Recuiting new boys for troop

[beaver1onit 10]

I would like to know what troops are doing to recuit new boys.Looking for new ideas.

[Mike F 10]

Beav,

You'll be hearing from lots of folks about building relationship with local Packs.

 

Another idea is to encourage Scouts to invite friends - we haven't had a lot join that way, but they have all been really good scouts. Consider having events where guys can bring non-scout friends. Maybe lock-in at Rock Gym or Troop Movie night (watch one of the great movies mentioned in another thread in here somewhere). After they have the opportunity to get to know some of the guys, invite them on a special campout which is open to prospective members. (Make it a good one.)

 

The best way to recruit new boys? Have such a great program that your scouts and parents won't stop talking about it.

 

Good luck!

 

-mike

[Eagle Foot 10]

This is something that has come up lately in our district. While contacting scout troops about participating in our fall camporee I discovered that we were going too, or had allready lost about 4 Boy Scout troops. 2 to 3 more were just hanging in there. Mostly due to no new members. The troops had not actively recruted new scouts. They had not set as part of their troop program new membership.

 

What happen???...the boys they had gotton older, Boys advanced to Eagle, some of the boys left the troop....but no new scouts ever came into the troop or the one or two that did was not enough to keep the troop strong. The boys never had younger boys to teach.

 

You must present a good program, you must encourage new membership with a pack. You must know your fellow Cubmaster's in your area. You must take the time to introduce yourself and invite second year webelos to your troop. You must take some time and visit the webelos.

 

Make two or three visits during the year...that could really make the difference. Does your troop have a Den Chief program? Do you know what packs are in your area? Do you know approx. how many second year webelos will be crossing over?

 

If you answer no to either question your troop may be in membership trouble down the road.

 

We all know that the scouts in the troop don't want to be with the webelo's all the time, but if webelos did something with the troop 2 to 3 times a year...you could just about count on them crossing over into your troop.

 

Is your troop boy run? or is it adult run?

Boy run will attract webleos...adult run will attract adults. What's the goal here? What's scouting all about? As an adult the hardest thing for me to do is to butt out.

 

Cub packs always could use a good boy scout troop to do an opening pack meeting with the posting of the colors. Do it to impress the cubs...be sharp!! Dress the part!!

 

Something new one troop is going to start is having the second year webelos meet the same night as the troop...participate with the troop in the opening, then retire to another section for the webelos meeting. Point is...the second year webelos are meeting the same time same place. Most likely they will cross over into the troop. We will see how this works out.

 

Comments form Eagle Foot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NeilLup 13]

The National Council recently issued a free CD to go to every Scoutmaster. If you haven't gotten yours, check with your local council. It is packaged in a backpack like envelope and is new for fall 2003.

 

The idea is that the Troop makes copies of the CD and gives them to every Scout. The Scout can then use the CD to make videos and other things to encourage their friends to join the Troop. Using the CD, they can then send these videos to their friends.

 

No cost, other than the cost of the CDs. Sometimes the stores in our area have a deal where you buy 50 blank CDs for $10, then get a $10 rebate. You figure it out, I can't. Many computers have a CD burner, so it is easy to do.

[buffalo2 14]

Wonder if its worth trying a 'bring a buddy' overnight. Use your local Council property for the controlled environment, and get your permission slips in line and you might have to consider some of your activities ie probably not a good weekend to go rock climbing or skeet shooting. Be sure to invite your local Weblos den as well!

Idea is to show the curious just how much fun you can have away from the Gameboy; you won't get them all but the ones that do join will likely stick around...

Your mileage may vary

[dsteele 20]

National recently released a video called "Troop Open House" and sent one copy per district to each council office. There is also a brochure support piece.

 

The plan -- which I havne't seen implemented, but one of the districts I supervise is doing it later this month -- outlines an excellent plan that I'm confident will work.

 

The troop(s) put on demonstrations at a school or wherever Boy Scout age boys gather. The demonstrations are similar to a Scout Show -- lashing, etc. Boys are able to participate in activities and are asked to fill out surveys indicating their interest in specific scout-type activities.

 

Flyers then go out to the school in the interim.

 

This generally occurs about a week prior to the Join Us Night. On the day before or even the day of the Join Us Night -- someone from the unit calls each kid who indicated an interest in joining to remind them of the meeting. The phone calls increase dramatically. Invite both the potential Scout and his parent.

 

There is an agenda for the join us meeting that is very good and calls for lots of leadership from your existing youth.

 

Ask your DE about it and borrow the tape.

 

The CD's are also excellent and have been well-received with the troops in this council . . . but I don't know how many are using them.

 

DS

[Eamonn 61]

The Stuff that our man of Steele refers to from national is all first class.

You might want to have a chat with your District Membership Chair. He might have a list of Webelos who didn't cross over last year. We have done really well with this. The boys are a little older and have had some time off.

Of course when looking for New Boys, it pays not to forget the Old Boys, a phone call or a note or better still a visit can bring some of them back.

We have a couple of units where the leader goes into the Jr. High and does a Boy Talk.

I talked with one last night, he wanted the promo tape of the Jamboree. He was going to show that in the schools.

You might want to see if your local churches would let you say a few words during their services or put something in the church newsletter.

Letters to the local newspaper are free, you can send a letter telling everyone that you are welcoming new members.

Once you get these Lads to your meeting is it ever so important that you do everything possible to make them feel as welcome as possible. I know this sounds kind of dumb. But I have seen and heard of units that go to all the effort of getting the boys to the meeting and then do little or nothing to make them feel welcome.

Make a appointment to visit the boy and his parents at their home, have all the details about your program, where to get a uniform, where the pathes go. As well as the opportunites that your unit offers for parents to get involved.

Hit them with all the forms and answer any questions or concerns that they may have. While you are there find out if he has any cousins or friends that might want to join (Ask his Mom!!)

Eamonn

[purcelce 11]

This plan seems to be working.

 

SM has a goal of 25 Scouts. Troop is sitting at around 13-14.

 

Plan for Scouts:

 

1. Individual - Gets a new Scout to register. Scout gets Recruiter patch. When the new Scout makes Tenderfoot, both the old and new Scout get a knife (We had some donated to the troop).

 

2. Troop - When the Troop gets to 25, SM is going to have a Pizza Party.

 

Plan was started three weeks ago, and we have had one new Scout join up.