Northern Star Council, BSA WELCOME

www.RocketintoScouting.org 1

Northern Star Council, BSA

SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTINGORIENTATION

Spring 2014University of Scouting



WELCOME


Recruiting kids...

Not Rocket Science


www. Scoutinginto .orgRocket


Ignite the fun...

ROCKET INTO SCOUTING

THEME:


OVERVIEW:Why change Fall Youth Recruitment to School Night for Scouting?

• A 15 year decline (35% decline in 2013) within Cub Scout recruitment.

• To SIMPLIFY, provide CONSISTENCY, and develop EXCITEMENT in HEALTHY UNITS to drive RETENTION.


OVERVIEW:What is the Plan?

• A registration event at every elementary school in the Northern Star Council on one night: Thursday, September 18, 2014.

• Connect recruitment incentive to exciting program: Recruitment is supported with an incentive item (rocket) and a program element (den, pack, and council events for all Cubs).


OVERVIEW:What is the Plan?

• Develop council-level marketing resources to flood the market with this one consistent message: “Go to your local elementary school on September 18th to join Scouting!”

• Develop an on-line BSA application for those families that cannot attend on September 18th.


OVERVIEW:What is the Plan?• School Night for Scouting website is

www.RocketintoScouting.org .• Spring Recruitment is for new units

or to save a unit only.• Expanded flyer/promotion to join Scouting on

September 18, across the entire state of Minnesota and two councils in western Wisconsin.

• And...


OVERVIEW:Every boy who joins will receive a ROCKET!


OVERVIEW:Every boy who joins will receive a ROCKET!

(We are making plans for packs to purchase additional rockets for their returning Cub Scouts, if they desire. More info to follow at: www.RocketintoScouting.org)

www.RocketintoScouting.org

SNFS Responsibilities: UNIT...

12

• Recruit a Unit School Night for Scouting Chair. (Position description is in your SNFS Guidebook, on the Pack Responsibility sheet, and on a later slide).

• Attend a School Night for Scouting Training session.• Achieve your membership goal by 12/31/2014.• Conduct a School Night for Scouting rally on September 18th.• Conduct a New Parent Meeting approximately one week later.• Conduct a local unit marketing campaign, including:

Placement of yard signs.Newspaper articles with unit SNFS rally info.SNFS rally info on community and business marquees.Posters/fliers/door-hangers in neighborhoods and apartment complexes.Posters and bulletins placed in places of worship.

• Have a table at school open house.• Turn in all applications and fees to District SNFS turn-in site on September 18.


SNFS Responsibilities: DISTRICT...

13

• Meet with every elementary school principal before May.• Determine School Access for…

Electronic Fliers A.M. Announcement Video Announcement School Marque Sign Yard Sign Posters Boy Talks in classrooms, lunchrooms, or on playgrounds.

• Confirm number of Classrooms and Students.• Deliver fliers and posters to all elementary schools.• Ensure that all units have a district support person assigned to them.• Work with all units to set unit membership goals.• Secure a district turn-in location for all units to turn-in applications

and fees on September 18th.• Meet with the heads of places of worship to promote SNFS.


SNFS Responsibilities: COUNCIL...

14

• Conduct a state-wide SNFS marketing campaign.

• Provide SNFS support materials, including fliers, posters, mailings, door hangers, bulletin inserts, yard signs, billboards, newspaper info, TV & radio ads, bus stop signage.

• Provide SNFS campaign training for unit leaders.

• Create an online registration form and payment method.

• Maintain an internet-based system called “Adventure is Calling” to provide information to those interested in joining a nearby Scouting unit.


SNFS Guidebook

15

TimelineApril• First Wave of SNFS Training for ALL unit leaders at University of Scouting,

April 12. Unit goals will be available at this training.• Second wave of SNFS Training will be council led on Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Avenue Shoreview, MN 55126. May• Unit Serving Executives personally COMPLETES meeting with every

elementary school principal to prepare for SNFS.• Unit Serving Executives personally COMPLETES meeting with every Pack.• Units Recruit a SNFS Chair.• Third Wave of SNFS training by district at District Roundtable.


SNFS Guidebook

16

TimelineJune through September• Units promote SNFS in every community by units: yard signs, newspapers,

community billboards, marquees, community centers, apartment complexes, bulletins and posters in religious institutions, ads in community education publications, etc. FOCUS ON CHARTER PARTNERS!

August• Attend District Program Kickoff and secure additional SNFS information

and materials. This will include your youth and adult applications, Welcome to the adventure of Cub Scouting booklets, training fliers for University of Scouting, Fall Festival fliers, and an SNFS report envelope.

• Attend School Open houses and Meet the Teacher events.• Yard Signs and posters placed in “high traffic” areas in each community.


SNFS Guidebook

17

Timeline

September 18th• SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTING – Conduct Fall

Unit Recruiting Events on one night.

• Bring youth applications and fees to District SNFS Turn-in site.

• Packs conduct New Parent Orientation meeting the following week.


