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Tag: boy scouts of america

  • Pete Hegseth, No Boy Scout, Reportedly Wants to Put the “Boy” Back In Scouts

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    Remember the good old days, when men were men and scouts were boys? US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth apparently does, and believes that, in fact, the sun set on those golden days in 2018, when the organization then known as Boy Scouts of America amended its rules to allow girls to join. Things got darker still on February 5, 2025, when the entity officially changed its name to Scouting America.

    Hegseth is reportedly prepared to order the government to cut all ties with the organization, ending a relationship that dates back more than a century.

    NPR reported Tuesday that the outlet had received drafts of memos Hegseth intends to send to Congress mandating a severing of ties with Scouting America. Hegseth, who never participated in Boy Scouts, wrote in the draft that the organization now serves to “attack boy-friendly spaces,” accusing the group of being “genderless” and promoting “gender confusion.”

    “The organization once endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt no longer supports the future of American boys,” Hegseth reportedly wrote in a memo.

    According to the Scouting America website, “The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”

    Hegseth, however, reportedly believes that the group’s mission is to “cultivate masculine values,” per one memo, and that they are failing at it.

    When contacted by Vanity Fair for comment, an official from the Department of Defense said, “The Department will not comment on leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be pre-decisional.” Representatives for Scouting America did not immediately respond to Vanity Fair’s request for further comment.

    The about-face comes amid attempts by the Trump administration to quash many diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. In 2020, Scouting America added a new requirement for scouts working to achieve the group’s highest rank, Eagle Scout: A “diversity, equity, and inclusion” badge, later renamed the “Citizenship in Society” badge.

    Though the scouts have never been formally integrated with the U.S. government or military, they’ve had a somewhat symbiotic relationship, with the foundations of the scouting program drawing on military handbooks, and scouting providing opportunities for military recruiting. The armed forces also provide medical and logistical aid, as well as demonstrations, at the National Jamboree, a quadrennial scouting event that sees some 20,000 scouts flocking to West Virginia in the years it’s held. Additionally, military bases often have affiliated scout troops, an association that would be banned under Hegseth’s reported orders.

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  • US military could cut ties with Scouts

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    The U.S. Military could be preparing to sever ties with the Scouts, according to a leaked Pentagon memo. 

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring an end to the centuries-old partnership between the military and Scouting America because he believes the organization has developed a tendency to “attack boy-friendly spaces,” according to documents reportedly seen by NPR.

    A Department of Defense official told NPR the Pentagon would not comment on “leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be predecisional.” Newsweek contacted the U.S. Department of Defense for further comment via email.  

    Why It Matters

    The U.S. military’s relationship with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) is a long-standing association that has influenced youth leadership training and military recruitment. 

    The possible break stems from new policy directions within both organizations relating to inclusion, diversity, and shifting values, raising questions about the military’s approach to civic engagement and youth development at a time when both national security considerations and recruitment remain top priorities. 

    What To Know

    Documents obtained and reviewed by NPR indicate that Hegseth is advancing plans to end all Defense Department ties with Scouting America, citing misalignment with traditional military values.

    In a draft memo to Congress, not yet sent, Hegseth is reported to have criticized Scouting America for becoming “genderless” and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, arguing that Scouting America has shifted away from a “meritocracy which holds its members accountable to meet high standards.”

    The Department of Defense has supported the Scouts in various ways since formalizing assistance in 1937, including providing medical and logistical aid to the National Jamboree and allowing Scouts to meet on military installations. 

    However, under Hegseth’s proposal, these supports—along with recruitment advantages for Eagle Scouts and the use of military resources at Scouting events—would end.

    The draft documents reveal concerns about the Jamboree, which attracts up to 20,000 scouts to a remote Virginia site, suggesting that sending personnel and equipment to support it would divert resources from border operations and protecting U.S. territory at a time of international security challenges and limited budgets. 

    A source familiar with the Pentagon documents told NPR the memo was prepared to notify Congress but stressed it had not yet been formally delivered. 

