McFarlane, Amanda (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Haug, Jordan (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Thompson, Greg (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church) have been partners for over hundred years, with the Church chartering Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops in each of its American congregations for their boys ages 8-11 and 12-18 respectively. Within the Utah National Parks Council (UNPC) of the BSA, the high concentration of members of the Church has led to the BSA being thought of synonymously with the Church and its involvement. In May of 2018, however, the Church announced that, starting January 1, 2020, they would no longer be chartering troops through the BSA for their male youth, leading to confusion about the role of Scouting in Utah and how it would change or if it would continue. The analysis of this ethnographic data, gathered at BSA events across Utah County and Camp Maple Dell in Payson, seeks to address the ways that Scouting has been influenced by its close relationship with the Church in the UNPC, the benefits and challenges it has presented, and how those that are highly involved in Scouting (employed by the UNPC) have been dealing with the impending transition and their optimism about having a better environment for Scouting without the direct influence of the Church.