How You Can Use Social Media to Recruit New Families!

Did you know most young families find their information from an online source, especially social media?  If everyone is scrolling through Facebook or checking out the latest Tweet, we need to spend some time sharing what we do in Scouting across social media.

Social media is easy to use and a great way to welcome new families into your pack or troop. 

Facebook

·       Used by most parents

·       Allows for a “business” page or closed unit group

·       Can share events, videos, pictures, and more

·       An easy way to let the community know what the local Scouting unit is doing by “tagging” their school, PTO, community group, etc.

·       Be sure to make an event for your open house and invite everyone you know. 

·       Always use the #BeAScout

Twitter

·       Limited to 40 characters per tweet (post).

·       May have a picture and words, again limited

·       Not as many families on Twitter

·       Good for short, easy messaging

Instagram

·       Platform is based on images

·       Post can include words with their images

·       Great for sharing pictures and flyers

·       Easy to navigate

On all these social media sites, it is important to use #BeAScout.  This will help drive protentional families to www.beascout.org. It is also consistent with all the media ads our national organization has purchased.

Finally, you can “boost” your post, page, or event on all accounts for a small fee.  By boosting something, you can target an audience.  For example, an Open House night should be boosted to the local community and targeted for parents with young children.  It is easy to do and can cost as little as $10.

There are so many resources out there to help make social media a key tool to your recruitment plan.  As always, be sure to use #BeAScout. 

Choose Your Adventure By Getting Hooked On Scouting!

There are so many interests young boys have these days.  So how to decide what might spark their excitement? That's why the council membership committee is promoting "Choose Your Adventure" this Fall.

One option new families have this Fall is to get Hooked on Scouting through fishing.  Each new Scout will receive a free fishing pole when their pack requests to participate in the Choose Your Adventure program.

New families will also be able to participate in a variety of free activities like Adventure Day and rocket launches!

In addition to free events, we are hosting a Certified Angler Course the weekend of October 7th at Camp Somers in Stanhope!  More information about this program can be found at: https://ppcbsa.org/programs/fishing/

The Hooked on Scouting program has been developed to leverage the fun activity of fishing in order to reel in new Scouts during the recruiting season. This program will teach young boys all the techniques they need to know to get started along with providing actual hands-on fishing experience! By participating in the program, parents will discover the adventure Scouting can provide their families with the anticipation of experiencing the first time their Scout catches the big one!

Introducing the New Member Coordinator Position

Sustaining strong membership in a unit depends not only on having new members join the unit, but also on engaging youth and their families in the unit experiences so that they feel Welcomed and want to stay. The role of the New Member Coordinator is to ensure that both keys to success take place.

This is an official BSA position, reporting to the Unit Committee Chair.  He/she serves as a welcoming ambassador for the Unit and works with the Unit Committee to develop and implement the Unit Membership Plan.  The NMC is supported by the District Vice Chair of Membership, who shall provide assistance in executing the Unit Membership Plan by providing:  mentoring, training, marketing support, and recruiting materials as needed.

The New Member Coordinator (NMC) position has been designed to:

·       Be a FUN and engaging position.

·       Form relationships with new members and their families.

·       Use a team approach by encouraging more than one NMC in a unit, allowing them to tailor their work to individual interests/expertise, as well as to recognize the particular needs of the unit.

·       Fit every type of unit, every age level and every program.

·       Be recruited and supported by key unit leadership.

·       Be provided with training both online and face-to-face.

·       Be mentored by the District Membership Chair and become part of the District Membership team.

·       Be visible and easily identifiable at unit gatherings by their Welcoming smiles and their BSA “Welcome” logo that they display and wear on an activity shirt, on a hat or vest or in some cases, a pin on a field uniform.

Although not a requirement for chartering, every Unit is encouraged to have at least one New Member Coordinator.

Please visit www.scouting.org/nmc for additional information on the NMC position.

Don’t Be Missed: Update Your BeAScout Pin Now!

BeAScout.org is the application that puts your unit on the map! Prospective Scouts and their families can visit BeAScout.org to find a Scouting program in their neighborhood. If your unit’s pin is up to date they’ll find you!

·       Raise your unit’s profile in the community.

·       Recruit more youth and volunteers and help grow Scouting.

Customize your ‘pin’ with contact information, a photo, special message, and your unit’s website. It’s important to make sure your unit’s pin is updated, especially before fall recruitment is in full swing.

Need help updating your pin? 

Visit http://pathwaytoadventure.org/media/BeAScout_Instructions.pdf or contact your district executive!