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The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Scout Recruiters

The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Scout Recruiters. Mike Edwards Troop 478 Adult Leader April 10, 2008. #1: Start Early, Take Successive Steps. Spring recruiting starts before March 21 Identify existing relationships with your Kindergarten

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The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Scout Recruiters

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  1. The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Scout Recruiters Mike Edwards Troop 478 Adult Leader April 10, 2008

  2. #1: Start Early, Take Successive Steps • Spring recruiting starts before March 21 • Identify existing relationships with your Kindergarten • Likewise with home-schoolers and private programs • Leverage these relationships – boys want to be with friends! • Visit classrooms in early May • Prepare very short presentation with photos of fun • Have a fun June event as the “call to action” • E.g. Rainboat Regatta and/or Bicycle Rodeo • Have take-home gift tie-in to event w/parent letter • Detail a Welcome Committee at the June event • Make sure boy has fun, and parents have questions answered • Get contact info and “talk up” the summer program as next step • Follow up

  3. #2: Stay Engaged thru Summer • Maintains interest generated in your spring effort • Promotes family interactions • 1 event/month opportunities to “meet the Pack” • Track which families attend, follow-up as necessary • Day Camp is the single most important event! • There is no better attraction to engage a boy & family • Gives rank advancement program a “leg up” all year • Talk up attending first Pack meeting as next step • Follow up

  4. #3: Recruit Again in September • Focus on all ranks, not just Tigers • Staff a Pack booth at your “Ice Cream Social” • Provide hands-on activity to interest & engage • Show photos of boys/families enjoying scouting • Provide materials about scouting values • Have key leadership present in uniform • Talk up scouting values and family participation • Get contact info and follow up • Call to action is attend first Pack meeting • Same for curriculum and District recruiting nights • Less effective but usually good for a couple recruits • Call to action is attend District Camporama with Pack • Follow up

  5. #4: Retain the Scouts you Recruit • Have a fantastic first pack meeting in Sept • Encourage boys and siblings to attend: entertain them! • Do a parent meeting on the side • Establish Pack expectations • Introduce experienced leader as Tiger program “coach” • Set a date for follow-up meeting with Tiger parents as next step • Put on a strong pack program • Pack meetings that are fun (and short)! • 3-4 pack events during school year, plus summer program • Vary the program as the boys age • Stagger some events to happen every other year • Some events suggested for Bears and Webelos only • Encourage Webelos to do Klondike and attend multiple Troop events

  6. #5: Know and Be Known at Your School • Promote staff/teacher and parent relationships • Scout parents are active school volunteers already • Staff awareness and cooperation with Pack is vital • Conduct Pack and Den programs with school • Community service projects • Flag ceremonies at assemblies • Invite staff and teachers to Blue & Gold Dinner • Attend the PTO/PTA meetings and volunteer • Make sure they know your Scouting connection • Honor your parents who step up at school • This can be as important as having a Pack leadership role

  7. #6: Maintain Strong Leadership • Great leadership is vital to maintaining ongoing success • Training: positions for success (U of S is outstanding opportunity) • Den leaders ideally commit thru crossover • Committee roles require transition plan • Cubmaster • Serves 18+ months (thru crossover) • Needs two assistants: 1st one is next Cubmaster, 2nd one is next next • Committee Chair • Replacement should work as assistant for 6+ months • Spread the leadership workload to ease the burden • Parents who aren’t pack committee/den leaders lead pack events • In 1st year assist experienced owner, in 2nd year own event and train newbie • Honor your leaders when they pass the baton

  8. #7: Pass it On • Recruiting is an essential activity that must be transitioned • Needs assistant(s) who train for two recruiting seasons • Can be Cubmaster or other pack leaders doing double duty • Characteristics of a great recruiter: • Loves to act like a kid, connects with kids • Can explain what is unique about scouting to parents • Communicates passion about scouting • Well connected at school and/or in community • Follows up early and often • Further recruiting resources: • http://www.mountbakerbsa.org/membership/membership.html

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