Membership & Recruiting Tools

Important To-Do’s Before Your Event:

  1. Have a fun and Scout -skills -based Program Plan – You can share with prospective parents. Order FREE postcards below that can showcase your Program Plan.
  2. Update your BEAScout.org Pin- With the latest contact info andfun activities planned
  3. Set Up social media – (Facebook and Instagram) and start posting their recent activties, meetings, etrc. Watch the Video below. Then get assets you can post here:
  4. Optional: Build a website with resources, tools, assets for free using Google sites like this: Https://www.camascubscouts.com/ Using your own domain name. 
  5. Create a LinkTree at https://linktr.ee/ like this: Https://linktr.ee/t107pdx
  6. Order FREE materials ………………………………………………….
  7. Reserve other Event Activities & Gear at………………………………..
Tips for Join Scouting Nights

Audience: Just joined/ready to join/interested in joining

Who: Potential families, adult leadership and a few current Scouts

Key Points:

  • Have a structured program lasting 45 minutes
  • Include a Welcome, Icebraker, Program Closing
  • Blanace of Acitvities and Information.
    • Kids participate in an activity
    • Chance for parents to gather information/get acclimated to the pack
    • Pass out packets
  • Collect Contact Information

Audience: Entire Community

Who: Potential families, adult leadership and a few current Scouts

How Often: Back to School nights, community fairs, Farmers Markets, etc.

Key Points:

  • Have something fun to draw people in, such as a prize wheel, craft, or small activity
  • Kids in Class A, while adult leaders in Class B
  • Setup display with photo boards, derby cars, etc.
  • Information to pass out that is straight forward
  • Collect contact information

Audience: Interested in joining

Who: potential families, adult leadership & all current Scouts

How often: Monthly

Key Points:

  • Highest success rate for recruitment and also for retention
  • FUN (and fun for parents)
  • Actual pack event that entire pack plus potential families are invited to.
    • Scouts are encouraged to invite friends
    • Membership chair sends potential families dates 2-3 weeks in advance
  • An Activity that kids would do together
    • Bowling, hiking, craft night, baseball game, chess, etc
  • Have potential Scouts arrive 10 minutes early to learn more and meet leadership and then pair new kids with a couple of registered Scouts (connections make a difference)! No Drop Off
  • No formal things like flag ceremonies
  • Now working on adventure requirements
  • Both leadership and Scouts wear uniforms or Class B shirts

Step 1: Create a link tree: if you have a website or public facebook or instagram feed (which you should), create a FREE Link Tree page that gives folks a multitude of ways to see your Scouts in action and connect. Here’s an example of one. https://linktr.ee.t107pdx  Create your FREE Link Tree https://linktr.ee/ 

Step 2: Use your Link Tree in a QR code: Instead of using the unit’s my.scouting  QR code, use this FREE QR Code Generator   that also tracks the number of scans to create a code with your Link Tree.

  • Why do this instead of sending folks directly to your BeAScout.Org link?  Because these prospective families may not have any experience in Scouting. So, this strategy  is what we call “Nurturing the prospect”  where you pull the prospective familly into “why” amd “how” upi Scout, by showing off the fun and adventures they’ll experience in your Scout unit.

Step 3: Order signs, banners, stickers,and  flyers.  

Step 4: Create a Facebook Event – for the join Scouting night activity. Add that link to your Link Tree too! If your unit has some $$, we recommend “boosting” your event, targeting the local area.    HERES’HOW…….

Step 5: Start Posting your weekly meetings and upcoming “Adventure Day/Night” (Pro-tip: don’t call it a “join night” because you want to entice them with how fun your Pack/Troop/Crew/Ship is before asking them to join!)  Example Post could be……”Pack 0123 has an awesome year of fun and outdoor adventure planned. We-re welcoming boys and girls ages K- 5ht grade to join us our meetings at _____ on ____  to see what we’re all about! PLUS we have an awesome “Adventure Day” planned on October 10th at _____. Learn more at Facebook at (Insert link) or contact us at (LinkTree link)”

Step 5: Have your Scouts hand out the postcard or flyer invitation that you order from Gamehaven Council to the weekly meetings or “Adventure Day” specifically to a specific friend. 

Step 6: Follow-Up and make sure they have given their friend thepostcard or flyer. If not, give them another invitation to hand out to their friend!

Step 7: Ask the Chartered Org if you can put up a poster or handout flyers to folks of if they have a way to share them for you. Also, I’d recommend asking nearby churches or schools if they can share the information and poster as well.  

Step 8: If you are doing a Community Service in the area, A good idea is to post the Community Service Banner to establish good PR in the area. 

THE CORE SCOUTING AMERICA RECRUITING MESSAGES:

  • For more than a century, Scouting America has provided the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, helping young people be “Prepared. For Life.”
  • Scouting America stands out as a true partner to families, teaching young people the life skills needed to navigate the world in fun, interactive, and adventurous ways.
    • Scouting provides endless opportunities for skill development and relationship building from which all youth can benefit.
  • Parents who are unfamiliar with – or have misperceptions about- scouting might assume that it’s all camping, fishing, and hiking. It is that and much more.
    • Scouting focuses on skills that range from esssentials in self-sufficiency and kindness learned early-on in Cub Scouts to advanced skills like rocketry, robotics, and coding as they progress.
  • Cub Scout encourages kids to make friends, be helpful to others, and do their best no matter the outcome. And, starting early is key.
    • With the help of powerful learning projects and exciting outdoor activities, Scouting teaches children that doing their best can be a fun and rewarding experience- no matter the difficulty of the challenge.
  • Scouting has some of the most vigorous safety measures in place of any youth serving organization.
    • Scouting aims to ensure families know their children will be safe, whether their child is attending a weekly Scout meeting, going on a weekend campout, or attending the National Jamboree with thousands of other Scouts.
  • Scouting America is committed to providing a welcoming, safe environment where Scouts can freely express themselves, share their experiences, and become the best version of themselves by learning from, and respecting, each other.
    •  Scouting ensures its programs fit seamlessly into your family’s schedules, allowing youth to thrive in all their extracurriculars.

Recruiting Tools for Your Pack Unit