Encouraging Parent Volunteerism in Cub Scouts
Ideas and strategies to encourage parents to volunteer for Cub Scouts, stressing the benefits of volunteering, setting expectations, making personal appeals, starting early, breaking up responsibilities, and sharing roles. Leadership replies address common parent reasoning for not volunteering and emphasize the importance of making time for valuable experiences like Scouting.
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Recruiting and Onboarding New Adult Leaders Horseshoe Trail District Roundtable September 19th
PARENT REASONING I CAN T HELP BECAUSE TOO BUSY I have other children to take care of I am over committed - volunteer already at the school and other things I don t know what to do, I was never a Scout Etc., etc., etc.
LEADERSHIP REPLY We all are busy, but I'm a big believer that we make time for what's important to us. Scouting teaches life lessons and skills that are necessary for children to become well adjusted adults Scouting isn't like soccer or baseball where we're on the sidelines cheering our kids on. Cub Scouting is hands on. Excellent bonding experience.
LEADERSHIP REPLY There s a job that fits everyone. We have big jobs and small ones, and jobs that can be done at home on your own time, to fit every person s schedule and responsibilities. No experience necessary! Most of us have never done this before.
IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR CUB SCOUTS Explain the benefits of volunteering. The number one thing that we need to stress to parents is that they will get to interact with their children in a way that they wouldn't otherwise. A great appeal you can use with your parents is the Adding Machine Tape Demonstration. I like this because it drives home the point that we really don't have a lot of time with our kids before they're off to live their own lives. Set expectations. In our pack, we tell all new families (and remind the current ones) that Cub Scouting is a family event. It is run by volunteers, and we need every family to participate in order to make it successful. We expect each family to volunteer in some way during the year. Ask personally. While talking to or emailing your entire pack is efficient, it's pretty easy for everyone to have the someone else will volunteer attitude. Personal appeals usually work better. Asking an individual to do a specific job makes it a lot harder for them to say no! Start with the pack approach, then talk to parents individually for any jobs that aren't filled yet.
IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR CUB SCOUTS Start early. When the Scouts are Lions or Tigers, parents must attend with them, so use this opportunity to get them involved. For example, spread out the responsibilities at for each meeting. Each parent should take turns planning and assisting at the early Den level. Break up jobs. No one wants to be the fund-raising committee chairman , but they might be willing to coordinate popcorn sale or organize the lemonade stand at the local festival. Splitting up responsibilities could allow some parents to get involved in Cub Scouts who might not otherwise be able to. Share roles. Dens can have co-leaders who take turns with the meetings. One Den leader is responsible for one meeting; the other is responsible for the next meeting. Example: My husband was the den leader for our Arrow of Light den, and the mother was the assistant leader. She planned the meetings, and he ran them.
IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR CUB SCOUTS Know your parents. You may find out that one parent is reserved and introverted. Don't ask that person to lead a meeting or head up a committee. Instead, ask him if he would be responsible for keeping track of advancement and awards for your den. Jobs that are more behind-the-scenes will be better suited for this type of parent. Leading songs or helping with Cub Scout skits are good jobs for the parents who are outgoing. Matching the job with the parent's personality will make them feel more comfortable accepting the job. Discover talents. Many packs have parents fill out a talent sheet similar to the one at the link below. It's a lot easier to ask someone who is an avid woodworker to lead the Bear Baloo the Builder adventure than to ask a person who has never picked up a hammer before. Parents will have hobbies and interests that you never expected. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/cubscoutmeetingguide/pdf/appendix/34362.pdf Have clear expectations. People want to know what they're getting into before they agree to do something. We all know what it's like to be told all you have to do is only to find out later that there's a lot more to it than that.
IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR CUB SCOUTS Define responsibilities for your specific pack or den. It's easy to simply point someone to a generic position description online, but that might not be how your pack operates. Example, your Pack Secretary may be the one who is responsible for any required travels documents and transportation, but that isn't on the generic pack secretary job description provided by BSA. Ensure that the job description matches the pack's expectations. Provide training. While the BSA required training is good, it isn't enough, especially for new den leaders. Your pack should have additional, practical training. Parents who have never been involved in Scouting are especially hesitant to volunteer. We owe it to our Cub Scouts and our parents to ensure they are spending their volunteer time actually planning activities not researching what goes into a den meeting. Plan den meetings. Planning is now easier than ever, thanks to the new Cub Scout Den Leader guides! If your pack can afford it, purchase one of the leader guides for each rank. They can be passed down at the end of the year ask your Unit Commissioners for assistance.
IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR CUB SCOUTS Mentor new leaders. New leaders need to know there's help available. A casual call me if you need anything isn't good enough. The Cubmaster, Committee Chairperson, or an experienced Den Leader should run the first two meetings for the new den leader so that she can get the hang of the meetings. At a minimum, they should attend the first den meetings with the new leader. After that, call or email the new leader to ask what questions they have. Succession planning is a MUST! Use drastic measures only if necessary Example: At a Pack Meeting hold up a Program flyer and ask for a volunteer other than current active volunteers. Explain that if do not have enough other volunteers, the pack will not participate. Make it fun! Parents who are enjoying hanging out with the pack and other parents will be more likely to help! Recognize volunteers Thanking volunteers publicly makes them feel good about what they are doing and encourages others to help to!
