How to Encourage Attendance at Courts of Honor?

[5yearscouter 52]

My oldest's troop has a scout working on communications merit badge usually do the MCing.

 

They divide the troop in half and take turns bringing snacks for court of honor, and the troop provides drinks.

 

And they do a door prize ticket--troop and adults get a few items, stick em in rubbermaid containers and everyone gets a ticket for coming. draw a number after every set of awards, ranks, merit badges, special things.

 

they pass out any changes to the calendar.

 

It's on the same night of the week as the regular meetings, so most of the same boys who go to meetings go to cofh.

[Engineer61 19]

One question...

 

How many CoH's do you have? We only have two in a year...one after summer and one before school is out.

 

 

Why so many? (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

[acco40 95]

Recognition should come quickly. Immediately upon earning an award, at the next meeting when the physical award is available (troops are not supposed to have rank badges stockpiled for example) and finally, at a COH. Earning a rank in July and having it recognized in December loses its luster.

[CC332 10]

I agree with acco40. Recognition should come quickly. The scouts in our troop receive their rank and merit badges soon after completing the requirements.

 

One thing we have done is incorporate a Court of Honor into our Blue & Gold Banquet. Our pack and troop are small so for the cub scouts to see how things work with the troop has given us better retention and honestly, the boy scouts enjoy running the program for the younger scouts. Involvement has increased with both units and the parents have commented numerous times that they enjoy seeing what the older boys are doing as well as the younger ones.