Be Highly Visible - Part III: Programming

Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, continues his series on why your unit needs to be highly visible!  This blog post deals with having engaging programming that makes your unit more visible to the community.  It is also a great way to market Scouting to community and business leaders in your area.

Here are some concrete examples:

Local media outlets always welcome Scouts.  Not only is this a great way for the boys to learn about making connections with the community, but some organization allow the boys to participate in making commercials, recording songs, etc.  A great experience for the boys and an effective means of free advertising for Scouting.
 

Many regional learning centers and natural sites of interest have Scout-specific programs that are well thought-out and highly structured.  Pictures from visits can be submitted to local papers, websites, and school newsletters.  Having groups of Scouts visit these sites also makes Scouting highly visible to other patrons and visitors. 

Your nearby historical society will be happy to provide programs to your Scouts that meet achievement and elective requirements.  At the same time, your Scouts will be visible at local sites of interest, which can often lead to relationship building and even community service projects.  Plus ... it's fun!

Be Highly Visible - Part II: Be seen

Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, continues his series on why your unit needs to be highly visible!  This blog post deals with making connections within the community and interfacing with community and religious organizations.

Here are some concrete examples:



BSA's Adopt-A-School program is a great way to build a relationship with your local school and also show the school community that your unit is active and doing positive things with youth.  Go to http://www.bsaadoptaschool.org/ for more information about how to get your unit active.
 

Be sure to participate in community events and celebrations.  This fulfills the Duty to Country aspect of our program, it shows off your unit to the public in a positive light, and most importantly, the boys love it.  Event organizers love having Cub Scouts participate and this is another opportunity to build relationships with important community leaders.

Having Scouts earn their youth religious award not only fulfills our programs Duty to God beliefs, but is also a great way to develop relationships with the religious organizations themselves.  Congregations love seeing Scouts earn these awards and non-Scouts who are in the church youth group might be interested in finding out more about Scouting.  Go to http://www.praypub.org for more information about youth religious award programs.
 

Be Highly Visible - Part I: Make it easy for families to find you

Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, gives some solid advice for local units: "I've heard it said more than once that the Cub Scout Pack in a town was the community's 'best kept secret.'  The last thing we want is for Cub Scouting to be any sort of secret.  Your unit needs to be highly visible!  Show the community the value of scouting for their youth, do community service, be out there and get noticed in meaningful and positive ways.  That is what is going to attract new families and create excitement and anticipation with new boys."

The next few blog posts will provide units with some concrete examples:




Get your unit's outings published in the newspaper when they
are doing 'cool' things that other boys would want to do.




Recognize community leaders often and publically for their support of Scouting.
Handsome certificates are available at your local Scout Shop.
 

Be sure to have boys wear their uniforms to local athletic and community events.  What's a better
recruiter than an excited little Cub Scout happy and looking sharp in their uniform?

 

 

There are many, many more ideas on how to be visible.  The next few blog posts in this series will give you even more ideas.