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1 Guide for Year-round Cub Scout Recruiting and serving more youth Crossroads of America Council
1
Guide for Year-round
Cub Scout Recruiting and serving more youth
Crossroads of America Council
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The Importance of Year-round Recruiting
Every boy needs Scouting: life-changing, life-directing inner character traits, decision-making ability,
leadership skills, habits of service to God and others. Every boy deserves to experience good in life
and to help others find it too. Scouting can make that impact.
In the past, Scouting was the “go to” activity of choice for many boys. Today, there are many
activities for boys to choose from. Many of them are
seasonal and operate only during certain months. Boys
and parents select the activities based on the time of
year. Since Scouting is promoted as a year-round
program, many parents think that if they miss the sign
up in the fall, their boy won’t be able to join until next year.
We need to continue to promote Scouting as a year-round program, but we must then also promote
the idea that boys can join at any time during the year. And as leaders, we need to be prepared to
welcome new Scouts during different months of the year.
For many years, we were able to rely on unlimited school access. Schools are now under pressure to
perform and for their students to score higher on standardized testing. Things that are deemed to
be a distraction to learning are being eliminated and in some schools, that includes promoting
Scouting to the boys.
For boys to be aware of what Scouting is about, we need to be in “marketing and promotion” mode
throughout the year. Having a presence at summer festivals, county fairs, sporting events and other
venues is critical to spreading the word about the Scouting program.
Year-round Membership & Recruiting Timeline
Jan-May Tiger Cub Season (see page 4 for more information)
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads (see page 5 for more details)
March-May Spring recruiting (for boys that are looking for a summer camp program)
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads
Recruiting at spring community events
May Begin preparation and orientation for the next “years” recruiting plan
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads
June-July Pack prepares program calendar, budget & fact sheet (also known as
Ideal Year of Scouting planning)
Recruiting at summer festivals and fairs
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads
Aug-Oct Fall recruiting (for boys that are looking for a school year activity)
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads
Recruiting at fall community events
Oct-Nov Membership Renewal & Charter Renewal (see page 11)
Follow up with “Be A Scout” leads
Scouting is a year-round program, so we
need to make Scouting available for
families to join any time during the year.
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Preparing to Recruit New Cub Scouts and Leaders (To be completed by the end of July)
� Recruit a Pack Recruiting Coordinator to represent the pack at district/council planning and
training meetings. See the position description on page 3.
� Determine leadership vacancies in the pack and have a plan for recruiting parents to fill those
positions. Recruit the new leaders during the summer months if possible.
� Create a program calendar for the next year (August 2014 – July 2015).
� Create a unit budget and be prepared to explain to parents how much Scouting costs and how
they can help pay for the program through fund raising programs.
� Create a Pack Fact Sheet or Newsletter that includes contact information for existing leaders
and other general information that parents would need to know about the pack.
� Schedule den meetings to start as soon as possible after the recruiting meeting.
Assistance is Available
District Cub Scout Recruiting Chair
• Recruits, trains and assigns district volunteers to help packs recruit new members.
• Coordinates the orientation meeting for packs at the May Roundtable meeting.
• Coordinates the collection of new member applications and fees.
District Recruiting Team
• Assists in conducting the orientation meeting.
• Confirms recruiting meetings dates with pack recruiting coordinators.
• Attends recruiting meetings to collect applications and fees and assist in other ways as
needed.
Professional Staff
• Helps packs print recruiting fliers and yard signs (free of charge).
• Arranges the school visit to distribute fliers and talk to the boys about joining.
Council Website
• Ideas and materials to assist with recruiting at www.crossroadsbsa.org
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Pack Recruiting Coordinator
Position Description
Vision
Ensure the pack is prepared to recruit new Cub Scouts throughout the year. Focus is on conducting
recruiting meetings in the spring and fall to achieve the packs recruiting goals.
Responsibilities
• Attend orientation about Cub Scout recruiting.
• Work with the district recruiting team to schedule recruiting dates.
• Encourage the pack to prepare a program calendar, budget and pack newsletter.
• Serve as the liaison with the local school and principal.
o Confirm with the district which schools your pack is assigned to recruit from.
• Coordinate the pack’s grassroots marketing program.
o See pages 5-7 for the sections titled Scheduling the Recruiting Meeting and Promoting
the Recruiting Meeting for a description of what you can do.
