The February 2010 Cubcast from BSA National is now available.
Cubcast is a monthly audio program for Cub Scouters from BSA National. (If your computer has speakers, you can probably listen by just clicking the links below.)
Part 1 has ideas for den meetings and more utilizing the March “Take Flight” theme.
Part 2 has information about Cub Scout retention.
Leave a Comment » | 
CUB SCOUTS, Retention, Take Flight | 
Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
The relaunched ScoutParents website has some helpful summaries of the ScoutParents program effective September 1, 2008.
Here is some information about ScoutParents from the National ScoutParents Initiative Launch Plan and the National Parent Initiative Launch Plan PowerPoint which can be downloaded via the links below.
The goal of ScoutParents is to improve scout recruitment and retention by getting more parents involved and committed to the success of their son’s scouting journey.
National ScoutParents Initiative Launch Plan [Word]
National Parent Initiative Launch Plan PowerPoint
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Retention, ScoutParents | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Three Fires Council has a great Cub Hiking Program. It encourages packs to have a Saturday hike each month, to keep track of each boy’s miles hiked, and to do recognition (such as a patch) at each hiking milestone.
The suggested hikes are usually two to four miles each.
There are many benefits to a Cub Scout hiking program including:
Here is the 2007 “Let’s Hit the Trail” Scouting Magazine article about the Three Fires Council hiking program. Link
And here are the shorter (link) and longer (link) pdf packets from Three Fires Council describing the hiking program.
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Recruiting, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
ScoutParents is a new program from BSA National for Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops with the goal of increasing the number of parent volunteers and developing more parental enthusiasm and support for Scouting. “Scouting makes great parents, too!” is the ScoutParents slogan.
Greater parental participation in and support of Scouting tends to result in better scout retention and more successful scout recruiting.
The ScoutParents website has a helpful introduction for parents about Scouting and its benefits. For volunteers and professionals, the site also has information about the ScoutParents program. Link
The new BSA applications now incorporate the ScoutParents program as well. The new BSA youth application (28-406C) permits parents to indicate “I commit to be an active ScoutParent.” The new BSA adult leader application (28-501F) includes “ScoutParent unit coordinator” as one of the listed unit positions.
I think providing helpful information for parents about Scouting and its benefits is a great idea, as is the goal of encouraging more parental involvement in Scouting.
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Recruiting, Retention, ScoutParents | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Our pack has grown quite a bit over the past year. To make it easier to keep track of who is in attendance at our pack events, we use these attendance sheets. All the boys’ names from the attendance sheets are entered into an Excel spreadsheet which is then emailed out to all our leaders.
We make note in particular of who has missed at least the past two events so that we can be sure to give them a call to let them know that they were missed.
Most people like to know that someone noticed that they were not there. Telephone calls to check on absent boys can be a big help with Cub Scout retention.
As you can see, the attendance form our pack uses is pretty simple. You can download it and customize it for your pack or den at the link below.
Link (Word)
Leave a Comment » | Communications, CUB SCOUTS, Den Meetings, Pack Meetings, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Packs are encouraged to have a new-boy outdoor event soon after their fall recruiting has been completed.
Most boys who join Cub Scouts are expecting to get to do cool stuff in the outdoors like hiking and camping. Don’t disappoint them. Be sure your pack has a fun Cub Scout hike or campout shortly after your recruiting is done.
The flyer below from BSA National has more suggestions on planning a fun new-boy outdoor event.
Link (pdf) [Via wiki.ironhorsebsa.org]
Leave a Comment » | Camping, CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Recruiting, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Here are 3 things that Cub Scout families want from their son’s pack:
1. Active Fun. Most parents will not bring their boys to Cub Scouts if they are not having fun. They just won’t. Make sure that the boys in your pack get to do games and other active fun stuff.
2. Well Organized. Parents like packs in which the activities are well planned and which have good communication between leaders and with scout families. They want to know that there is a plan for what the pack will be doing and that the plan has been well communicated. Email, phone calls, schedules, and newsletters all help with communication and organization.
3. Advancements. Boys should be earning their rank badges as the year progresses, and they should receive recognition for the advancements they have earned. There should be a clear plan (which gets carried out) for who in the pack is responsible for recording advancements, for turning in the required paperwork, and for presenting the badges at the appropriate time.
Leave a Comment » | Advancement Management, Communications, CUB SCOUTS, Pack Meetings, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
The August 2008 Cubcast from BSA National is now available (free). It has ideas for den meetings and more utilizing the September “New Buddies” theme.
It also has suggestions for New Boy Events you can do with your pack to help your new recruits be excited about being in Cub Scouts.
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, New Buddies, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Since January of this year, our pack has made a point of having either a campout or Saturday hike every month. So far it has worked out great for us. The boys and families are very excited about it, and they are getting a lot of experience with trails and being in nature.
It has been a lot of fun for us, and it has helped with recruiting and retention.
Leave a Comment » | Camping, CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Nature, Recruiting, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
I think the Cub Scout monthly theme patches are really cool. Boys love to get patches and their parents often like them too.
I like to use the theme patch to be given out at an upcoming Pack Meeting to reward attendance at a theme-related activity or outing. (For example, we’ll be giving the February Happy Chinese New Year patch to all those who attend our Blue and Gold Banquet.)
I’ll be giving the March (Litter to Glitter) theme patch out to those who attend a recycling field trip we will be doing with our Pack in March (or early April).
The March theme patches are available now for $1.19 each from BSA National. Link
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Environment, Litter to Glitter, Patches, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
Although the boys in your Pack are all kids, they are not all young kids. The boys in your Pack probably range from 6 to 11 years old.
There is a lot of difference between 6 and 7 year olds and 10 and 11 year olds. Some activities that are a lot of fun for the boys in your Tiger and Wolf dens would be way too young and kiddie-ish for your Webelos boys. It’s not a great idea to have your entire Pack doing an activity that will make your Webelos feel like they are back in nursery school. For example, singing “I’m a Little Teapot” can be a lot of fun for your Tigers, but if you make your Webelos join in many songs like that, they may just look at each other and say “We’re too old for this.” and not come back.
One of the great things about putting on a Cub Scout program is seeing how much boys grow and develop from the time they are first grade Tigers until they are fifth grade Webelos. Be sure most of your Pack activities are designed for the interests and needs of all your boys.
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Retention, WEBELOS | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
You are currently browsing the archives for the Retention category.
Cubcast (BSA) Scouting Blog | Mike Newman on KISMIF.org Archive |
 | Daren Allison Young on KISMIF.org Archive |
 | J.A. on KISMIF.org Archive |
 | mpullo on 7 Cub Scout Retention Tip… |
 | willswords on Digital Resource |
Mike Newman.
Not an official site of Boy Scouts of America.
See About page for legal info.
KISMIF = "Keep It Simple. Make It Fun."
To join Cub Scouting, visit scouting.org
