There are many ways to recruit youth and adults into the Scouting program.
In your role as Unit Leader there are four key events that are essential to your success.
- A unit Open House, which is by far the best way to recruit new youth members and adult volunteers into your unit.
- A promotional booth at a parent-teacher night or other event where you can encourage families to attend your Open House.
- A “Youth Talk” at the local school, church or youth center where you get face to face with kids to explain the program and let them know why they should join and attend your Open House.
- A Bring-A-Friend event where your current members deliver invitations to non-members inviting them to one of your unit events.
Leader Preparedness Series
The Leader Preparedness Series will be SWC’s forum to provide unit leaders with deep dives on important topics that they need to support quality unit program and membership growth. These are topics that support leader engagement on upcoming Council initiatives and allow for more in-depth discussion than is practical to occur at other forums such as Roundtable.
LPS will be a year-round series of trainings occurring monthly during the program year. Sessions will occur on the 3rd Sundays of the month 7-8pm. Each session will be hosted by a professional and a volunteer working together as presenters. Agendas for the sessions will be issued at least two weeks before the session so that volunteers will be able to evaluate the usefulness of attending or engaging one of their other unit volunteers to attend. During the summer, sessions will be hosted weekly. Video recordings of the sessions will be available afterwards for leader reference.
| Meeting Topic/Calendar Link | Date | Video Link |
| How to Conduct a Joining Night | March 21 | |
| Prize Incentive Program for Spring | April 18 | |
| Summer Program Planning | May 16 | |
| Annual Program Planning for Units | June 20 | |
| How to Plan Your Recruitment Campaign | July 6 | |
| Using Scoutbook | July 18 | |
| Peer-to-Peer Recruitment | July 25 | |
| Kicking Off Your Program in September | August 8 | |
| How to Conduct a Joining Night | August 15 | |
| Council Program Kickoff | August 22 | |
| And more to come! |
Membership Recruitment Materials
(please follow all usage rights/permissions noted any of the National BSA file downloads as materials are copyrighted)
If there is a resource you are looking for but is not listed below, please contact frank.capozzi@scouting.org
General Resources: (Please check back as resources are added)
- How to Do Your Own Geofencing
- QR Codes for Units – PDF Format or Excel Format
- Joining Night Best Practices
- Videos – promotional videos on our Youtube channel
Council YouTube Channel
The Council’s YouTube Channel contains various videos to support your recruitment effort and the council’s marketing efforts. The videos (in various time lengths) being used in our social media advertisements can be found there for sharing after August 19th ad campaign launch.
Council Facebook Page: Like and share news, promotions, and stories from the Council Facebook Page.
CUB SCOUT RESOURCES
Recruitment / Joining Night Presentations
Activity Coloring Book & Bookmarks
Bring a Friend Materials
- Power of 3 Incentive Program
- Cub Scout Bring a Buddy Recruiter Patch Flyer
- Bring a Friend Cards -sheet 6-up; 2 sided
Guide Books
Posters and Flyers
- Escape Great Indoors Flyer Insert 2021 – 8 1/2 x 11 (use in church bulletins, newsletters, take-ones, etc.)
- Escape Great Indoors Flyer Insert 2021 – 2 up (use in church bulletins, newsletters, take-ones, etc.)
- Escape Great Indoors Poster_Boys and Girls_2021 (11×17)
- Escape the Great Indoors Flyer_2021_Girls 8 1/2×11
- Escape the Great Indoors Flyer_2021_Boys 8 1/2×11
Joining Event Example Materials – (please note that these are specific to one unit and would need to be edited for your specific unit).
National Resources-Cub Scouts – The Brand Center has a wide variety of images, social media graphics/banners, posters, and other resources available for downloading.
SCOUTING & VENTURING RESOURCES
Some items link directly to the National BSA Member Resources
Scouts BSA:
- Parent Guide to Scouts BSA 2021
- Troop Leader Guide_2021
- Scouts BSA Recruiter Patch Flyer
- Flyer Insert – 8 1/2 x 11 (use in church bulletins, newsletters, take-ones, etc.)
- Flyer Insert _2 up (2-up for smaller inserts in bulletins, newsletters, as take-ones, etc.)
- Bookmark_English_one-sided
- Bookmarks Spanish_one-sided
- National BSA Scouts BSA Resources
Venturing:
Some items link directly to the National BSA Member Resources
- Venturing Recruiter Patch Flyer
- Venturing Flyer Insert (8 1/2 x 11) (use in church bulletins, newsletters, take-ones, etc.)
- Venturing Flyer Insert (2-up for smaller inserts in bulletins, newsletters, as take-ones, etc.)
- Venturing Poster_Life Is An Adventure
- Venturing Poster_are you ready for this
- Venturing Poster_what did you do last weekend
- National BSA Venturing Resources (posters, flyers, social media and general images)
EXPLORING RESOURCES:
Items link directly to the National BSA Member Resources
(please follow all usage rights/permissions noted in the file download as materials are copywrited)
- Career-specific resources (e-blasts, photos, social media images, web banners)
- Print Resources (banners, brochures, flyers)
- Web Resources
PRODUCT SALE RESOURCES:
- Popcorn & Nut Product Sale Page with extensive resources including product brochures