Boy Scouts of America youth membership falls 7 percent in decade-long decline
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The Boy Scouts of America's youth membership fell 7.4 percent last year, continuing a decade-long decline for one of the nation's oldest youth organizations.
The Texas-based organization says more than 2.4 million youth participated in its programs in 2014, along with just fewer than 1 million adults.
Spokesman Deron Smith said Friday the organization faces several challenges, including "limited amount of discretionary time of parents and their kids."
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The Boy Scouts has tried to boost membership through technology-based programs and new camping opportunities to attract youth. It also enlisted former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as its president, a volunteer post.
A new policy of welcoming openly gay youth angered conservatives in the organization, and some left to form a new group. The Boy Scouts still excludes openly gay adults.