By Alexander Fabino
Reporter, Economy & Finance
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Roger Krone has a lot of work ahead of him. The new chief executive officer of Scouts BSA, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, is tasked with cleaning up the organization's image in the wake of decades of child sexual abuse and rejuvenating Scouting's numbers now that the BSA has emerged from bankruptcy.
Krone, a former Boeing executive and an Eagle Scout himself, was sworn in as CEO at 12:01 a.m. Friday. He laid out a vision to revitalize the BSA, fix past transgressions, and realign the organization to meet contemporary youth's needs and ensure their safety in an exclusive interview with Newsweek.
...
Read More
Worker’s Swiss Army Knife Gift From Job Sparks Debate4 min read
Israel-Hamas War Reaching Critical Point5 min read
Boy Scout Helps Rescue Injured Dog and Owners Lost on Hawaii Hiking Trail3 min read
Expanding Scouting's reach with inclusivity
Scouting has suffered a decline in membership, and it's one of the many tasks Krone finds himself combatting as he takes the BSA's reins. Scouting's numbers tumbled from 1.97 million in 2019 to around 762,000 in 2021, largely due to the pandemic. Krone aims to reverse the trend. He said he intends to augment high-adventure camps and ensure scouting remains relevant for modern youth. This strategy, he said, includes adapting to the digital era while maintaining the allure of outdoor activities.
Inclusivity is another substantial part of Krone's plan. "Everyone is welcome in scouting," he said, outlining initiatives to establish scouting packs in diverse zip codes and subsidizing costs for economically disadvantaged families. He told Newsweek he also plans to diversify BSA's leadership, including scout masters.
Cultivating Scout leadership
As part of this plan to expand, Krone's vision for the BSA also includes fostering leadership skills among young members. His approach, he said, includes a practical, hands-on leadership model where scouts learn by doing, particularly on camping trips and other outdoor activities. Krone said he wants to empower young scouts to take charge, under the immediate guidance of slightly older peers, fostering a safe environment where leadership skills are honed through direct experience.
"Scouting is a youth-led set of programs for youth. And what do I mean by that? When you go camping, you're in what we call a patrol in Boy Scouting, and you have a patrol leader who's probably only a year or two older than you," he explained.
"You put a plan together, you have a budget, you go to the store, you buy the food, you figure out the equipment that you need, the tents, stuff that goes in the patrol box, and then you're out camping," Krone said. "You start a fire, cook your own food. If you cook it well, you have a great meal. If you burn it, you have to deal with that. But it is youth-led, and that's really important."
Krone emphasized that this model not only mitigates potential risks associated with adult leadership but also instills a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and self-reliance in the scouts. By leading their peers, he said young scouts learn valuable life skills, including planning, budgeting, and problem-solving, in a real-world context.
However, the new CEO mentioned that the program is not without adult oversight, detailing that adults are there to provide training and safety. "But we really want the youth to lead the movement. It's a youth movement led by youth for the youth," he said.
Safety in scouting
Adult leadership has been an issue for the BSA in the past, with the organization paying out some $2.4 billion to survivors of child sexual abuse. It's an issue Krone said the new incarnation of the BSA takes seriously.
The BSA successfully emerged from bankruptcy in April, following a federal judge's validation in March of its $2.4 billion settlement plan. The step addressed the more than 82,000 abuse claims filed against the organization.
The Scouting Settlement Trust, funded by contributions from 45 sources, including families, organizations, and politicians like West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, began issuing expedited payouts of $3,500 to claimants in September.
"We will always have an association with the survivors," Krone told Newsweek. He added that the organization has "apologized for what has happened and are deeply sorry for the pain [the survivors] endured."
Krone, who has three children that were involved in scouting, acknowledged the organization's weighty past but is focused on steering the BSA through its tumultuous phase.
"Scouting is safer today than it ever has been," Krone said, outlining advancements in safety protocols already in place. The Safe Scouting program encompasses measures like leader screenings and a two-leader rule to ensure no scout is left alone with a single adult. Krone said the program will establish the BSA as the epitome of youth program safety, adapting to tackle contemporary challenges such as cyberbullying.
Scouting and technology
Krone, with his extensive background in engineering and aerospace, notably at Boeing, also plans to weave technology into the scouting fabric. Recognizing the inseparable bond between youth and what he jokingly called a "small screen device," he envisions leveraging the devices for safety and educational purposes.
"Technology is here to stay," Krone said to Newsweek, proposing initiatives like digitizing the Scout Handbook to enhance the program's appeal and accessibility.
...
'BSA is deeply sorry'
"BSA is really deeply sorry for the pain endured by survivors and for the lifelong impact it has on them and their loved ones. That's why we fully funded the trust," Krone said.
He added, "The best thing that we can do is to run a safe scouting program going forward and provide the safest experience of all options for youth today."
Krone's optimistic vision for the BSA comes in spite of the challenges it faces, including recruitment. His goal, he said, is to reaffirm the BSA's status as a premier institution for youth development in America.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines