Local Troop responds to Boy Scout decision to allow girls membership

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A controversial decision for Boy Scouts of America has ruffled a lot of feathers.

It’s a decision that’s sparking a national debate. Boy Scouts of America announced that girls will now be allowed to join the organization. While some are upset with the changes, Executive Director Ed Mulholland of the  Muskingum Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America, says they are embracing the new direction.

“We’re really excited to be finally allowing the young ladies to join cub scouting. We’ve had for years families bringing their daughters along to these activities anyway. Parents more and more have been hounding us ‘why can’t our daughters participate…in the same program?’So we’re excited to offer that opportunity.

Mulholland says the set-up won’t change too much. Instead of one first grade den there will be two. A den for boys and a den for girls. It will be the same for each grade level. There’s still questions, though, of why girls even need to join Boy Scouts when Girl Scout exists.

“The Girl Scouts of America has great programming and many girls are involved in and active in that. This will be another alternative for some of them that have been telling us they want to do more high adventure, outdoor things that Boy Scouts do. ”

Mulholland says the Muskingum Valley troop will begin recruiting girls to its program this fall.