1. Unit Recruiting: Plans for Success

2. Why do Families Join Cub Scouts?
Why do Kids Join?
Fun Stuff to Do
Other Kids
Group Activities
Outdoors
Uniform / Badges
Knives
Campfires
Why do Adults Join?
Fun Family Activities
Other Families Do It
Kid Activities
“Get them outside!”
Advancement
“I was a Scout”
Values

3. When can they Join? … and Why?
End of Year Pack Picnic / Graduation
Cub Day Camp
Cub Summer Camp
Open House Night
School Sign-Up Night
Pack Party
Pack or Den Activity
New kids say “me too!”
A fun week to join!
Another fun activity
Be there strong!
Make it work for you
Fun for Families
Be Sure it’s Fun!

4. How to Reach Kids and Parents?
Kid to Kid
Pictures and Video
Doing fun stuff
Stickers
“Join us” cards
Wear the Uniform
Show your Badges
How to reach Parents?
Family to Family
Pictures and Video
Show them Activities
FB, , Txt, Phone
Flyers, Posters, Signs
Kids In Uniform
Advancement Values

5. So Many … … many reasons why Kids and Families Join
… many times for them to Join
… many ways to contact Kids and Families
So … Be Prepared … what is your Plan?

6. Which Pack Would You Join?
The “Later” Pack?
Says we plan “Later”
Calendar of Activities will be set … “Later”
“Come join us … later we’ll have a meeting for our activity plan”
The “Let’s GO” Pack?
Says “Let’s Do This!”
Calendar of Fun Activities is Set Now
“Come join us … and let’s go have fun with our activity plan!”

7. Six Recruiting Steps
Make a Calendar of Fun Activities
Let People Know -- Promote Your Fun Events!
Recruit More Leaders and Helpers
School and Community Presence
Sign Up Events: School Night + Fun Day
More Fun Activities

8. Step One: Fun Activities
“If you build it, they will come”
“If you build it (a calendar of fun activities),
they (kids and families)
will come (join your Pack)”

9. Fun Activity Calendar Just One Person can make a Fun Activity List
That Fun Activity List will attract families!
Tricks to “Keep it Simple, Make it Fun”
Put fun District and Council Events on the Calendar
(Less Planning for You … Easier for New Leaders)
And go to community events (parades, fireworks … )

10. Step Two: Let People Know -- Promote Your Fun Events!
Flyer with your Pack Fun Activity List
Photos of your Cubs
Posters / Yard Signs
School Delivery – inside, Car Pool, PTA
School, Neighborhood, Church Newsletter, Websites, Facebook
Tri Fold Brochures / Yard Signs / Posters / Peer to Peer Cards
Pack Info Packets
Parent to Parent Calls
s and texts: blast and personal
End of Year Party (invite all friends)

11. New Flier Designs

12. More Council Resources For You
Yard Signs
Standees
Stickers
Tri-Fold Brochures
School Admin Recognition
Peer to Peer Cards

13. Step Three: Leaders and Helpers
First, ask last year’s good leaders to return
Get their input on the coming year …
Ask others to “help” or “assist” and “lead”
Share your activity list: those show interest …
… they might be your next leaders and helpers
Find small jobs for all to help, assist and lead
We’re Recruiting Families …
… find a way for Parents to help!

14. Parents Helping as New Member Coordinators
Families can help recruit more families:
Open House Team (one on one “join us”)
Sign Up Night Team (help tell the story / more “peer to peer”)
Photo – Gatherers
Pre-K and Kindergarten Liaisons
Fun Plan Promoters (Posters / Yard Signs / Flyers / Peer Cards)
Social Media Mavens
PTA + Principal Pal
Application Angels
Welcome Team
Pack Supplies Staff
Collections

15. Step Four: School and Community Presence
Be sure you know key School Contacts
Principal
PTA
Staff
Promote an End of Year Pack Party?
Simple Picnic with Fun?
Invite Pre-K and Kindergarten Families
Line up School Plans and Dates with DE
Website Presence?
Open House / Meet + Greet / Registration Day
School Sign Up Night
School/Unit Win/Win
How can School help Scouts?
How can Scouts help School?
“Adopt Your School!”

