Membership Recruitment

 

 

Part of Unit operations is planning on growth. Growth does not just happen, but needs to be worked on by all. Scouts joining your Unit and staying creates a legacy for that Scout, their family and the Unit. Without new Scouts and families joining, it won’t be long before the traditions and history of the Unit will be gone. 

Any Scout who recruits a new Scout earns a Recruiter Strip that can be worn on the uniform. All Scouts regardless of program are eligible to earn this award.

Four Easy Steps to Recruitment

1. Plan | 2. Promote | 3. Welcome | 4. Follow Up

1. Plan

  • Choose a date and time to hold your sign-up event
    • Consult with other leaders to check their availability
    • Host a picnic, campfire, ice cream social, fly rockets or foam planes, or other fun event where kids and parents would feel welcome
    • Have a table at your local school’s Open House/Welcome Back night
    • Meet at your regular time and location, but NOT on the same night as Den, Pack or Troop meetings (too hectic!)
  • Update your PIN in my.scouting.org so interested families can find you through BeAScout.org. Learn how by clicking here.

TIP – Plan 6 weeks ahead to give yourself time to organize and promote it

2. Promote

TIP – If you’re ready to take promotion to the next step, check out the resources available to you through the BSA Brand Center!

3. Welcome

TIP – Your unit’s Key 3 leaders have access to the “Invitation Manager” tools in my.scouting.org, which really helps to keep information centralized. Learn how to use it.

4. Follow Up

  • Initiate communications with families
    • Send emails or text messages with a link to your unit’s PIN so they will find you immediately
    • Use my.scouting.org’s “Invitation Manager” tool: enter parent names, contact info and send them links to sign up through my.scouting
  • Be responsive
    • Reply to messages/questions within 24 hours
    • If you don’t have the answer, ask your district professional for help
  • Remind them about meetings a few days ahead of time

What Can You/the Unit Do:

  • Have a New Members Coordinator in your Unit
  • Make recruitment a part of your Program Planning Conference
    • School Sign Ups
    • Bring a Friend night
    • Webeleos to Scout Transition
  • Have your BeAScout pin up to date – this found in my.scouting.org under the Roster area.
    • Did you set up contact information on your pin?
    • Does it have the correct address? (default is charter organization address)
    • Did you set a welcome email?
    • Do you allow for online applications? (Youth/Adult)
  • Organize, Plan and Promote a Unit Open House
  • Have a Recruitment table/box that goes to different events
    • Pictures of Unit activities
    • Schedule for the year
    • Contact info
    • Something to draw the kids to you
    • Something for the kids to do while you talk to the parents
      • Coloring pages
      • Raft regatta
      • Large Jenga game
      • Real life “Angry Birds” game
  • Participate in Community events (parades, carnivals, etc)
    • Have promotional items at these events
    • Have a table at these events
    • Reading at Library
  • Promote whenever your Unit is seen by the Community
    • Popcorn Show and Sell’s
    • Community Clean Up
    • Participation in Scout Sunday/Sabbath
  • Online Promotion – BSA Media Guidelines
    • Unit Facebook page (please keep in mind public vs private)
    • Community/School Facebook
      • Occasional posts by families
  • What Else?
    • Business card/tag in with Halloween candy
    • Sticker on Popcorn
    • Sign in local community business, with contact info
    • Adopt a School
      • Positive relation with your School
      • School Clean Up
      • Assist with parking or opening doors during voting

Quick Links

Unit Recruiting Resources

Forms

Other Useful Websites

Quick Links