School Night for Scouting

School Night for Scouting is your opportunity to recruit new Scouts and we want to reach out to every potential Cub Scout-age boy and his family with a personal invitation to join our Scouting family, where they will learn good values and have fun with friends.

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.

We are here to help. Contact your Youth Serving Executive for specific details and to schedule your School Night for Scouting event.

Getting the Word Out

Leading up to your School Night for Scouting event, here are some ideas for you to get the word out.

Verification Day, Meet the Teacher Night

Schools will often times have a verification day or Meet the Teacher Night. Use these events as an opportunity to promote Scouting. Set up a booth that has pictures from Scouting events the past year. You might also include electronic picture frames that can show multiple pictures. Bring along a handbook, flyers about your School Night for Scouting event and youth and adult applications.

Boy Talks

Before the School Night for Scouting event, Packs should ask for the opportunity to talk to Cub Scout aged youth during Boy Talks. Ask the principal for permission to talk to all boys, in grades 1 through 5. Bring along a video or props that will help explain the Cub Scout program and get the kids excited about being a Scout.

School Night for Scouting Flyers

Ask permission from the principal to send home flyers with all boys in the 1st through 5th grade. Some schools have Thursday folders that you can send the flyers home in. The flyers should explain when and where the School Night for Scouting event will be held.

Build It Up

Talk to your principal and see if you can build a "Scouting Scene" in front of your meeting location. Each day add a new piece of the scene to build anticipation. Start with a tent, add a canoe, a camping chair, layout a fire, add a bike, hang a swimsuit, anything that Scouts do. Adding a new piece each day gets the kids excited and interested in learning about Scouting and lets them see what they will be doing if they join. Be sure to add a sign that lets them know how to join Scouts and a link to your Unit's website so parents know where to go to get more infomration.

School Night

Now you are ready for your event. Here are some tips to make your event a 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 and email 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:

Organize boys to a separate area. An adult leader or a local Boy Scout Troop should lead them in organized games.
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.
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.
Set up follow-up meeting for the leader orientation. ("Fast Start Video")

Ideas for Recruiting Cub Scouts

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 5th graders who raise and lower the school flag each day, teach knots to the 4th 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

Ideas for Recruiting adults

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. See if you need Superintendent permission.
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