Recruiting for Cub Scout Leaders

Ideas for Recruiting Cub Scouts and Adult

Recruiting new Scouts—A Few Reminders

• Have a pack program in place which will be fun and attractive to boys, parents and siblings
• Have a pack program (and communicate this) which is sensitive to potential conflicts with other activities (soccer, baseball).
• Follow through is so important--get new boys registered and involved as soon as possible
• Have people involved in recruiting who are passionate about the program and your pack
• Have standing posters/informational fliers prominently displayed at all of the schools where you recruit
• Use a combination of Scout recruiting events and fliers sent directly to students to make the initial recruiting contacts
• Don’t forget to plan recruiting events at the den level
• Bring a friend den recruiting works well at the den level
• Have your pack assist the schools where you recruit with some of their program needs (teach flag etiquette to the 5^th graders who raise and lower the school flag each day, teach knots to the 4^th grade class participating in an “Age of Sail” event)
• Make sure that your pack has the right level of visibility in the community
• Go out of your way to make recruits visiting your pack meetings feel special and be sure to involve them in the activities with the other Scouts

Recruiting Adults—A few tips

• Understand that very few adults will volunteer to help; most will wait to be asked.
• Make use of the “Parent and Family Talent Survey” form
• Many adults will be hesitant to help if they weren’t Scouts as kids.  Remind them that some of the best Scout leaders in our Council weren’t Scouts as kids and that the training offered will fill in key knowledge gaps.
• Call your monthly “Pack Leader” meetings “Pack Parent” meetings to eliminate the stigma that the meeting is just for pack leaders.
• Mention key open leader positions during your pack meetings
• Try to recruit 2 den leaders for each den
• Work hard at all levels to make adult leaders feel that they are part of a team and appreciated
• Conduct an annual pack planning meeting in the summer and encourage all pack families to be represented there

Planning a Scout Recruiting Nightnavy;

Besides the Scout and adult recruiting items noted above, also consider the following:

• Hold a recruiting event in September and again in April or May
• Send fliers out to the schools where you’re recruiting 2 to 3 weeks before the recruiting event. Try to include an announcement in each school’s newsletter.
• Enlist Cub Scouts and parents from your pack to help with the event
• Plan logistics carefully
  • Location
  • Check school calendars to avoid conflicts
  • Target appropriate grade levels

Presenting Your Recruiting Night

• Arrive early and set up
  • Put out materials on Cub Scouting and your Pack
  • Put out various copies of Cub Scout handbooks and program guides
  • Showcase Cub Scouting in other ways
• Greet/meet all who attend
  • Gather contact information
  • Introduce those who may not know each other
  • Have a good gathering activity to get the kids (and siblings) into the event
• Start on time
• Demonstrate the methods of Cub Scouting
  • Seat by age-appropriate dens
  • Mix fun with learning
  • Show the parents that Cub Scouting is worthwhile
• Sign everyone up!
  • Have them fill out registration forms
  • Collect fees

After the Event

• Follow-up!!!!!!!
• Keep all promises
• Quickly identify potential den leaders
• Talk to each potential den leader individually
• Invite all new families to a pack activity within a few weeks of the recruiting night

Joining Information

If you are just discovering Scouting or want to find our more information, the best source is contacting the council office at

www.cpcbsa.org

or loging into

Unit Locater at Scouting.org.

The council will help you find a local Pack, Troop, or Crew in your neighborhood.  Or find one yourself with the Unit Locater.
Kids stay in Scouting if they find a scout program close to their home. Scouting can offer a boy fun, excitment, adventure,
good peer interactions and positive adult relationships through mentoring.
Our youth are the faces of the leaders of tomorrow.