• Coordinate the pack’s recruiting meeting(s).
o See page 8 for details.
o If needed, serve as the Master of Ceremonies at the recruiting meeting(s).
o Ensure the completion of Cub Scout applications by the parents and collect the correct
amount of fees.
o Turn in the completed applications and fees to the district.
Skills Required
• Good organizational skills
• Good communication skills
• Knowledge of the Cub Scout program is a plus
District & Council Meetings
• May – Attend the district Cub Scout Recruiting orientation (at the May Roundtable)
• July – Attend the council Recruiting Rally (invitations will be sent to Pack Recruiting Coordinators
that have signed up with the district membership team).
Recruiting Information & Resources
• Recruiting supplies can be checked out from the district membership team or professional staff
member.
• Information will be available on the council website www.crossroadsbsa.org (see the section
titled Volunteer Resources and then Cub Scout Recruiting).
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Tiger Cub Season needs to happen in
the spring so that Kindergarteners
can join Tiger Cubs in June and
attend Day Camp during the
summer.
Tiger Cub Season
A boy’s first experience in Scouting, and that of his family, is usually in Tiger Cubs. A successful,
positive experience will keep a boy in Scouting. If he doesn’t have a positive experience, we will lose
him and his family for the remainder of his Scouting years.
• The Tiger Cub den leader can be considered the most important leader in the Boy Scouts
of America.
Recruiting the best possible Tiger Cub den leader is the strongest factor in a boy having a successful,
positive experience. Tiger Cub Season involves:
• Raising awareness about Cub Scouting with teachers and school principals.
• Fostering a relationship with Kindergarten teachers.
• Asking Kindergarten teachers to identify high potential Tiger Cub leaders from among the
Kindergarten parents.
• Research potential Tiger Cub den leaders.
• Ask the Kindergarten teachers to introduce you to your top candidates.
• Recruit the best Tiger Cub den leader that you can.
• Once you have the right Tiger Cub den leader, invite the boys and their parents to an
organization meeting.
• Make sure the den has activities planned throughout the summer, including Day Camp.
Parents make choices regarding their children’s fall activities in the preceding spring. If we do not
recruit and register new Tiger Cubs in the spring, we often
will not recruit them in the fall. Also, as the season changes
into spring, the opportunity for outdoor adventures for
young boys increases.
As stated above, recruit the best possible Tiger Cub den
leader by developing a relationship with the Kindergarten
teachers. Once the leader is recruited, conduct the organization meeting for Kindergarteners and
their parents in April or May. In June, these boys can officially be registered as Tiger Cubs and begin
a summer program.
Summer Program for Tiger Cubs
Having one activity in June, July and August provides and great start for Tiger Cubs and their
families. Some of the activities may include: Day Camp, fishing derby, bike rodeo, den cookout or
picnic, visit the zoo or a ball game, field trip at a park, or other outdoor adventures you can think of.
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TurnT
“Be a Scout” Website
On all of the marketing materials we use, parents are given the web address for the BSA’s “Be a
Scout” website (https://beascout.scouting.org/). By visiting the site, they can learn about the
different programs available and see a list of
Scouting groups in their area. If they are interested
in joining, they can select the units they are
interested in and send their contact information.
Units that have entered their contact information
will receive an email notifying them that someone is
interested in joining their unit. Using their password,
they can access the information the parent sent and
contact them with details about their unit.
For more information about using the “Be a Scout”
website to promote your unit, you can view an orientation video at:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXzSspKM0ao?rel=0.
Scheduling the Recruiting Meeting (Submit the form on page 24 by the end of June)
1. Select the date & time of the recruiting meeting(s).
o In the spring, avoid ISTEP testing weeks.
o In the fall, schedule the meeting no earlier than the second week of school and no later
than September 12th
(weeknights work best).
o You are encouraged to schedule the fall recruiting meeting before school ends in the
spring. This will be helpful when promoting Scouting during the summer at county fairs,
festivals, etc.
2. Reserve the meeting location.
o If possible, conduct the meeting at the school most of the potential members attend.
o If the school is not available, another meeting location close by will work.
3. Ask a Boy Scout troop to help.
o Older Boy Scouts can help keep the younger boys occupied with an activity, while the
pack leaders talk to the parents.
