• Purpose. Help Pack Leadership implement and follow the Fall Recruitment plan.

• Reasoning. Membership growth and development is more than just recruiting .

• Teamwork. Packs, Districts, and Council Staff all working together.

• Goal. More families engaged in Scouting.

Cub Scout Recruitment TrainingA Recruiting Plan for Offering Amazing Experiences for more Youth and Families

Moving from Good To Great

Together we share the responsibility toGet EVERY YOUTH excited

Give EVERY PARENT consistent messages

Support and conduct EVERY RECRUITMENT

Offer the Joining Event as a way for EVERY YOUTH AND PARENT to get involved right away!

Moving from Good To Great

Your Pack will succeed by following a plan that…

Creates Awareness

Demonstrates Preparedness

Build’s Interest

Gains Commitment

Creating Awareness: The Importance

Gives parents a chance to know what the Scouting is

It will establish how the process to join and connect with Scouting

Multiple “touches” to create a positive Scouting culture

Creating Awareness

Yard Signs: Join Cub Scouts

Yard Signs: Join Cub Scouts

Distributed and placed in yards to create awareness

August through November

Will be available at the August Round Table to use for the fall.

• Email, Phone calls, other personal invites• Post Cards• Yard Signs• Posters• Flyers• Reminder Flyers

Marketing / Promotions

Creating Awareness: The Unit or Leader Role

School Principal Meeting

BSA Adopt-A-School Program

Publicize your unit activities in local newspapers, newsletters, community boards, neighborhood newsletters…

Operate an active (and publicly searchable) unit website

Ensure your Unit maintains an up-to-date Pin on BeAScout.org

Work with your District Professional to understand the free or inexpensive print resources available from the Council.

Wear your Pack T-Shirt (or uniform) to school!The sports teams do it! Why can’t you?

Creating Awareness: The Cub Scout’s Role

Invite your friends to join the Scouting program

Creating Awareness: Community Mapping

Tool to help build the Recruitment Plan

Includes options other than just your school to recruit from

EX: churches, community centers and organizations, private schools (that currently do not have a Cub Scout Pack)…

Creating Awareness: Press ReleasesUse your PR Chair to submit press releases

about pack activities to the local media

Feature photos of Scouts having fun, learning, or doing community service.

When people know about the fun and good work that Scouting brings, they will want to join.

Targeted Direct Mailing

Creating Awareness: Miscellaneous

Active web presence (website, social media etc..)

If you have school access issues and there is a publication that is sent home with kids let us know!

School open houses, marquees, lobby kiosks

Flyers at: local stores, barber shops, coffee shops, costume shops, grocery stores clothing stores etc…

Corporate newsletters, bulletin boards, emails, websites, social media (EX: Facebook, Twitter)

Creating Awareness: Newspaper Inserts

If your local paper will let us insert membership flyers for free, please let your District Membership Chairperson or District

Professional know.

We will print and provide membership flyers to be inserted in the newspaper.

Also consider neighborhood newsletters, church newsletters, school newsletters etc…

Creating Awareness: BeAScout.org

Online experiences are highly influential in shaping perceptions of organizations.

It is essential to provide quick and up-to-date information about your Cub Scout pack including benefits, activities, meeting

time/place, cost, leaders, and how to join.

Manage BeAScout.org leads just as you would an email or phone call.—Follow up is important!

Building InterestThe second component for the campaign is focused on

elements that engage families to join

Building interest takes boys and parents from a general awareness of Scouting to a point where they have

enough information to make a decision to join.

Building Interest: Pack Information Flyer

We will provide copies of the pack information flyer

You will provide the data needed for the flyer; Leader contact info, meeting dates, times, location, upcoming activities and dates, historic activities (typical things you do each year), a

recent action photo of fun pack event

Submit your completed order form to your DE by August Roundtable.

Building Interest: Pack Information Flyer

Building Interest: School Night Program

A great way for you to showcase your pack and invite families to Join Scouting.

By participating in the school night you will help your school see a positive partnership with your pack.

An opportunity to use your pack information flyer and to promote all of the fun and exciting things you will do

during the year

Have a hands-on activity for all youth

Safe Walk to School / Open HouseName _________

Address _______

Phone _________

Grade _________

Gaining CommitmentThis phase ensures parents come to your Pack Recruitment Night ready to sign up their boys. •You have worked hard to create awareness and build interest. Now you need to close the deal.•Follow all the steps to compel them to attend and get all the good Scouting offers their family!

