What to do After the Blue and Gold

Today, Dr. Geoff Zoeller discusses what to do after the Blue and Gold dinner, when many units face the challenge of keeping Cub Scout families interested and engaged – particularly as the spring sporting season begins.  The pack and den focus has been on rank advancement up to that point, but once rank badges are earned and distributed, some leaders are at a loss as to what to do next. There are always going to be a few boys who still need to complete rank requirements after the Blue and Gold, but for those that are done, there are many options for keeping scouts and families engaged in meaningful activities that will lead to further recognitions and will also be fun.

A good tip is to begin some of these awards at the pack-level in the fall, but not to complete them until after the Blue and Gold.  Make sure families know all about your plans and in this way these award programs can provide the ‘hook’ that will keep scouts and parents involved throughout the spring and into the summer.  Since all of these programs are in addition to rank advancement, scheduling and delivery of program opportunities can be much more flexible – and in this way avoid conflicts with baseball and other spring sports.

Many councils and districts run events that help units to deliver these awards throughout the spring.  Bowl-a-thons, clean up days, belt loop midways, religious emblem workshops, cub family camporees, etc. are all programs likely to be offered.  Make it easy for units and individual families to participate by compiling all of these cub scout opportunities offered by the council and districts onto one spot on the council webpage and then be sure that all units know that a place for ‘one-stop-shopping’ for cub programing exists and is regularly updated.

Below are several of the most prominent Cub Scout award programs that can be pursued:

·         Electives (arrow points and yellow disks)

·         Academic and Sports Program (belt loops and pins)

·         Religious Emblems

·         Outdoor Activity Award

·         STEM/NOVA Awards

·         World Conservation Award

·         Conservation Good Turn Award

·         cyberChip Award

·         Emergency Preparedness Award

·         Fun with Family Awards

·         Interpreter Strip

·         Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award

·         National Summertime Pack Award

·         Recruiter Strip

·         SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge

 Electives (Wolf & Bear Arrow Points & Tiger ‘yellow disks’)

Many Packs use Tiger, Wolf, and Bear electives after the Blue and Gold to expand on their program, provide opportunities for experiential learning, and to help develop interests and teach skills, many of which are useful in Boy Scouting.  A Cub Scout may work on electives concurrently with achievements, but until after he earns his Tiger, Wolf, or Bear Badge, he may not receive recognition for his efforts.  For every ten electives he completes, the Tiger earns a yellow disk to be worn on his immediate recognition symbol, while the Wolf and Bear earns Arrow Points to be worn below the rank badge. The boy may earn as many yellow disks and Arrow Points as he wishes.

Academic and Sports Program (Belt Loops and Pins)

Academic and sport belt loops are awarded for trying out a number of academic, career-awareness, and sporting subjects.  For those Scouts with more serious participation, academic and sport pins can be earned.  These awards are available to all Scouts of all ranks.

Religious Emblems

The religious emblems program offers the scout an opportunity to study his faith in-depth.  Many faiths offer the emblems, with the activities overseen by the Scout’s religious leaders.  The religious emblems are awarded by the religious organization, and the Boy Scouts of America recognizes the achievement of these awards.

Outdoor Activity Award

The Outdoor Activity Award can be earned by all Cub Scouts and may be earned each year. This award recognizes the Scout’s participation in camping, outdoor recreation, and conservation projects.

STEM-NOVA Awards

The NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for Cub Scouts. The belief is that the requirements and activities for earning these awards stimulates interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around them.

Ø  The Nova Awards

There are multiple Nova awards for Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Each award covers various aspects of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Ø  The Supernova Awards

The Supernova awards have more rigorous requirements than the Nova awards. The requirements and activities were designed to motivate youth and recognize more in-depth, advanced achievement in STEM-related activities.

 

World Conservation Award

The Cub Scout World Conservation Award may be earned by any Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout.  The World Conservation Award provides an opportunity for individual Cub Scouts to “think globally” and “act locally” to preserve and improve our environment. This program is designed to make youth members aware that all nations are closely related through natural resources and that we are interdependent with our world environment.

Conservation Good Turn Award

The Conservation Good Turn Award is an opportunity for Scout units to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a conservation Good Turn in their home communities.  Working together in the local community, the unit and the agency plan the details and establish the date, time and location for carrying out the project.  It may be earned by all registered Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.

The cyberCHIP Award

Today’s youth are spending more time than ever using digital media for education, research, socializing, and fun. To help families and volunteers keep youth safe while online, the Boy Scouts of America teamed up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create this fun and engaging program about being safe and about online ‘netiquette.’

The Emergency Preparedness Award

The Emergency Preparedness Award has different requirements for Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and adults tailored for the abilities of each.  The whole goal is to make Scouts better able to handle emergency situations while enhancing their first aid skills.

Fun With Family Awards

Offers activities to help strengthen all families—whether two-parent, single-parent, or nontraditional; this program helps families accomplish worthy goals while building and strengthening relationships among family members.

Interpreter Strip

Boys and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired.  This award may be earned by all registered Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.

Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award

The Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award is designed introduce Cub-age boys to the principles of Leave No Trace.  The program is designed to enhance the Cub Scout’s awareness of the natural world while minimizing impact to the land. For Scouts who have a deep interest in the outdoors, nature, and the environment, Scouting’s outdoor ethics will give you an ever-deeper appreciation of the richness of the land and how we fit into it.  This award may be earned by all registered Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.

National Summertime Pack Award

The National Summertime Award encourages packs to provide a year-round program by continuing to meet during the time periods when school is out of session for several weeks or months.  Cub Scouts earn this pin by participating in three summertime pack events (one each in June, July, and August).  This award may be earned by all registered Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.

Recruiter Strip

The Recruiter Strip is awarded to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and is worn below the right pocket on the uniform. This award may be earned by all registered Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.

The SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge

The motto for SCOUTStrong is, “Fit, Fuel, Fun,” emphasizing physical fitness, good nutrition, and having fun.  The Boy Scouts of America has made a formal commitment to do more to address the major health concerns facing today’s youth. This initiative is offered in partnership with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition.  This joint effort resulted in this Scout-specific Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge.  Scouts, parents, and volunteers can improve their fitness by earning the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge award.

Summary

Cub Scout award programs that go beyond rank advancement exist to help units provide dynamic and engaging programs after the Blue and Gold dinner, throughout the spring, and into the summer months.  Units should take full advantage of council and district cub opportunities to ensure that quality programming and pursuit of meaningful awards keeps families participating and having fun with their cub scouts year round.

 

Spring Recruitment - Sample Monthly Timelines

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 1^st.)

•       Council provides SWFS and Springtime Recruitment trainings at the Tradeshow.

•       NOTE: Units should also refer to the Fall SWFS timelines to plan for fall 2^nd 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 1^st

•       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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd chance recruitment.

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.

Potential Cub Scouts come right to your door on Halloween

As we approach Halloween, Dr. Geoffrey Zoeller, Patriots' Path Council vice president for membership and relations, reminds us about engaging with the youth of our community.  "Who is going to be coming to your door for candy in a few days?  Potential Cub Scouts!  When giving them treats, why not also invite them to join Scouting?  Pass out information/invite cards, tie slips of paper with invites to bags, use labels and stick them to candy wrappers.  You can even do a twist on front yard camping displays by creating a scary tent set-up.  Most importantly, briefly engage youth about what Scouting has to offer and give them some means of getting more information."

The below cards were created by the Westchester-Putnam Council for this purpose and can be obtained by clicking here.

Remember, our youth deserve a safe and fun-filled Halloween, so make your approach sincere, informative, and quick!! -- there are many more houses for them to visit.