much being a Boy Scout helped me. We learned that you should be proud to be an American, you should always help others and be accountable for your actions. I am afraid these are values that are disappearing in our society today. We need the Boy Scouts back.

[godwinmanuel]

As a former boy scout, I think the core issue is America has turned away from God who is the source of virtue and gives meaning to all of life including masculinity.

[willn]

Trail Life USA honoring the legacy of BSA but raising the standard. Trail Life is a biblical manhood outdoor adventure program.

[loud_laughter]

I’m an Eagle Scout. This is sad—But you missed one critical point. The Boy Scouts ended when they allowed Gay scoutmasters on campouts in the early 90s.

[doctor]

I started the Boy Scouts in the 50’s. It played a big role in who I am today. So sad to see it destroyed.😢😢😢

[lorellhathcock]

Great analysis. Eagle Scout here class of 1989 and Asst Scout Master from 1999 thru 2014. I am ashamed of what the BSA did to itself. The tradition, heritage, history, values, reputation and name they developed over the years was sacrificed for what would come to be called the woke crowd and we are all the lesser for it. I am glad for my time with the BSA and grateful for the leaders I had, but ashamed of how they dishonored all Scouts by abandoning the Oaths and Law we revere.

I participated with my three sons. Only the oldest came to be an Eagle Scout. My second son came very close to achieving Eagle Scout. But in the end he refused and told me that he was not sure that BSA at the time upheld HIS values (woke stuff). Ironically if he had followed my advice it would have. And also ironically he would have my respect for following through and finishing it up despite how BSA betrayed us ultimately.