16. Open House / Meet and Greet / Registration Day
Be there and be seen
OK to get Applications!
Table, Posters, Flyers, Pictures, Video?
Parents – not just “Leaders”
Scouts … in uniform
Hands on Activities?
Kid to Kid Recruiting
Parent to Parent
Every Family and Kid is different … tailor your “sales pitch” to what they like to do …
Get Contact info
Share Pack Activity Calendar

17. Step Five: Sign-Up Events!
School Sign-Up Night
District Executive will set date with School
In School “buzz ups” a day before, with flyers
Get contact information for attendees (follow ups)
Get Applications and Fees for those joining now
Family Fun Activity(ies)
Could be: Back to School Picnic? Fishing Derby? Pool Party? Bike Rodeo? Ice Cream Social?
Follow up with all (including those who didn’t sign up)
Parent “side chats” on Pack operations, leader needs

18. Sign-Up Night Plan: Share Script and Recruit a Team:
Presentation or Stations (or combination)
Assign Speakers (remember: be brief)
Recruit and Assign New Member Coordinators
Bring and Share or Show:
Contact List: New Member Coordinators get contacts
Calendar of Fun Activities, Leader List
Handbooks, Uniform Parts, Photos, PowerPoint?
District Executive will bring Orientation Guides, Applications, Bobcat Plans

19. Sign-Up Event Script Welcome and Overview of Signup Night
Pack Activity Calendar Highlights
Dens, Handbooks & Advancement
Den Leadership
Uniforms (including how your Pack does it)
Costs: BSA Registration, Pack Dues & Help
“Close the Sale”: Collect Applications + Fees
Script can be used for “group” or “station to station” signups

20. Sign-Up Night Notes Buzz Ups at School: Promote and Publicize:
Quick + Exciting: Pitch Highlights + Sign Up Night
Promote and Publicize:
Pack People can echo Council Flyers, Signs
Be Welcoming, Be Positive, Be Organized
Come Early + Stay On Time Minutes)
Save Questions For The End
Collect “Contact List” of all attendees, and Applications and Registration Fees
Have Fun!

21. Parent Orientation Guide

22. Fun Event Notes Goal One: Family Fun Goal Two: Adult Education
Your Fun Event – Maybe Parent-Led Bobcat Plan?
Goal Two: Adult Education
More Details about How your Pack and Dens work
Things you couldn’t cover at Sign Up Night
Adult Education Might Include:
“The Talk”: parents must be leaders
We have scripts for doing “The Talk” for all Pack Parents, or in Den Groups (Den Groups is better)
Our Bobcat Plans are designed for parents to lead

23. Recruiting Wrap-Up Get Applications as soon as they say “yes”
Have a helper collect and double check
District Executives collect Registration Fee to 12/31
Be Sure Parents Know About Other Dues!
For all other Pack-provided items (handbooks, etc.)
Call and to bring the “maybes” in
After School Night … promote your Fun Event
After the Fun Event, invite the “maybes” to the next Pack fun activities … like District Cub Events, Fall Camping, and more fun Pack Activities

24. Step Six: More Fun Events!
Some key ideas …
KISMIF – Keep It Simple, Make It Fun
Do Pack “meetings”? (you don’t have to)
Maybe just Pack Activities: go fun places, do fun things!
Ask Dads and Moms: what do you like to do?
Dads like to tailgate, golf, fish, bowl, ski?
Maybe do Iron Chef Events, Putt Putt to Driving Range to Golf, Fishing, Bowling, Ski Weekend?
Keep an Eye out for More Fun Events

25. Questions for the Group?

26. Break Out Tables … Mix and Mingle
Making a Calendar of Fun Activities
Ways to Get the Word Out – Flyers to Facebook, Telephone to Twitter
How to ask Parents to Help
School and Community Tips
Sign-Up Event Scripts and Resources
More Ideas about Fun Activities