Join Scouting Night & Welcoming New Families in 5 Steps – with resources! Don’t forget to check the program-specific downloads at the bottom of this page.
Plan
A great plan leads to great results. Utilizing the District Activities and Council Calendar, plan out your year in Scouting and schedule multiple recruiting events throughout the year. Download the following to start putting your plan in place.
Promote
Leaving time to promote your Join Scouting events is key. Plan and be sure to request flyers as early as possible. Promoting on social media can be free and effective. See the following tools to help advertise your next event.
Execute
It’s time for your event! Be sure you have a New Member Coordinator in place to welcome new families. Set up a membership table and have the Unit’s calendar, the member fee chart, and your Unit’s BeAScout.org QR code printed and available at your Join Scouting event. Ask interested families to enter their information into your Invitation Manager. If they are ready to register, ask them to register online through your BeAScout.org pin (they will end up in your Application Manager).
Follow Up
Follow up is key. If folks registered via BeAScout.org at the Join Scouting event, check your Unit’s Pin to “accept” new youth into the Unit. Send an email and follow up with a call, welcoming the family to Scouting and reminding them about your next meeting or event. Ask the Chartered Organization Representative to check the Application Manager for new leaders so they can “approve” the applications. Welcome (and thank) the adults for committing to help with the unit and remind them about the next unit meeting and send them information about your Committee Meetings.
Email families to invite them to your next meeting if they didn’t register at your Join Scouting event.
Welcome!
Once a new youth or leader joins, send them a “Welcome” email (in Step 4) and a follow-up phone call. Onboarding families is important. Add new families to your Unit’s email list right away. Invite them to your Facebook/Social Media groups and send them a link (or attachment) to the Unit’s calendar.
Top Downloads by Program
- Mobile Base Camp Operating Procedures
- Halloween Trick or Treat Candy Stickers
- Council Membership Backdater
- BSA Digital Brand Guidelines (for websites)
- How to Run a Successful Virtual Recruitment Event
- Social Media Calendar
- BeAScout.org Postcards
- Ways for Cub Scouts to Meet
- Fillable Tri-fold Brochure
- Cub Scout Recruitment Ideas Booklet
- Scout Talk Videos for Grades K-5
- 5 Questions About Cub Scouting for Parents
- Peer to Peer Recruitment Cards
- BSA Adopt-A-School Program
- Cub Scout Marketing Resources
- New Family Information Guide
- Email Templates
- Digital Flyers
- Cub Scouting Brochure
- Recruitment Videos
- Sign-up Night Playbook
- Cub Scout Logos
- Mobile Base Camp Operating Procedures
- Halloween Trick or Treat Candy Stickers
- Council Membership Backdater
- BSA Digital Brand Guidelines (for websites)
- Social Media Calendar
- BeAScout.org Postcards
- Scouts BSA Zoom Virtual Backgrounds
- How to Run a Successful Virtual Recruitment Event
- Join Scouting Night PowerPoint Template
- Scouts BSA Peer-to-Peer Recruitment Guide
- Scouts BSA Recruitment Ideas Booklet
- Scout Talk Videos for Ages 11-18
- BSA Adopt-A-School Program
- Geocaching Recruitment Event Playbook
- Adult Recruitment Playbook
- Chess Recruitment Event Playbook
- Bull’s Eye Recruitment Event Playbook
- Social Media Videos
- Scouts BSA Logos
- Scouts BSA Brochures
- Scouts BSA Marketing Resources
- Recruitment Videos
- Mobile Base Camp Operating Procedures
- Halloween Trick or Treat Candy Stickers
- Council Membership Backdater
- BSA Digital Brand Guidelines (for websites)
- BeAScout.org Postcards
- Venturing Recruitment Ideas Booklet
- BSA Adopt-A-School Program
- Digital Flyers
- Videos
- Email Templates
- Peer to Peer Recruitment Cards
- Posters
- Social Media Images
- Venturing Logos
- Mobile Base Camp Operating Procedures
- Halloween Trick or Treat Candy Stickers
- Council Membership Backdater
- BSA Digital Brand Guidelines (for websites)
- The Impact of Exploring from School Counselors
- Exploring Recruitment Ideas Booklet
- Exploring Overview Presentation
- Sales Kit
- Exploring Fact Sheets
- New Unit Playbook
- Marketing Collateral by Field
- Exploring Videos
- Exploring Marketing Assets
- Exploring Print Materials