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 – 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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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, 2 nd 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 1 st year assist experienced owner, in 2 nd year own event and train newbie Honor your leaders when they pass the baton

#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: –