Because GSUSA was not meeting their desire for an adventurous program. And their leadership does not want to change. While society does indeed teach there are no differences in roles,  psychology and other sciences do show otherwise. Give me until the weekend to get the research collected. Because research from way back, and event to this day, shows that both boys and girls need their own spaces without the opposite gender present to develop.  Again, GSUSA has not listened to their base, and have lost many over the years.

If girls need girls-only spaces, why did they join the former "Boy" Scouts of America? Like a lot of folks here, Boy Scouts was my refuge in middle school when I could pal around with my friends in the woods not worrying about social pressures from school. It was a gender-segregated program. Imagine my surprise when I got to high school and found there were girls with similar feelings and interests. Not all of the girls, but quite a few. Why did we deny them the opportunity of a program that goes outdoors to teach self-reliance, teamwork, determination, and leadership? Before you say girls have Girl Scouts, they are not the same program. Frankly I don't know much about the Girl Scout program, but I know it is not Boy Scouts for girls. (anecdote: Many of the girls I met in high school tried the Girl Scout program, got tired of it and left.) Youth today grow up different. They aren't taught there are different roles in society for men and women. I believe we should all have the same opportunity. 

25+ years from now, folks will still be saying "Boy Scouts," "BSA," etc. Just look at Venturing and all the older names that had nothing to do with the Venturing program still in use, i.e. 'venture crews," "Venture Scouts," etc. And I can tell you from the discussions i have had since it was announced, folks with years of irreplaceable knowledge, skills, abilities, time, and treasure are upset.  In my neck of the woods we have lost a lot of folks over recent membership changes, and finding replacements is difficult to impossible. Best money example is the current FOS goal is 5%, yes FIVE PERCENT (emphasis), of what it was 25 years ago.. And if you adjust both today's goal to what the 1999 adjusted dollars are , it is only 1.4%, yes ONE POINT 4 PERCENT (again emphasis), of the 1999 adjusted goal. And do not forget the volunteers who conducted trainings, program activities , commissioner service, etc who have left. We have lost a lot.

And just like McD, they are pricing themselves out of the market.  Last I heard, the only qualification to join GSUSA was to just say you're a girl.  Have they now dropped all pretense?

*sigh* Tie knots. Set up tents. cook over open fires.  Knives and axes, chop wood.   Help and serve others.  Hike thru the woods. Observe and protect nature.  Get dirty. Get clean.  Wear a dorky uniform that used to be USEFUL and recognized and (?) respected.  Neckerchiefs that could be signal flags, bandages, sweat rags,  and tourniquets.  Parents that wanted to spend time with their kids, not just watch them do stuff.   Both Scouts of America.  BOTH Scouts of America.   The interesting thing to me is the idea that us older Scouters end up teaching the PARENTS more than the kids.   Rebranding?   You notice how McDonalds stores no longer LOOK like a fun place to go for a quick snack/meal?  How the Micky D's now look like a ...  prison block?  A  carwash looks more inviting.  Is BSA headed that way?    Scouts America...  Gender neutral is definitely better.   I heard GSUSA is now accepting BOYS in their ranks, is that true?  Is that up to the local GSUSA  leader?   Campfire is all but non existent, at least in our area.   Merging Councils...   Can we say Owassippee ?