SNFS Guidebook

18

TimelineOctober• Units recognize new members with induction ceremonies.• Assess recruiting efforts (compare SNFS new youth with 12/31/14 unit

membership goal), re-flyer schools, schedule and redo as needed.• Follow-up with unregistered youth.• New members & families attend Cub Camp ‘Fall Festivals’.• 100% of new den leaders trained (youth protection & position

specific trained).• Units should plan to conduct a second SNFS unit rally in October, and utilize

a “Bring a Friend” approach. District Executives will have all materials for a second unit effort.

November• Continue “Follow-up Recruiting” campaign to fill dens.


SNFS Guidebook

19

Unit School Night For Scouting ChairPosition Concept:As a registered member of your unit committee, lead and promote youth recruitment programs in your pack, troop or crew to achieve annual membership growth.

Reports to:Unit Committee Chair

Works with and is supported by:The District SNFS Chair

Responsibilities:Attend a SNFS training, conduct a unit marketing campaign, conduct a unit SNFS rally on September 18, commit to achieving the unit membership goal.

Time Considerations:1-2 hours a week and the SNFS rally.


SNFS Guidebook

20

September 18: SET-UP, Process and Turn-inGo to page 8 of the SNFS Guidebook for a sample layout of a typical SNFS setting.

• Scouting Volunteers will be at every elementary school, troops will help, Unit Commissioners will help, and District Commissioners will help units.

• As parents and boys enter the room, ask them to fill out Youth Applications and give parents “Welcome to the Adventures of Cub Scouting”, a unit program calendar, and direct them to the registration tables.

• At the registration tables, have unit volunteers help complete applications and answer questions on a one on one basis, and collect the registration fee.

• Give parents the date, time and location of your New Parent Orientation meeting. Explain to them the importance of attending, as that meeting will cover info on camps, fundraising, uniforms, pack structure, etc.

• The idea is to get people registered and get them out with the information on the next meeting date, time and location quickly. If they showed up to sign up, they are sold on Joining Cub Scouts!


SNFS Guidebook

21

September 18: Set-up, Sign-Up PROCESS and Turn-in• Hold event on Thursday, September 18th.

• Never hold the School Night for Scouting in combination with a pack meeting or other activity.

• Recruitment event is a window of time (7:00 – 8:00) with a follow-up New Parent Orientation at the first pack meeting or separate parent meeting in the following week or two.

• Training opportunities should be shared with new leaders at the New Parent Orientation.

• Pack trainer meets with new leaders to coach them on fast start, YP training (mandatory before being officially registered) and position specific training. All den leaders need to complete Youth Protection, Fast Start, & Position Specific Training by October 15, 2014!


SNFS Guidebook

22

September 18: Set-up, Process and TURN-IN• Clean up the room.

• Sign all youth and adult applications. Write one unit check to cover registration and Boys’ Life fees.

• Bring one copy of applications (signed) and one unit check to cover fees to the District SNFS Coordinator at the District SNFS turn-in site.

• Review youth applications for adult information that you can use to identify possible leaders when you see them the following week at the New Parent Orientation meeting.

Online Registration:Online Registration will be available for families that cannot attend School Night For Scouting on September 18th.


SNFS Guidebook

23

New Parent Orientation Meeting:• Can be part of the first pack meeting or a separate meeting, but if youth

attend, make arrangements for them to NOT be in the meeting. They should be having FUN! Other leaders or a local troop should be asked to take them.

• Materials will be available online at wwwRocketintoScouting.org.

• Follow the suggested script for the New Parent Orientation meeting.

• Orient the new parents, recruit new leaders and parent helpers.

• Ensure the pack trainer (or designee) coordinates Youth Protection, Fast Start, & Position Specific Training with the new leaders before October 15, 2014!


SNFS Promotions

24

Unit Promotions:• The unit will enter their contact people and pack meeting dates into the Unit

Toolbox System (UTS). This information is uploaded from the UTS in to the “Adventure is Calling” web site where anyone who enters in their zip code will find a unit and unit contact in their very own neighborhood!

• Conduct a local unit marketing campaign, including: Placement of yard signs. Newspaper articles with unit SNFS rally info. SNFS rally info on community and business marquees. Posters/fliers/door-hangers in neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Posters and bulletins placed in places of worship.

• Have a table at school open house, local parades, town celebrations, school carnivals, “National Night Out” or “Night to Unite” – both held in August.


SNFS Promotions

25

Council and District Promotions:

• Posters• Fliers• Partners in Education Brochure• Teacher Gift• Cub Scout Interest Forms• Yard Signs• Church Bulletin Inserts• Flags and Banners


August/September Roundtable

26

SNFS Materials:

• SNFS Packet, with application forms.• District Turn-in location and Turn-in envelope.• Welcome to Cub Scouts booklets.• Youth Protection Training information.• ROCKETS!


Ignite the Fun

27

Cub Scout Fall Festivals will incorporate rockets and the Ignite the Fun theme.

A rocket-themed curriculum for den and pack meetings will be supplied to units.

Recruit volunteers from your new families.

Use the BSA Adopt-a-School program to connect packs with (and provide volunteer service to) the schools in their community.



THANK YOUfor your Service

to Youth in Scouting!


www. Scoutinginto .orgRocket


Questions?

Documents

Northern Star Council, BSA WELCOME