School Night for Scouting

Recruitment Plan

We want to reach out to every potential Cub Scout-age boy and his family with a personal invitation to join our program, where they will learn good values and have fun with friends.

Each pack will want to emphasize year-round growth. We can recruit new Cub Scout any time of the year, not just in the fall at School Night!

Something Special
School Night for Scouting is the opportunity for a Pack to really show their colors to families considering the Cub Scout Program as a part of their family time spent together. Don't think of your School Night for Scouting as another Pack Meeting; The Program should be for NEW families, not already registered in the program.

Expect Support
Your Council and District School Night for Scouting committees are here to HELP. The Cimarron Council is a national leader in providing support for the School Night for Scouting Program. Contact your District Executive for specific details and to schedule your School Night.

Be Prepared
Share with your new families the Cub Scout Program for the year:
Monthly Themes
Unit Finance - Ideal Year of Scouting
Boy's Life Magazine
Scouting Magazine

Cub Scout School Night Essentials for Success

Arrange the room in a relaxed fashion with people sitting at tables if possible. If no table area is available, arrange chairs in a circle - definitely not theater style.

Arrange the room so that the head table is between the exit and the audience.

Have parents sign in on the sign-in sheet the minute they walk through the door. Be sure their telephone number is included.

Hand out unit program calendar and parent survey sheet to parents as they arrive. People will arrive anywhere from ten minutes early to twenty minutes late. Start the program no more than ten minutes after the appointed hour.

As soon as possible have parents get involved. Have them introduce themselves. Have them talk about their jobs, hobbies, working hours, personal resources, Scouting background, etc.

How to organize dens:

1. Organize boys to a separate area. An adult leader should lead them in organized games.

2. Have parents from each den gather around a table or in a circle. They should decide:
when their den will meet, when the first meeting will be held, and how the leadership will be handled. A Scout leader should be present at every table with every group. If this is not possible, the Den Leader, membership representative or unit commissioner should be present.

3. Pass out boy and adult applications. Help them to complete the application. Be sure to collect fees that night. "Boys' Life" should be presented as a "given." Assume the subscription and you will get it. Assume one parent will also join, either as a leader or a member of committee.

4. Set up follow-up meeting for the leader orientation. ("Fast Start Video")

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 as well
• 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 Night

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
• Invite all new families to a pack activity within a few weeks of the recruiting night

School Night for Scouting Resource Packet

Everything that you need to have a successful School Night for Scouting event can be found here. Download all the materials that you need and most importantly, have fun.