Engaging Parents

[Scout Enthusiast]

What strategies and tactics for recruiting passionate Scouting parents have been successful in your Council, District, or Unit? What ideas do you have for getting more parents involved in Scouting?

[scoutdad]

In our unit we had a cookout one afternoon at a parents house. We explained the scouting program to the parents. We also explained the importance of their involvement in their sons scouting success. We had some of the eagle scout dads, explain how scouting has impacted their life. I think this was a very small step in the right direction.

[Scout Enthusiast]

I think that it is important to demonstrate to parents that Scouting can be a great social outlet for them as well as for their son(s).

[scoutdad]

I agree, when I go camping with my son, I have interaction with other dads and have a great time.

[mainewoodsman]

I've noticed two things that work for us. One is be observant. If you see someone hanging out, talk to them, see how they are, what they think about things, invite them to an outing or to participate in one of the activities.
Two is give everyone a job. Start out small... giving them a little task or two, and make them feel their job and input and help is important. Same things we do with the Scouts. :) After they have done a job, give them another... and another... and another. Soon you'll have an involved parent.

Ignoring them, or assuming they will eventually help out is a mistake. Communicate with them! Ask.... ASK and ASK for them to help out in some capacity. You'll be surprised at how much people are willing to do should you just be forward enough to have a chat with them.

Jon

[scouter283]

At every meeting I take time to get to know parents on a personal level before I ask them to volunteer. Friendly conversation usually allows me to feel them out and identify what their interests and talents are. Once I find their strengths I ask them to do small things that fit their talents. From this point on I usually have a committed parent who is happy to lend a hand in activities and duties where they have a skill or comfort level.

[Steve]

I've been in scouting for 6 years now, my oldest crossed over last year and my youngest is a wolf this year. what I do and have done since the first year is get the parents to fill out the Family survey sheet at our first den meeting.
Then when I got a project to do I use the sheets to see who would if any could best head up the project with my help of course.
Just like many have said in the past you can't just ask for help you got to asign someone to do a task. You will get better results from this method than just saying I might need your help.


Steve

[Westergaard]

I think that the most successful way to recruit parents to get involved is to be passionate about the program as a leader. If you're excited about the program so will be the scouts and the parents will follow.
It is about the presentation and how one presents it.
An excited, energenic leader will easily get the parents involved.
Backyard BBQ's are great and outings are great if there is interaction with the leaders and the parents but these will not work if the parents feel as if you are just going through the motions only to get someone else to step up to the plate.
Keep it fun. Make it simple and they will come.

[Den5Pack457]

You know, this topic could be it's own sub-forum!

[Scoutmamaof4]

We have what we call the "New Scout Coordinator" in our troop. This person keeps folders on hand that includes all the information we feel a new parent would need to know upon joining our unit. We keep our eyes out for visitors and "new" parents and make sure they have a copy of the folder before they leave that first night. The NSC makes sure to speak to the parents and/or boy and gives them their phone number and email, then follows up by either speaking to the parents at the next few meetings, or by calling if they do not return within a week or two. The NSC tells the parents to feel free to call with questions during the first few weeks.

It makes a big difference as to whether the new parent felt invisible, or whether they felt that the unit cares about them and their child. In the past it has made the difference between retaining visitors and losing them. We all like to feel like we "belong" to a group.

:)

[Frogman]

This year with my tiger den we are going to use a combination of Parent meetings and a Questionaire to see where the adult partners may be able to assist. Along with this we are handing out a calender with all the 'planned' events for the meetings and outings that the tigers will be doing. This will aloow the adults to have a referance to go by as well as a heads up on the areas they may be able to assist in the final planning of the events.

[Den5Pack457]

Everyone on this thread provided some great information and I laud BSA for all of the tools they've developed to assist us in engaging parents.

Like almost every unit out there, our Pack has a core of 5-7 scout families that are active, another 5 that are active sometimes, and the rest... well if it's not the weekly meeting, they're not engaged.

Something I've employed in the past and I plan to state again at our orientation is this: "You're not letting us down. Your letting your Son down." Sometimes this is affective. I use it sparingly because:

1) If I said it all of the time, it will lose it's value.

2) It sometimes creates the opposite affect when you consider the humility some parents feel, even if you don't draw attention to anyone in particular. Humility leads to fear, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, etc.