    What People Are Saying

    Scouting America said: “Scouting is and has always been a nonpartisan organization…Over more than a century, we’ve worked constructively with every U.S. presidential administration—Democratic and Republican—focusing on our common goal of building future leaders grounded in integrity, responsibility, and community service.” 

    Retired Army Staff Sergeant Kenny Green, a military parent of three Scouts who has relocated many times as a result of his work, told NPR: “We went from Louisiana to Alaska. From Alaska to Germany. From Germany to Texas…At every military base, there was a Scout troop that could help ease the transition to a new home…I can’t even say how vast their benefits are, especially for military families.” 

    Criticism of the proposed cut also comes from within the Pentagon. Navy Secretary John Phelan said in a memo viewed by NPR: “Passive support to Scouting America through access to military installations and educational opportunities serves as a crucial recruiting and community engagement tool for the [Navy]…Prohibition of access could be detrimental to recruitment and accession efforts across the department.”

    President Donald Trump, speaking at the 2017 Jamboree, previously lauded the Scouts, saying: “The United States has no better citizens than its Boy Scouts. No better.” 

    What Happens Next

    The move could disrupt not only the Scouts’ annual Jamboree but the broader pipeline of service-minded youth entering the U.S. armed forces. Planning for next summer’s Jamboree continues, but without clarity—uncertainty hangs over whether military support and access to installations will persist or cease by directive.

    The Pentagon said it is reviewing all partnerships to ensure they “align with the president’s agenda and advance our mission.”

    Congress could weigh in, given its legislative oversight and the statutory requirements around military support for scouting events.

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  • Exploring Miller Castle near Nisswa

    Exploring Miller Castle near Nisswa

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    NISSWA, Minn. — Did you know Minnesota has a real castle? Miller Castle, near Nisswa. 

    “The first time they come in their eyes light up. They’re like wow, it’s a castle, it’s real,” said Holly Carlson, council program director. 

    The castle and its kingdom have it all — fortress walls, watchtowers, even catwalks and a courtyard. It’s something you’d more likely find in rural England, not rural Minnesota. 

    “Really take in the full measure of what was it like to be in medieval times,” says Carlson. 

    But this castle wasn’t built during medieval times, it was built in 2008- by the Boy Scouts of America. Gerry Granum says the council was looking for a way to provide a unique opportunity for scouts and their families. They come here to develop life skills with a chance to earn up to twenty, different merit badges.  

    The castle is 12,000 sq feet but despite its size, it’s kind of hard to find. That’s because it’s surrounded by more than 250 wooded acres.

    At a cost of $2 million, it was constructed on the Parker Scout Reservation. Inside this fortress, you’ll find a Minnesota version of the knights of the round table. There are 4 that keep watch, along with a wizard and a dragon. 

    “Just having a place that’s different from other camps has been a big draw for kids and adults,” said Carlson. 

    The castle sleeps 80 people, and the boy scouts aren’t the only ones who use this. Youth groups, church groups, even corporate retreats have taken place. In a sense, visitors are treated like royalty. And their hosts hope they leave with a new appreciation for a time that was.     

    “Not every day a scout gets to come to a castle,” says Carlson. “This castle is going to be around for a long, long time. As one of those key, beacons of light.”

    John says it’s called the Miller Castle because two of the main construction donors were Jim and Marion Miller.

    John Lauritsen


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    John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.

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    John Lauritsen

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  • Middleton teen keynote speaker at Salute to Scouting Gala

    Middleton teen keynote speaker at Salute to Scouting Gala

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    BOSTON — Mira Plante, of Middleton, was the keynote speaker earlier this month when Scouting Boston honored business leaders Pamela Everhart and Joe Campanelli with the 44th presentation of the Ralph Lowell Distinguished Citizen Award.

    The award was presented by the Scout’s Spirit of America Council at the Boston Harbor Hotel with approximately 300 guests in attendance. Plante was lauded as an inspiration and role model, as one of the first young women to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in Massachusetts. A 2020 honors graduate of Masconomet Regional High School, she’s now a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a masters degree in cybersecurity. She is also a Scholarship for Service Recipient.

    An announcement noted that her journey started as a member of a family that immigrated to the U.S. to becoming an Eagle Scout to her recent graduation from WPI with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, propelled by her involvement in the Scouting Boston STEM-focused programs.