4. Contact the district recruiting team and give them the details:
o Date, time and location (include address if the meeting is not being held at a school)
5. Confirm with the professional staff the information you want printed on the promotion fliers.
o Date, time and location (include address if the meeting is not being held at a school)
o Cost to join your pack (and what that includes)
o Any other details you want parents to know about before they attend
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Promoting the Recruiting Meeting
How much school access does your pack have?
� No School Access: No fliers or boy talks.
� Limited School Access: Fliers only, no boy talks.
� Full School Access: Boy talks & fliers are allowed.
Packs that recruit boys in areas where limited or no school access is available will need to use
different methods to promote the recruiting meetings. These are some suggested ways to let
families know your pack is recruiting:
No School Access
Grass roots promotion in the community
• Door hangers
o Distribute door hangers in targeted neighborhoods and/or apartment communities
with your pack information. Door hangers are available through your local Scout
office, back can be customized.
• Book marks
o Similar to the door hangers, but smaller. Can be given to libraries to give out to
boys.
• Displays
o Packs can check out a tri-fold display to use for information booths or at recruiting
meetings.
Promotion at Sporting Events
• Sporting events – have leaders and boys pass out fliers or have a booth at:
o Youth baseball, soccer at football games
o High school football and basketball games
• Sports sign-ups – Have information available when families are signing their children up for
different sports.
Promotion at Community Events
• Participate in community events – Depending on the type of event, you may have a booth,
activity or have Scouters walking around passing out information.
o County Fair
o Farmers markets
o March in parades – pass out candy and joining information.
o Halloween – Pass out candy and business cards with Cub Scouting information.
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Promotion at Libraries
• Set up a display at the local library
• Participate in Library events
Promotion at Churches
• Vacation Bible School – Talk to boys and have information available for parents.
• Church festivals – Set up an information booth
• Sunday school – Do “boy talks” and have a booth set up after service with joining
information.
• Church Bulletins – Announcements can be sent to area churches notifying them that the
pack will be recruiting members. Ask the church to publish the announcement in the church
bulletin the Sunday before the Sign-Up meeting. Visit www.crossroadsbsa.org for templates.
Limited School Access
Promotion at Schools (not during instruction time)
• Information booth (or Scout leaders in uniform) to distribute Cub Scouting information or to
sign up new Cub Scouts at the:
o Meet the Teacher night
o School Open House
o Ice Cream Social
• Kindergarten registration – Have information available or a booth set up.
• “Cub Scout” themed party – Have a classroom parent who is part of Cub Scouts pass out
invitations to the party. The party can serve as an additional opportunity for families to join
and learn about Scouting.
• Adopt a School Program (a new BSA initiative)
o This new program encourages packs to create a formal partnership with the school
and do service projects for the school through the year.
o Designed to make the pack visible and bring attention to the positive influence
Scouting has on boys.
Full School Access
• Boy talks
o District volunteers or professionals will arrange with the school
o Will talk to boys during lunch period or classrooms (as allowed by the school)
o Fliers and stickers given to the boys during the visit
• Stickers
o Small stickers are available to hand out to individual boys.
o Large stickers with “Ask Me about Scouting” can be worn by leaders and adults
during promotion activities.
• Posters
o Packs will receive posters to use in the schools and other locations around the
community.
o If the large posters are too big, you can use the 8 ½ x 11 flier as a poster.
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Collect the applications that night!
Even if the parents forgot to bring
money along, don’t let the
application walk out the door with
them!!
The Recruiting Meeting
The recruiting meeting should be well organized and brief. The purpose of this meeting is to get the
new boys signed up and to give parents the basic information they need to know.
• Make sure everyone is greeted when they arrive.
• Have the parents put their information on the attendance sheet.
• Distribute handouts:
o Application form
o Parent information booklet
o Pack calendar
o Pack Newsletter (with basic information and contact list)
o Parent talent sheet (to be collected with the application)
o Mini Boys’ Life magazine
• Explain when and where the first meeting will be held (this may be a den meeting or pack
meeting).
• Explain how much it costs to join & what they will need to purchase (book, uniform, etc)
o Explain that the pack conducts fund raising projects to help families with some of
the costs (but save all the details for the pack meeting).
• Collect the completed applications and fees.
