Newletter Reporters

SCOUTS-L-Youth Groups Discussion List <SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU>

Hello SCOUTS-L Scouters,

Here's an idea I used before that worked well for Newsletters.
It will increase your unit participation and newsletter readership
too.

Let your Scouts be the newsletter reporters and story writers.

It can help them in many ways and teach them something while
they are having fun. Both the scouts and their proud parents
will be eager to see their stories in print and they will all
feel a part of it. Doing it this way, leaves you to be the
editor, graphics artist, the proofreader and the printer of
the newsletter. Which is a big enough job in itself without
having to come up with the articles too.

Here is an example of what I did. I handed out a topic of;

"What I like about Cub Scouting" and "Why I joined Cub Scouts"

Then I had each Cub in our pack write a one page story on either
of these themes. I gave them 3 weeks to do it in. Then the
letters were turned in and all the leaders read them. Then
we, (the leaders), voted on the top three stories. Next the top three
story writers had their stories published in our newsletter, got to
read them out loud at our Pack meeting and each of them received
a special "Cub Reporter Award." Which in this case, was a special
Bolo Tie that I made myself and presented them. As a result of the
Cubs writing, we, (the leaders), learned what the Cubs liked the
most and what motivated their interest in Scouting. So it helped
with our program.

Using this idea took a large load off my shoulders, writing the monthly
newsletter, and we all learned something as a result, plus we ended up
with a many interesting stories.

As another thought, you might consider have the adults, parents and
other scout leaders, write some short stories, their advancement reports,
a story about a field trip and outing they took, what they are working
on in your unit, ideas on a special project that they would like to
organize and work on, etc...

The main idea is spread the job out, get everyone working together and
giving some of their own thoughts, just like we do here on SCOUTS-L.

Just my thoughts on this subject, use them or loose them.

Best In Scouting,

Richard Axtman

Cubmaster/Pack 6, CS Roundtable Staff, "Wannalancit" Lodge #451
The Greater Lowell Council, BSA, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
e-mail: axtman@castle.drc.com

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