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About 2.4 million youth participated in the nearly
105-year-old Texas-based scouting program, representing a 7.4
percent decline over 2013 enrollment of 2.6 million youth, Boy
Scout officials said in a statement on Friday.
Enrollment declined by about 6 percent in 2013. BSA officials
said that decreasing participation is a trend that most youth
organizations are facing.
"There are many factors that go into a family's decision to join
and participate in Scouting. This includes, but is not limited
to, the limited amount of discretionary time of parents and
kids," the BSA statement said.
The number of adult volunteers dropped to 981,000 in 2014, down
from slightly over 1 million 2013.
The new membership policy that allowed gay youth in the
organization for the first time split the organization between
those who embraced the non-discriminatory change and
conservatives who stood by traditional values. Trail Life USA
was founded last year as a breakaway organization based on
Christian standards.
In an effort to increase membership, the Boy Scouts introduced
new technology programs and more outdoor activities. Also,
former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates became national
president and a new "High Adventure Base" opened in West
Virginia last year.
(Editing by Curtis Skinner)
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