These are some common mistakes that you should keep in mind about the recruiting meeting:
• Don’t spend too much time explaining every detail of the Cub Scouting program. Parents
want to know how much it will cost, when the meetings are and who the leader will be.
They want to sign up their son as quickly as possible and go home to finish making dinner
and have the kids do their homework. Additional information should be shared at the follow
up meeting (either a “Parent Orientation
meeting” or the next pack meeting.)
• Don’t ask the parents to raise their hand to
volunteer to be a leader. This method very rarely
works. And if someone does raise their hand, they
are often not the best person for the job. If you do
need to recruit a volunteer, use this time to get to
know the parents. Use the Parent Talent Survey to
identify the best prospects. Then set up a meeting with them personally to ask them to
volunteer.
• Don’t let parents take the applications home with them. If they didn’t bring money to pay
that evening, keep the application and ask them to bring payment to the next meeting. If
they say that they “are still thinking about it, or need to talk to their spouse first”, collect the
application anyway. They don’t need the application to “think about it”, that’s what the
Parent Orientation Guide and other materials are for. If you collect the application, you will
have their contact information so you can follow up with them (because you probably won’t
be able to read the attendance sheets in many cases). Also, when parents take the
applications home with them, they tend to get lost and you will end up needing to give them
another application.
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After the Recruiting and Before the Next Meeting
In the time between the recruiting meeting and your next meeting, do the following:
• If you need to recruit a den leader – first do some research.
• Then meet face to face with your prospect to actually recruit them.
• Have all of den leaders contact the new parents to remind them about the next meeting.
Parent Orientation (or Pack) Meeting
Within a week or two of the recruiting meeting, conduct a Parent Orientation (or pack) meeting for
the new parents and explain more of the details they need to know about your pack.
• The Parent Orientation meeting can be a part of the next pack meeting (or 30-45 minutes
before the rest of the Cub Scout families arrive for the regular pack meeting).
• Explain the pack budget.
• Recruit parents to help on the pack committee.
Make sure the den meetings start right away. The boys want to start doing Scouting “stuff” NOW!
And don’t forget to promote other activities that the boys and their parents can participate in
outside of what the pack offers:
• Cub Scout Fun Day
• Circuit of Fun events (http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/Activities/CircuitofFun.aspx)
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Training for New Volunteers
Every Cub Scout pack needs volunteers to make the program happen. To be effective, these
leaders need to be trained. The information below explains what volunteers need to do to be
trained for their position. All of these training sessions are available in class room settings and
online at https://myscouting.scouting.org.
Youth Protection Training – Before an adult can be registered as a leader, they must
complete Youth Protection Training. At all times, youth safety is the number one priority. At the
same time, adults need to know the rules for keeping themselves safe, too. Comprehensive
Youth Protection training teaches all the do's and don'ts of working with youth. This training is
offered online or may be taken as part of a district or council training course. When the adult
has completed the online course, they must make sure to print the certificate indicating that
they have completed the course. A copy of this certificate must be turned in with the adult
leader application.
● New leaders must complete Youth Protection Training before submitting their
application for registration. The certificate of completion must be attached to the
application.
● Youth Protection Training must be renewed every 2 years. If a volunteer’s Youth
Protection Training is not renewed at the time of recharter, the volunteer can not be
reregistered.
Position Specific Training – Based on the leader’s position. These courses are available
online and also as classroom sessions in the district. Position specfic training sessions are
available for these volunteer positions:
• Tiger Cub den leaders
• Wolf and Bear den leaders and assistants
• Webelos den leaders and assistants
• Cubmasters and assistants
• Pack committee members and assistants
• Pack trainers
Note about online training – When you create an account in “My Scouting”, you will be
asked for your name, address, phone number, email address and Scouting ID number. You will
not receive a Scouting ID number until you are officially registered. You can create your account
without the ID number and complete any of the training sessions online. Just make sure you
print a completion certificate at the conclusion of each training session. Turn in copies of these
certificates with your adult application form. Once you receive your ID number, you can return
to “My Scouting” and update your account profile by adding the ID number. After you have
done that, all of the training sessions you completed will be transferred to your permanent
training records.
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Making Charter Renewal Easier
The packs charter and all youth and adult memberships expire at the end of the year. Being
prepared and starting collecting fees for 2015 in August & September will make the process
much easier for the pack.
