Inviting new families to our Pack Campout..? allowed?

[WestCoastScouter 10]

Are we allowed to invite families with boys to come to our Family Campout at the local BSA Campground ? We want to use it as a recruitent tool, but some thoughts of insurance/coverage if their son is not yet a registered cub scout.??

[John-in-KC 311]

One word: YES!!!

 

1) You're doing family camping. Cub Camping is Family Camping.

 

2) You're recruiting.

 

3) I don't know a Professional out there who does not understand trying to increase membership.

 

Nothing I write here is hard based with research in BSA literature; I'm trying to apply common sense to the situation.

[Beavah 205]

Yah, WestCoast. No problem. All of da BSA insurance coverage specifically allows having guests along for recruiting purposes, and all BSA camps will welcome guests with a unit for that purpose.

 

Proceed without worries.

 

Beavah

 

[Snow_White 10]

B,

 

What about guests who are not there for recruiting purposes?

 

I know that at least one family in our pack is planning to bring friends (adults, no children) to our Family Campout this year.

[WestCoastScouter 10]

Luckily that is not our issue... which is inviting families to drive the 45 minutes to our camp, visit us for the day (or the night), and use as recuitment tool. We do allow grandmas and grandpas...

[ScoutNut 147]

It is PACK FAMILY camping, not camping with family and friends.

 

Your Pack should make it plain that Pack activities include Pack members, families of Pack members, youth and their families that the Pack is recruiting to be Pack members, and possibly District volunteers (like your UC).

 

That is it.

 

Tell the family to invite their guests on their own private trip. Cub Scout camping is not a free vacation camping club.

[raisinemright 13]

A few years ago, two families showed up at our pack picnic with a whole slew of kids. No one knew who they were but someone had invited them to come. Both have become deeply involved in our Pack and now troop. Like Committee Chair involved. We have also successfully recruited scouts who came to our campout.

[Gonzo1 10]

Invite them and have something for them to do!

Make sure they have fun and participate.

[Twocubdad 665]

As for the unattached adult friends, I'm sorta with Scoutnut. I would be leery. I see too many opportunities for conflicting agendas.

 

On the other hand, several years our pack's advancement chairman was a single lady who was a good friend of one of the pack families. She volunteered to be our advancement chairman the same as she may have volunteered to help any other community organization. I would have had no problem whatsoever with her camping with us. As I recall, she in fact attended several campouts, but went home at bed time along with a number of moms.