Simple things a Council or Unit Commissioner can do to Increase Cub Scout Retention

Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, notes that "commissioners can make a huge difference in supporting and improving upon Cub Scouting programs.  This in turn can lead to dramatic increases in Cub Scout retention within individual units and council wide."

Some of these ideas are shared in the Commissioners of the Boy Scouts of America  Facebook page, which can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/CommissionersOfTheBoyScoutsOfAmerica?hc_location=stream

So, what are some simple things a Council or Unit Commissioner can do to increase Cub Scout retention?

 1. Every new Cub has a handbook. Promote to all parents purchasing and using the appropriate Cub Scout handbook—Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos Scout. It is the manual to glean the most out of Cub Scouting for their child.

 2. Studies show a trained Cub Scout leader retains Cubs longer. If den leader-specific tr...aining is not available before the first den meeting, have the new leader take Fast Start training. It is available on MyScouting.org 

 3. All new Cubs earn the Bobcat Rank. Promote earning the Bobcat Rank within 60 days of Joining, and presenting the badge at the First Pack Meeting

 4. Promote Boy’s Life Magazine. Subscribing and reading Boy’s Life helps the boys experience Scouting even when he is not in a meeting

 5. First Den Meeting within 7 Days of joining. Quality den meetings are a critical tool for retention. Make sure every Cub and parent knows the date, time and place of the first den meeting before they leave the joining meeting.

 6. Communications. Promote frequent Communications between the Pack and parents on a regular basis: monthly newsletter, weekly contact using Facebook, Twitter, etc.

 7. Help all Packs find and have a den chief for each den. A good Den Chief serves as a role model for Cub Scouts, they look up to him and follow his lead on how they should act and behave. He serves as the “Big Brother” to the Den

 8. A well-planned program. Program planning is one of the most effective tools to retention. The pack must do their program planning in the spring of the year for 12 to 18 months, and distribute the plan to parents. Parents want to know what their Cubs will be doing

 9. Summertime Pack program. Keeping Cubs active and participating in Scouting over the summer months is an important retention tools. Cubs and families that enjoy a Scouting summer are more likely to stay involved in the Fall

 10. Orientation of all new Cubs and Parents. Successful parent orientation builds loyalty, lessens parent confusion, and reduces the potential of poor participation, which leads to retention through education. All families need to get the right information when they join.

 11. Leader Succession Planning. Help the Pack Committee understand the importance of planning in advance who will replace outgoing Den leaders and other pack leadership

Retention is all about Fun. Retention begins and ends at the unit level. The den and pack is where the most program happens and where the Cubs are most affected. So all meetings have to be FUN!!!!!!