July/August Recruiting Meeting • Collect new youth applications and pro-rated fees for July/August through December
2014 and also for January through December 2015 (or at least let the parents know you
will be collecting fees for 2015 at the September or October pack meeting.
• Turn in new youth applications and pro-rated fees for 2014 to the district.
Parent Orientation Meeting • Conduct Youth Protection Training with all parents using the DVD available from the
council.
• Collect applications from the new leaders that have been recruited.
• Turn in new adult leader applications and pro-rated fees for 2014 to the district.
September • At the September pack meeting, collect the 2015 registration & Boys’ Life fees for all
youth and adult members.
• Charter Renewal information will be emailed to pack leaders by the end of September.
October • Begin the online charter renewal process (available on October 1
st).
• If the pack turned in all of the new applications by the middle of September, the data in
the online system will contain all of these new members - the only thing the pack will
need to do is delete those members that are not renewing.
• If the pack didn’t turn in the new applications by the middle of September, then new
members may need to be manually entered into the online system.
• At the October pack meeting, finish collecting the 2015 fees from anyone that you
missed at the September pack meeting.
November • Finish the online process, collect signatures needed & get check from unit treasurer.
• Turn in the paperwork & check to the district commissioner staff.
January 1, 2015 • If the pack didn’t turn in the charter renewal paperwork and payment, the pack will not
be registered with the BSA on January 1st
and will not be allowed to meet (due to no
insurance coverage).
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Common Defects on Adult Leader Applications
There are two pages of the application that need to be completed and turned in to the council,
along with a Youth Protection Training certificate, in order to be processed.
One of those pages (identified below as the “CBC” page) contains information about the criminal
background check progress and asks for the name of the applicant and their signature,
authorizing the council to complete a background check.
“CBC” Page
The other page that
needs to be completed
looks like the form shown
to the right.
The applicant’s signature is
required in the two highlighted areas.
These highlighted
areas are often
missed, but are
required.
Signature of unit committee chair is
required.
Signature of charter org representative is
required.
A copy of a current Youth
Protection Training
certificate must be
attached to the other two
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Common Defects on Youth Applications
The following items must be completed - if any of these are missed, the application can’t be processed:
• Youth members date of birth
• Youth members grade
• Signature of Unit Leader
• Signature of Parent/Guardian
If the youth member is in the 1st grade, the parent section must also be completed with a date of
birth.
Youth date of birth and
grade
Required signatures If the youth is in the 1st
grade, the parent section
must be completed
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The “Organize a New Den” incentive is
designed specifically to go with the
“Tiger Season” recruiting method, but is
available for any type of new den.
Incentive Items Available for all Packs
Polo Shirt for Pack Recruiting Coordinators
As a “thank you” for coordinating the successful recruiting efforts of the pack, the council will
present a Crossroads of America polo shirt to the Pack Recruiting Coordinator when:
• The Pack Recruiting Coordinator attends the recruiting orientation at the district
Roundtable in May (or attends the council “make up” orientation in June).
• The Pack Recruiting Coordinator attends the council Recruiting Rally in July.
• The pack recruits at least 1 more youth member than they did between April 1st
and
October 31st
the prior year.
Free Patches for your new Cub Scouts
The council will provide your pack with a supply of patches that you can give to your new Cub
Scouts at the recruiting meeting.
• Schedule some fun activities for the Cub Scouts to do while the pack leaders talk to the
parents about Scouting (have a Boy Scout troop help with the activity).
• When the parents have turned in a completed and paid application for their son, your
pack can present the new Cub Scout with his first Scouting patch.
Organize a New Den – Den Leader Receives a Uniform Shirt
When your pack organizes an entire new den of Cub Scouts, the council will provide a free
uniform shirt (shirt, council strip, unit number, position patch & shoulder loops) to the den
leader of the new den. Specific requirements are:
• The new den must have at least 8
registered Cub Scouts that are new (must
have joined between April 1st
and October
31st
.
• All 8 of the new Cub Scouts must be in the same age group.
• The den leader must have completed Youth Protection Training and be registered with
the BSA as a den leader by October 31st
.
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Incentive Items Available for Qualifying Packs
Pinewood Derby Cars for all your Cub Scouts
When your pack does a great job in recruiting new youth members, the council will recognize
your efforts by offering a significant savings on Pinewood Derby Cars.
