Growing Scouting starts with welcoming new families. Every new Scout strengthens a unit and helps ensure Scouting continues for future generations.

Whether you're planning a school sign-up night, hosting a pack activity, or inviting a friend to a meeting, this page provides the tools and resources to help your unit recruit successfully all year long. 

Before you begin, make sure your BeAScout pin is up to date. Many families use BeAScout to find a local unit, so keeping your meeting information, contact details, and unit information current is one of the most important recruiting steps you can take.

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Six Steps to Successful Recruiting

Successful recruiting is about much more than hosting a School Sign Up Night. Strong, growing units focus on these six steps throughout the year:

1. Plan a Calendar of Fun - Build an exciting program that families want to join.

2. Promote Your Unit - Share your adventures through social media, a unit website, flyers, and community events.

3. Recruit Leaders - Invite parents to help in meaningful ways and build your volunteer team.

4. Be Visible in Your Community - “Adopt a School” and show your School and Community the Fun of Cub Scouting, and you’ll get more School and Community support.

5. Host Welcoming Events - School Sign-Up Nights are important, but every meeting or activity can introduce new families to Scouting.

6. Keep the Momentum Going - Continue inviting new families throughout the year instead of limiting recruiting to one season.

Recruiting is a Year-Round Effort

Recruiting doesn't end after fall Sign-Up Nights: 

• Spring and Summer are excellent times to introduce families to Scouting through outdoor adventures, campfires, fishing, hikes, STEM activities, picnics, bike rides, day camp, and other fun events.

• You can use events for families to "test drive" your unit. Families are much more likely to join when they experience Scouting firsthand instead of simply hearing about it.

• For more testimonials about the power of spring and summer recruiting, see this On Scouting blog post titled “All the Advantages of Recruiting New Cub Scouts in the Spring” 

Scouts BSA Troops should also have a heavy spring recruiting emphasis focused on taking in both 5^th Grade Cub Scouts and their 10-year-old classmates who may have passed on Cub Scouting – because any 10-year-old 5^th Grader can join a Troop after March 1.

Fun Sells Scouting

Families join programs that are active, exciting, and welcoming:

• Instead of asking families to attend a meeting to learn what you might do, show them what your unit is already doing.

• A strong calendar filled with outdoor adventures, service projects, camping, games, and family activities is your best recruiting tool.

• Many units go out into places and events around Northwest Ohio to have fun and spread the word about Scouting.

Build a Strong Program

The best recruiting tool is an outstanding program.

Successful units:

• Plan their annual calendar in advance

• Offer fun outdoor adventures

• Share photos and stories regularly

• Invite prospective families to activities

• Keep their BeAScout pin updated

A well-planned program gives families confidence that they'll have a great Scouting experience.

Recruit Families, Not Just Scouts

Cub Scouting is a family program. We can build stronger families through Scouting!

• Every new Scout brings an opportunity to involve parents and caregivers. Encourage adults to participate, help with activities, and discover leadership roles that match their interests and availability.

• Strong units are built by families working together.

• As your membership grows, continue recruiting new adult volunteers, so your leadership team grows with your youth membership.

Create a Welcome Team

One of the easiest ways to improve recruitment and retention is to establish a Welcome Team (New Member Coordinators).

Welcome Team members help:

• Greet prospective families

• Answer basic questions

• Introduce new parents to other families

• Follow up after events

• Help new families feel welcome

They don't need to know everything about Scouting - they simply need to be friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic.

New Member Coordinator training is available through my.scouting.org