    This year’s gala marked the fifth anniversary of the historic decision to welcome girls of all ages into the nation’s most iconic youth development program. The milestone underscores the dedication of the Spirit of Adventure Council — which supports more than 7,300 Scouts in Massachusetts — to providing career exploration opportunities for all youth across the region, irrespective of gender or background.

    “The urgent need is a clarion call for our community, nation, and world to step up and do a better job in helping young people learn, grow and realize their full promise,” said Scouting Boston CEO and Scout Executive John Judge. “With challenges like tech overload, loneliness, nature deficit, and in-activity — we must step up to meet the critical needs of our youth. The programs and values of Scouting are sorely needed in today’s world.”

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    By News Staff

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  • Boy Scouts Of America Changes Name To Scouting America

    Boy Scouts Of America Changes Name To Scouting America

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    Boy Scouts of America announced that it is changing its name to Scouting America in an effort to be more inclusive, with the organization’s president Roger A. Krone saying, “This will be a simple but very important evolution as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in Scouting.” What do you think?

    “Guess we’ll have to find another way to make girls know they’re unwanted.”

    Dex Wolpert, Shortcut Specialist

    This Week’s Most Viral News: April 5, 2024

    “No one should be excluded from being yelled at by their dad while they set up a tent in the rain.”

    Melissa Gerke, Rodeo Stylist

    “Finally, an organization for dorks of all genders.”

    Pablo Rocha, unemployed

     

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  • Boy Scouts of America will begin to compensate sexual abuse victims from a $2.4 billion trust after emerging from bankruptcy | CNN

    Boy Scouts of America will begin to compensate sexual abuse victims from a $2.4 billion trust after emerging from bankruptcy | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The Boy Scouts of America will begin to distribute compensation to thousands of victims of sexual abuse after emerging from bankruptcy Wednesday, the organization announced.

    As part of a settlement with more than 82,000 survivors of abuse, the BSA will pay out $2.4 billion from a Victims Compensation Trust that was established by the court during its bankruptcy reorganization.

    “This is a significant milestone for the BSA as we emerge from a three-year financial restructuring process with a global resolution approved with overwhelming support of more than 85% of the survivors involved in the case,” Chief Scout Executive, President and CEO Roger Mosby said in a statement.

    “Our hope is that our Plan of Reorganization will bring some measure of peace to survivors of past abuse in Scouting, whose bravery, patience and willingness to share their experiences has moved us beyond words,” Mosby added.

    The youth organization filed for bankruptcy in February 2020, when it was facing hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits involving thousands of alleged abuse survivors. In September 2022, a judge in Delaware federal bankruptcy court granted final approval for the confirmation of a reorganization plan.

    “These boys – now men – seek and deserve compensation for the sexual abuse they suffered years ago,” Chief Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein wrote in an order last year. “Abuse which has had a profound effect on their lives and for which no compensation will ever be enough. They also seek to ensure that to the extent BSA survives, there is an environment where sexual abuse can never again thrive or be hidden from view.”

    The co-founder of the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, a group including more than two dozen law firms representing more than 70,000 of the claimants, said it was the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in history.

    Coalition co-founder and attorney Adam Slater also commended the court for “bringing survivors one step closer to justice.”

    “After years of protracted bankruptcy proceedings and decades of suffering in silence, tens of thousands of survivors of childhood sexual assault will now receive some tangible measure of justice. With this decision, the Plan will now become effective, and the Trust will be able to begin distribution of the historic $2.45B settlement fund,” Slater said.

    “Even more important, it means that the safety measures and protections for current and future Scouts included in the Plan will also be put into place – and we know that for many survivors, this has been the highest priority,” Slater added.

    The Boy Scouts of America have since enacted a number of protocols to “act as barriers to abuse.”

    The protocols include mandatory youth protection training for volunteers and employees, a screening process that includes criminal background checks for new adult leaders and staff, and a policy requiring at least two youth-protection trained adults to be present with youth at all times during scouting activities.

    The policy also bans one-on-one situations where adults would have any interaction alone with children.

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