• Attain the pack goal for recruiting new Cub Scouts and your pack will receive a 50%
discount on Pinewood Derby cars for all the members in your pack.
• Attain the pack “stretch” goal for recruiting new Cub Scouts and your pack will receive
Free Pinewood Derby cars for all the members in your pack.
To qualify for either of these goals, applications must be received in one of the council service
centers no later than October 31 with the applicable fees.
The goal and “stretch” goal for the pack will be based on increasing the pack’s “market share”.
Market share is calculated by taking the number of registered Cub Scouts in the pack and
dividing it by the total available youth (the number of boys that could potentially be Cub
Scouts). In other words, determining the percentage of boys from your area that are registered
Cub Scouts. Note – Total Available Youth data is collected from the Indiana Department of
Education. Below are examples of how the goals are determined:
Pack 555 had 36 registered Cub Scouts in 2013 out of 275 total available youth, which
was a 13.1% Market Share.
To attain their goal and receive a 50% discount on Pinewood Derby cars, the pack would need
to increase their market share 5% and have 50 boys registered in the pack on November 1st
.
Calculations: 13.1% + 5% = 18.1%
18.1% x 275 = 49.8 (rounded up to 50)
To attain their “stretch” goal and receive FREE Pinewood Derby cars, the pack would need to
increase their market share 7% and have 56 boys registered in the pack on November 1st
.
Calculations: 13.1% + 7% = 20.1%
20.1% x 275 = 55.2 (rounded up to 56)
Additional details regarding these calculations can be found on the council website.
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2014 Recruiting Incentive Score Card (for all Packs)
Pack Number District
Our Pack Recruiting Coordinator:
Attended the district’s recruiting orientation at the May Roundtable
(Or attended the council’s recruiting orientation on June 7th
)
Attended the council’s recruiting rally in July
Helped the pack recruit more Cub Scouts this year than last year
When all three are “yes”, the Pack Recruiting Coordinator will receive a CAC polo shirt.
Pack Recruiting Coordinators name
Size needed
Our Pack Organized one or more new Dens (meeting the requirements as written):
Den Leaders name
The den leader is registered and has completed Youth Protection Training
Shirt Size needed
Type of den: Tiger Cubs Wolf Bear 1st
year Webelos 2nd
year Webelos
Names of the new Cub Scouts (must have at least 8):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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2014 Recruiting Incentive Score Card (for Packs that meet the requirements below)
Pack Number District
Our Pack:
Qualified as a Bronze, Silver or Gold pack in the 2013 Journey to Excellence
program. (Note – this requirement will be waived in 2014, but will be a requirement going
forward in future years)
Has submitted a recruiting plan to the district by June 15th
(page 18)
Has submitted a scheduling form to the district by June 15th
(page 22)
All three items above must be “yes” to be eligible for one of the two items listed below.
Qualified for a 50% discount on Pinewood Derby cars
Qualified for Free Pinewood Derby cars
The number of Pinewood Derby cars your pack can receive is based on the number of registered
Cub Scouts in the pack on November 1, 2014.
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Cub Scout Recruitment – Quick Check List
� Attend recruiting orientation at the May Roundtable in your district or the June 7 orientation
provided by the council.
� Meet with your District Executive to discuss your plans for recruitment.
� Schedule your date for recruitment. See your district’s Cub Scout Recruiting Chair or District
Executive to get a date scheduled.
� If your school system requires a “building use form” fill it out as soon as your recruitment date is
scheduled.
� Late Spring/Early Summer – Plan your Cub Scout year. Determine your leadership needs;
develop a budget, calendar and pack contact information page (or newsletter). This website has
materials that will help you complete these items: www.crossroadsbsa.org/programplanning
� June/July – Call your principal and secure/ask the following:
o Can we attend the school parent orientation to represent our Pack?
o Put information in the school newsletter about recruitment and other special events.
� Template is available at: www.crossroadsbsa.org
o Put at least one yard sign up at your school.
o Put up posters at the school 1-2 weeks prior to recruitment.
o Request an overhead announcement/closed circuit TV before recruitment night.
o Boy Talks: Not all schools allow Boy Talks (where DE goes to speak to boys at lunch,
assembly etc...) Please remind the principal that someone will be calling to schedule this
with them.
