Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, gives some solid advice on Spring Recruitment: "We are seeing that units who conduct Spring Recruitment events are often better able to attract and keep new boys and families. Fun and entertaining 'getting to know you' activities in the winter months can be an effective strategy for leading up to formal Spring Recruitment efforts."
Be sure to take a good hard look at summertime program planning before your unit decides to conduct Springtime Recruitment. If you do not offer multiple events or are not prepared to meaningfully engage new families and boys during the summer months, please DO NOT use Springtime Recruitment. Families who commit to Scouting in the Spring will disappear if you wait until the following fall to get them involved.What follows is a set of sample Spring Recruitment timelines that units may wish to follow :
January
& February:
•
Units hold at least one
Kindergarten engagement activity (kinder-derby, stomp rocket, kickball, etc).
• Units, under new
charter, should re-identify Spring Recruitment and SWFS Champion who will head
up recruitment efforts for coming year (should be unit membership chairperson.)
• Units update
BeaScout.org pin information with recharter (Dec).
• Districts provide
brief, preliminary meeting at Roundtables on Spring Recruitment and encourages
participation at Membership Summit trainings.
• Council holds
Membership Summit and Spring Recruitment trainings.
• NOTE: Units should also refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd
chance recruitment.
March &
April
•
Units hold at least one
Kindergarten engagement activity (kinder-derby, stomp rocket, kickball, etc).
•
Units confirm
superintendent’s support and school/classroom access and ensure Spring
Recruitment events are in the superintendent’s district-wide calendar.
•
Units meet with
principal(s) and confirm details of usage for Spring Recruitment event(s).
•
Units begin to recruit
new Tiger Den Leaders - Get them trained.
•
Units secure help (BOE
members) as needed to assure school and classroom access.
•
Units place order with council
for fliers, posters, BL mini-magazines, road signs, etc.
•
Units engage local media
through articles, press releases, display ads, etc…
•
Districts begin
more in-depth Spring Recruitment training meetings in each district.
•
Council provides
units with flyers, road signs, etc.
•
Council gives
final, council-wide Spring Recruitment trainings.
•
NOTE: Units should also
refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd chance
recruitment.
May &
June:
•
Units hold at least one
Kindergarten engagement activity (kinder-derby, stomp rocket, kickball, etc).
•
Units hold an
"Introduction to Scouting/Bring a Buddy" campfire/outdoor event.
•
Units follow-up with
local media through articles, press releases, display ads, etc…
•
Units deploy road signs
in strategic points where parents and students will see them.
•
Units give Boy Talks.
Deliver all materials the week prior and week of Spring Recruitment events.
•
Units continue to recruit
new Tiger Den Leaders - Get them trained.
•
Units distribute reminder
"business cards" 2-3 days before Spring Recruitment events.
•
Spring Recruitment Event(s): community-wide or school-by-school.
•
Units host a ‘mock’
and/or initial den meeting for all new recruits (close to end of school
year. Use incoming Webelos to run
meeting?). (Tigers can be formally
registered with BSA after June 1st.)
•
Council provides
SWFS and Springtime Recruitment trainings at the Tradeshow.
• NOTE: Units should also refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd
chance recruitment.
July &
August:
•
Units hold at least two
pack events (one per month) to have activities for new families (hike, nature
event, cookout, clean-up day, kinder-derby, stomp rocket, kickball, marbles,
etc.)
•
Units hold second-chance summer-time
recruitment events (see above for activities)
•
Units write thank-you
notes to principals & school office personnel (include results for each
school).
•
Units ensure new leaders
get trained and attend September Cub events.
•
Units register all new scouts
with the council by September 1st
•
Units hold a
"Welcome Back/Bring a Buddy" outdoor event before start of school.
•
Council holds
Cub/family camping event.
•
Council collects
data and informal feedback to better inform practices for next year.
•
Council sets
agenda and recruits presenters for Spring Recruitment training meetings.
•
NOTE: Units should also
refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd chance
recruitment.
September
& October
•
Units have table at
school Back to School Nights promoting unit fall recruitment event.
•
Units, following fall
recruitment event, hold formal orientation for all new families.
•
Districts reserve
locations for district Spring Recruitment training meetings and advertise to
units.
•
Districts hold
Cub/family camping event.
•
Council “Train
the Trainers” for Spring Recruitment trainings.
•
Council revises
SWFS and Spring Recruitment Plans for next year and sets Spring Recruitment
dates.
•
NOTE: Units should also
refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd chance recruitment.
November
& December
•
Units update BeaScout.org
pin information with recharter (Dec).
•
Units get on the
principals’ meeting agenda (December/January).
•
Units begin making
connections with Kindergarten families - Invite to Kinder-Derby.
•
Districts begin more
in-depth Spring Recruitment training meeting in each district.
•
Council sends
superintendent letters for Spring Recruitment event approval and facilities
usage.
•
Council holds
University of Scouting, trains leaders, and collects more information.
•
NOTE: Units should also
refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2nd chance
recruitment.