Gaining Commitment: Pack Recruitment Flyers

Distribute Pack Recruitment flyers to all Cub Scout-aged boys in the school when possible.

Schedule flyers for distribution 2-3 days before each of the recruitment nights.

Know what day of the week your school sends home information

Gaining Commitment: Pack Recruitment Flyers

Contact your District Professional by August 15th to place your flyer

Order

Gaining Commitment: Flyer Examples

Gaining Commitment: School Rally/Boy Talk

A proven new Cub Scout recruitment technique. It is an energetic presentation about scouting during the school day to

Cub Scout age boys.

While it can be conducted by the district with your support, it is important to have someone from your pack present if possible.

Styles of Boy Talks: Classroom to Classroom, Special Assembly (in the auditorium or gym), Cafeteria or Gym Class,

Recess, Announcement over the School PA System.

Gaining Commitment: Peer-Peer Invitations

Ask each Scout to invite at least three non-Scout friends or classmates to Join the Pack!

Scouts could identify the prospects and you could track them by dens and offer prizes for the top recruiters!

Ask Adult Leaders and current parents to assist the Scouts by visiting or making calls to parents of the prospective Scouts

that have been identified

The Recruitment Night: Prior to….

Attend August Roundtable to pick up recruitment materials Conduct a Pack Program Planning Conference during the summer By August 10th confirm your Pack Recruitment date, time and

location Complete the 3 phases of the recruitment campaign: create

awareness, build interest and gain commitment Prepare your pack’s program calendar and set your dues Organize and schedule two fun activities for NEW families Coordinate logistics with your District Professional Plan to attend the Joining Event: Saturday, October 4thth 9am-

1:30pm

The Recruitment Night: What to BringReady to Hand Out Resources

6-12 Month Pack Activity CalendarPack Information FlyerActivity Supplies for that nightHandbooks for each programList of vacant adult leadership positions with description of what they doFun Pack Informational Display!Refreshments

Person Power!Helpers for the night’s activityExperienced Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Den LeadersCubmasterTreasurer (or someone with the Pack checkbook)Someone to run the activityCOR and Committee Chair (to approve adult applications)

The Recruitment Night: What the District Does

You can expect your DE/Membership Committee to: Support your Pack in creating awareness, building interest

and gaining commitment Coordinate recruiting activities throughout the district Produce flyers, posters, and other recruiting materials Work directly with school districts to facilitate boy talks and

flyer approval Make presentations in schools (rallies/boy talks) Assist you in recruiting adults Support application turn-in Provide materials needed for new leaders

Arrive Early Set up

Review agendaStart on time Make it funEnd on time

The Recruitment Night: Highlights!

The Recruitment Night: Resources NeededWhat you Need for a Success!

Youth and Adult ApplicationsBoy’s Life mini-magazinesDen Rosters Forms for each TablePens1st Den Meeting Plans (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos)Table SignsDirectional Arrows

What you Need for a Success!PostersSchool Night Report EnvelopeNew leader Packets with MyScouting informationPack Party agendaNew Parent Guides100 Point FormsBSA Onboarding Envelopes

Resources needed for Recruitment NightSample Join Night Roster

The Recruitment Night: Physical Arrangements

Floor Plan/Room Layout– Table for each grade level– Table for Application and Fee turn-in (be prepared to handle more than one at

a time)– Display table (show the “FUN” of a year of Scouting)– Game area for boys’ breakout session– Welcome area

Cafeteria works best– Neutral– Familiar– “Den-sized” tables

DISPLAY TABLEDISPLAY TABLE

Door

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION

TABLETABLE

FIRSTFIRSTGRADEGRADE

FIFTHFIFTHGRADEGRADE

SECONDSECONDGRADEGRADE

THIRDTHIRDGRADEGRADE

FORTHFORTHGRADEGRADE

The Recruitment Night: Room Set-Up

The Recruitment Night: Agenda WELCOME/INTRODUCTIONSWELCOME/INTRODUCTIONS OPENINGOPENING WHAT IS CUB SCOUTINGWHAT IS CUB SCOUTING PACK PROGRAMPACK PROGRAM FUTURE PLANSFUTURE PLANS COST TO JOIN: Registration Fees, Boys’ Life, Pack DuesCOST TO JOIN: Registration Fees, Boys’ Life, Pack Dues FUNDRAISING – Popcorn Pays for ScoutingFUNDRAISING – Popcorn Pays for Scouting RECRUIT ADULTSRECRUIT ADULTS TRAINING DATESTRAINING DATES DEN START DATEDEN START DATE PACK MEETINGSPACK MEETINGS LEADERS-PHONE NUMBERS/CONTACT INFOLEADERS-PHONE NUMBERS/CONTACT INFO