� Boy Talks will be scheduled to occur 2-3 days before your recruitment date by the District
Executive OR Recruitment Chair.
� Request fliers to promote your recruiting meeting from the district executive.
o Fliers will be prepared, printed and distributed typically one week prior to your
recruitment date by your District Executive. (Not all schools allow flyers)
� Secure and assign the volunteers/adults you need to do a successful recruitment (see XYZ
handout).
o Schedule a Boy Scout Troop to run a fun activity for the new boys.
o Review the recruitment agenda (handout xyz)
o Assign leaders to each responsibility.
o Make sure the Pack checkbook will be at your recruitment night.
o Review list of supply items provided in the recruitment crate and items you will need to
bring. (see crate hand-out)
� A CRATE of recruitment supplies is available for each unit! Some units will have a leader pick the
crate or it will be brought by a Recruitment Team member or District Executive. (see crate
hand-out) Be sure you work with your District Executive to ensure this create is available to you.
� Arrive at least 30 minutes early to set up the room.
� Make sure each family signs in on the attendance roster.
� Follow the Recruitment Night Agenda.
� Collect ALL applications (even if a family is unsure about joining or doesn’t pay)
� Mark each family as paid or unpaid on their application and on the attendance roster.
� Return the recruitment envelope with all applications, attendance sheet and pro-rated fees to
the council office or send with the recruitment team member or district professional.
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Design a Plan that Shows You Care about Reaching Every Boy
We are providing a variety of tools to help you recruit the most Cub Scouts. The more active
recruitment methods we use, the more successful we will be. We are looking forward to our
partnership with you as we grow Scouting together. Thank you for your support!
Through Active Recruitment
� Principal Visit
� Recruiting flier a week before
� School rally or boy talk during school
� Back to School Open House display
� Parent lunch at school in uniform
� Customized invitations to all homes
� Personal phone calls
� Door hangers (door-to-door invites)
� Boy talks at before/after school care
� Boy talks at church Sunday school
� Community festivals
� County fair
� Recruit-a-Friend campaign
Through Passive Recruitment
� Yard signs
� Bookmarks to school or community library
� School website
� Church bulletin inserts
� Press release in local newspaper
Getting Out the Message
Reaching every boy with the message of
Scouting requires informing and inspiring
people to consider the value of Scouting
to themselves and the community.
Message to Schools
Demonstrating to principals and teachers
the benefits that your pack brings to the
school is a critical part of partnering with
them. This ensures every family learns
about Scouting as a great place to shape
the lives of their children for the future.
Message to Parents
Parents and guardians are the decision
makers when it comes to the activities
their children will join. We must
continually tell and re-tell couples, single
parents, and other influencers about
Scouting’s promise to give their children
advantages in life.
Message to Boys
Boys want to join Scouting because it’s
FUN! Keep the “fun and adventure with
friends” in front of them at all times to
create an insatiable desire to be a part of
your pack.
Message at your Recruiting Meeting
When you hold your recruiting event at
school, you are on familiar ground for
parents and boys. Being organized,
informative, enthusiastic, and fun will
create for them the confidence to join
and get involved.
Ideal Year of Scouting
The packs that plan, promote and execute their “Ideal
Year of Scouting”, offer unparalleled experiences for
more youth, and are recognized in the Journey to
Excellence program.
What is an Ideal Year of Scouting? It’s a method of
planning for your pack to do all the Scouting programs
and activities you would like to do, with little or no
direct cost to your families. The Crossroads of America
Council will help your pack with this planning process.
What are the components of the Ideal Year of Scouting
process? What’s in it for your pack? Visit the Golden-
Burke Scout Center on Saturday, June 7th
any time
between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm for our Ideal Year of
Scouting open house. Information is also available on
our council website at:
http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/VolunteerResources/Cub
Scout.aspx
- 20 -
Our Pack Plan to Reach Every Boy [Return to your district membership team]
Pack Number Current Youth Members _____ Total Boys by October 31 ______
School Served Total 1st
Grade Boys
Total 1st-5th
Grade Boys
Number of
Boys to Reach
2014 Cub
Scout Goal
Dens
Needing
Assistance
Pack Recruiting Date: Second Chance Date:
Signed (Pack Committee Chair or Cubmaster) Date
Pack with Full School Access
� Develop membership plan with
district membership team and
district executive.
