Tips to improve communication with parents of new scouts and why it matters.
Signing your child up for a new activity can be daunting, especially if it’s not something familiar to you. Parents who weren’t scouts may feel overwhelming by scouting traditions and jargon. Making parents and guardians comfortable is an important first step to welcoming their children into the Boy Scouts of America’s Cub Scout program. Please note that guardians of all kinds are welcome in scouting, but “parents” is used throughout this article for simplicity.
First impressions
Your first interaction with parents will likely be at your recruitment night, but they are already forming an opinion about you and your pack. You’ve already made your first impression through your recruiting materials, word-of-mouth or even service projects your pack has done for the community. Those parents need enough information to show up and give you an hour of their precious time, so make it as easy as possible.
Make it easier for parents to show up by giving them the 5 W’s:
Who: Be specific about who is invited. Cub Scouts is for youth in kindergarten through 5th grade, but mention whether families are welcome and that you want parents to stay.
What: Make sure your recruitment flyer is specific to an event and mention what to expect, such as snacks or games.
Where: Include the location with an address and landmarks if the location might be hard to find.
When: Include the time and plan to be ready ahead of time so early-birds aren’t greeted with a locked door.
Why: This may seem obvious, but a few pictures of scouting activities can help parents understand why we scout.
Make use of fillable recruitment flyers from BSA Brand Center (Boy Scouts of America, 2022) or ask your local Council what they provide. Use scouting stock photography to customize a professional-quality template from a free design tool.
Join, try, or meet?
Many Cub Scout packs have a “Join Night” just after school starts in the fall, similar to sports sign-up. Consider offering a “Try Night” where families can experience scouting but aren’t necessarily expected to sign up the same night. Reluctant parents may be interested in learning more about Cub Scouts if they don’t feel pressured to commit before they’ve set foot in the door.
Be clear about how much scouting costs, how to pay and if you have scholarship options, but don’t bombard parents with it. While a year of scouting may be less expensive than a year of sports, it’s still a significant commitment and more than many families can afford all at once. Don’t forget to talk about the time commitment as well. Is it one hour a week, or are there also required trips, events, or fundraising?
On the day of the event, assign one of your volunteers to welcome guests and have them sign in with their name and contact information so you can follow up after the event. Give an overview of what to expect for the event, whether parents are expected to follow their children or if there is a separate area for parents to get their questions answered.
Parent involvement, or lack thereof
Parents who understand the goals of scouting feel more invested in it. According to Bryan on Scouting blogger Bryan Wendell the lack of commitment from parents is one of the six reasons scouts drop out (2011).
It’s great if your pack is large and every role is filled. Congratulations! But that doesn’t mean parents should wait outside. Cub Scouts works best with involved parents. In fact, Lion (kindergarten) and Tiger (1st grade) scouts are required to have a parent present at every meeting. Make sure the parents know what is and what isn’t expected of them.
Younger scouts need more help from parents, and the scouting adventures reflect that. The level of parent involvement required decreases as the child ages, but scout success depends on their parents’ commitment. It can help ease the transition to the Scouts BSA program if parents give scouts more independence as 4th and 5th grade Webelos, but keeping parents engaged is vital to keeping the scouts on track.
Tell parents:
That you’re glad they came and look forward to seeing them at meetings.
How to help their scouts be successful: Do Your Best!
That scouting is a safe place to fail. Not every science experiment works and not every pinewood derby car wins, but that is okay.
What to do during flag ceremonies, awards, games, and other group activities.
When events are coming up and where to find more information. Have an accessible calendar of events!
What is required, what is optional, and how much it will cost.
How to get a uniform, what the patches mean, and how to put them on.
When scouts have work to do at home and when it is due by.
Small ways they can be a big help. Invite parents to bring a snack or an item for a craft project can go a long way to make them feel included.
Everyone is welcome in Cub Scouts, and we respect each other for who they are.
The benefits of Cub Scouting
There are many after-school activities for young people, but Cub Scouts still stands out as a tool that prepares young people for life. The scouting methods encourage personal growth, community involvement and fitness through a series of adventures, activities, awards, and recognition.
According to one study, youth who participated in scouting were more likely to be hopeful, helpful, obedient, cheerful, kind and trustworthy (Boy Scouts of America, 2015).
Parents benefit from scouting, too. Not only do they see their children grow, but families can be involved in a non-competitive, structured activity with other families. The positive relationships formed through scouting can last a lifetime for both scouts and their parents.
By making it easier for parents to get involved, we’re making it easier for children to become Cub Scouts and be involved in the world-wide community of scouting.
References:
Boy Scouts of America. (2015). Does scouting work? BSA Tufts Infographic. Retrieved from: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/marketing/pdf/BSA-Tufts-Infographic.pdf
Boy Scouts of America. (2022). Recruitment resources.https://www.scouting.org/recruitment/.
Wendell, B. (2011, June 1). Retention: Six reasons scouts drop out and how you can prevent it. Bryan On Scouting: A blog for the BSA’s adult leaders. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/06/01/retention-six-reasons-scouts-drop-out-and-how-you-can-prevent-it/.
Comments