The Recruitment Night: New Parent RecruitmentRecruiting New Parents

Seat parents by school gradeHave current leaders on hand to help recruit parentsUse 100 Point FormMake sure your volunteer availability list clearly explains all jobs (both small and large) available to give everyone options.

Helpful Tips Youth Protection must be completed prior to application submission.All leader training is available at MyScouting.orgComplete meeting plans may be downloaded for free at www.Scouting.org under the Cub Scouting Tab

The Recruitment Night: Follow Up Checklist

Review applications for completeness including all signatures.Keep your Unit Copy to update the Pack database/records Submit the Local Council copy of all completed youth

applications with fees that nightHeld applications = unregistered youth = Not Good

Give den rosters to newly recruited leaders Follow-up on leads from interested parents on den rosters. Youth Protection Training must be completed before working

with youth

The Recruitment Night: Membership Fees• Use the Den Roster to track payments• If a family can’t afford Cub Scouting (is choosing not to join

solely because of the cost), assistance is available from the Council for registration fees.

• Your full-price dues amount should include enough to cover fall registration PLUS re-chartering fees, that way you don’t have to collect again right away

• BSA Registration is $24 for one year/Boys’ Life subscription is $12 for one year

• Use your membership turn-in envelope for prorated feesAug. Reg: $10 Boy’s Life: $5 Sept. Reg: $8 Boy’s Life $4• Collect all Fees at your Recruitment Night and turn in one check to

the Council.

Successful Cub Scout Recruitment Night

Use all services/resources from the District. Use all forms of Creating Awareness, Building Interest, and

Gaining Commitment prior to your Recruitment Night. Plan two events for NEW families to participate in. Turn-in all completed applications and fees at Turn in Party. Follow up with all parents that showed interest, but who did

not attend or join that night. Welcome and train new leaders. Attend the Joining Event on Saturday, Oct. 4th 9am-1:30pm

The Recruitment Process: Turn-In Parties

Time: Tuesday August 26th

Who is to participate: Each District is to conduct an application turn-in party with the appropriate team members

Activities:• Districts provide support to Packs that are recruiting at area schools, and collect

applications (or information about new Cub Scouts)• Districts forward applications / information to the Council office

Cub Scout Joining Event

Time: Saturday, October 4th, 2014 from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm

Who is invited: All new Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts and their families

Activities:

• Hot dogs, chips, drinks courtesy of Hy-Vee

• BB Gun, Archery and Frisbee golf

• Scouting skills demonstrations and participatory events

• Opportunity to visit the Trading Post

Learning objective for boys:

• Bobcat Requirements

• How to progress in Cub Scouting

Learning objectives for adult partners:

• Introduction to Cub Scouting (Fast Start Training)

• First signatures in their boy’s handbook to start the Cub Scouting trail

Recruitment TimelineDate Activity Purpose Responsible

July 24th Fall Recruitment Training Help packs prepare for Fall Recruitments Council and Districts

In July Update Unit BeAScout.org website Locating Units using Google maps Units

August 7th Roundtables Fall Recruitment supplies available Districts

Early deadline for flyers Units

Early August Postcards Inform families to join on Aug. 30th Districts

August * Safe Walk to Informational Packs

School or Open House

August 17 Deadline for SNFS Flyers Order SNFS flyers Units

August 18-22 SNFS Flyers to Schools Ask families to join on Aug. 26th Units and District

August 22-26 Boy Talks Personal Invitation to join Units

Scouting on August 30th

August 26th School Night for Scouting Register new boys for Cub Scouts Units

August 26th Turn-in Parties Turn-in all new youth applications District

Aug. 27-Sep. 26 2nd Round RecruitmentsPersonal Invitation to join Scouting to those

who missed the first opportunity Council/Districts/Units

October 4th Joining Event at the OEC Deliver the Promise of Scouting Council/Districts/Units

*Check with your individual schools to confirm the date of school open house.

Questions ?