� Visit the school principal
� Display posters and yard signs
around the school where boys
and parents will see them.
� Work with the district executive
to make sure a flier is sent home
one week before your recruiting
meeting.
� Work with the district executive
to make sure a boy talk is held
2-3 days before your recruiting
meeting.
� Contact all 1st grade parents
about the recruiting meeting.
� Other ideas (from pages 6-7)
Pack with No School Access
� Develop membership plan with
district membership team and
district executive.
� Visit the school principal
� Other ideas (from pages 6-7)
Pack with Limited School
Access
� Develop membership plan with
district membership team and
district executive.
� Visit the school principal
� Display posters and yard signs
around the school where boys
and parents will see them.
� Work with the district executive
to make sure a flier is sent home
one week before your recruiting
meeting.
� Contact all 1st grade parents
about the recruiting meeting.
� Other ideas (from pages 6-7)
- 21 -
- 22 -
Flier & Yard Sign Request Form
District (circle one): Del-Mi Northeast Iron Horse
Hou-Koda Pathfinder Old Trail
North Star T-Sun-Ga-Ni Wabash Valley
Sugar Creek Pioneer
Sakima Golden Eagle
Pack #
Does your pack need a display board? YES NO
Cub Scout Recruiting Information (this will be printed on the flyer & yard signs):
Pack Contact Name:
Phone Email
Recruiting Meeting:
Day of the Week:
Date:
Time:
Location (be specific): _____________
Parent Orientation (or Pack) Meeting:
Date:
Time:
Location:
Cost to join your pack:
Mail or fax to your district professional.
Please allow 4-5 business days for production.
Golden-Burke Scout Center 7125 Fall Creek Road N. Indianapolis IN 46256 Fax (317) 813-7126
Anderson Scout Center 1420 E. 10th
St. Anderson IN 46012 Fax (765) 644-8473
Hagerstown Scout Center 199 S. Plum St. Hagerstown IN 47346 Fax (765) 489-5944
Muncie Scout Center 3400 E. Jackson St. Muncie IN 47303 Fax (765) 284-7534
Terre Haute Scout Center 501 S. 25th
St. Terre Haute IN 47803 Fax (812) 232-9497
Office Use Only:
DE Approval
Date Needed
School(s) # Flyers
Needed
# Boy Scout Fliers needed?
(for 5th
grade boys)
# of Door Hangers needed?
# of Yard Signs needed?
Display board requested – board #
Special Instructions
(Circle & write instructions on the back)
Packs can receive 2 blank yard
signs. Additional signs will be pre-
printed with your information.
- 23 -
- 24 -
Scheduling Form
District (circle one): Del-Mi Northeast Iron Horse
Hou-Koda Pathfinder Old Trail
North Star T-Sun-Ga-Ni Wabash Valley
Sugar Creek Pioneer
Sakima Golden Eagle
How much school access does your pack have? Pack Number:
� No School Access: No fliers or boy talks.
� Limited School Access: Fliers only, no boy talks.
� Full School Access: Boy talks & fliers are allowed.
Contact Person:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Daytime Phone: Evening Phone:
Email Address:
The information for the two meetings below are: Confirmed or Tentative
The pack’s Recruiting meeting will be held:
Date Time
Location
The pack’s Parent Orientation (or Pack) meeting will be held:
Date Time
Location
Based on this information, the district professionals will contact the school to arrange a visit to
talk to the boys and distribute informational fliers.
Please return to the appropriate Scout Service Center by mail or fax.
Golden-Burke Scout Center 7125 Fall Creek Road N. Indianapolis IN 46256 Fax (317) 813-7126
Anderson Scout Center 1420 E. 10th
St. Anderson IN 46012 Fax (765) 644-8473
Hagerstown Scout Center 199 S. Plum St. Hagerstown IN 47346 Fax (765) 489-5944
Muncie Scout Center 3400 E. Jackson St. Muncie IN 47303 Fax (765) 284-7534
Terre Haute Scout Center 501 S. 25th
St. Terre Haute IN 47803 Fax (812) 232-9497
![ODF Boy Scout Brochure[1]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/577d26461a28ab4e1ea0bb35/odf-boy-scout-brochure1.jpg)
