Volunteers: This Is Our Moment — Let’s Deliver the Biggest Fall Recruitment Season Yet!

Every Scout leader, parent volunteer, committee member, and unit supporter knows firsthand the incredible impact Scouting has on young people and families. We have watched youth gain confidence, leadership skills, friendships, outdoor experience, discipline, and character through Scouting adventures that truly change lives.

Now it is our turn to share that opportunity with new families throughout Southeast Louisiana during this year’s Fall Membership Roundup and Join Scouting Night campaign.

The most successful recruiting units are not simply waiting for families to find them — they are actively creating excitement, building visibility in their schools and communities, and personally inviting families to attend their Join Scouting Night (JSN) events.

This fall, let’s rally together and make Scouting visible everywhere!

The Most Effective Recruitment Starts With School Access

The school relationship is still the single most important recruiting tool for Packs and Troops.

Successful units begin early by developing strong relationships with:

• School principals
• Assistant principals
• Counselors
• PTO/PTA leaders
• Teachers
• Front office staff
• Athletic and after-school coordinators

When schools trust your unit leadership and understand the positive impact of Scouting, access becomes much easier.

Best Practices for School Access

Request Permission Early

Contact schools well before recruitment season begins. Be organized, professional, and specific about what you are requesting.

Ask for permission to:

• Conduct Scout Talks
• Send flyers home
• Place posters in hallways
• Display yard signs
• Participate in open houses
• Set up lunchroom or carpool tables
• Include information in school newsletters or parent apps

Explain the Benefits Clearly

Schools want programs that support students and families. Explain that Scouting:

• Reinforces leadership and citizenship
• Encourages positive behavior
• Promotes service and teamwork
• Supports academic growth and STEM learning
• Keeps youth engaged in healthy activities

Scout Talks: Rally Families to Attend Join Scouting Night

Nothing drives attendance like an energetic Scout Talk presentation directly to students.

A strong Scout Talk creates excitement and urgency.

Keep presentations:

• Fun
• Fast-paced
• High-energy
• Interactive
• Visual

Talk about:

• Camping
• Pinewood Derby races
• Rockets
• Fishing
• Archery
• BB guns
• Hiking
• Summer camp
• Leadership
• Friendship
• Service projects

Most importantly, repeatedly emphasize:

“Come to Join Scouting Night!”

Youth should leave the Scout Talk excited and talking about Scouting on the way home.

Make Sure Every Child Receives Information

Every student should leave with:

• A detailed flyer
• Join Night date and location
• Time of event
• QR code or registration link
• Contact information
• Cost information
• Unit social media page

Promote Your Join Scouting Night Everywhere

The best-attended Join Nights are promoted multiple ways and multiple times.

Families are busy. One flyer is not enough.

Use Every Available Promotion Method

Posters

Place bright, eye-catching posters:

• In school hallways
• Front offices
• Churches
• Community centers
• Libraries
• Local businesses

Yard Signs

Yard signs are one of the most effective visibility tools.

Place signs:

• Near school entrances
• Busy intersections
• Church properties
• Neighborhood entrances
• Community gathering locations

Simple messages work best:
“Join Scouts Here!”
“Adventure Starts Here!”
“Join Scouting Night — Date & Time”

Detailed Flyers Matter

Your flyer should immediately answer:

• WHO can join?
• WHAT is Scouting?
• WHEN is Join Night?
• WHERE is the event?
• WHY should families attend?
• HOW much does it cost?

Avoid cluttered flyers. Use:

• Exciting photos
• Large print
• QR codes
• Easy-to-read layouts

Social Media Recruitment Is Essential

Every family in your Pack or Troop should help promote recruitment online.

The most successful units use:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• School parent groups
• Neighborhood groups
• Text messaging
• Peer-to-peer sharing

Encourage Current Families to Share Their Story

Nothing recruits better than authentic enthusiasm.

Ask parents and Scouts to post:

• Camping photos
• Pinewood Derby pictures
• Summer camp memories
• Service projects
• Advancement ceremonies
• Testimonials about friendships and growth

Families trust other families.

Closing the Deal at Join Scouting Night

When families arrive, your goal is simple:

Welcome them warmly and help them register before they leave.

First Impressions Matter

Create an exciting and organized atmosphere.

Have:

• Friendly greeters
• Uniformed Scouts
• Displays and activities
• Photos and videos
• Sample uniforms
• Camping gear
• Pinewood Derby cars
• Advancement displays

Parents should immediately see that Scouting is active, organized, and fun.

Focus on Relationships

Families are not just joining an organization — they are joining a community.

Talk with parents personally.
Learn their child’s interests.
Introduce them to other families.

Help them picture their child succeeding in Scouting.

Always Ask for the Registration

The most successful recruiters confidently ask families to join that night.

Do not end with:
“Think about it.”

Instead say:
“We would love to have your family join us tonight.”

Have:

• QR codes ready
• Online registration links available
• Volunteers assisting with registration

Families are far more likely to join when registration happens immediately.

Families can register through:

• Scouting America Registration Portal
• BeAScout Unit Finder

What Does Scouting Cost?

One question every family ask is:
“How much does Scouting cost?”

Scouting remains one of the best values in youth development.

Typical startup costs often include:

• National registration fee
• Local council fee
• Unit dues
• Basic uniform shirt with patches

For many new Scouts, a starter uniform shirt with patches generally ranges from approximately $55–$80 depending on program level and insignia selections.

Compared to many other youth programs, Scouting remains extremely affordable.

Comparing Other Youth Activity Costs

Families today routinely spend:

• Recreational sports: several hundred dollars annually
• Travel sports: often $2,000–$5,000+ per year
• Competitive dance: hundreds monthly plus travel and costume fees
• Cheerleading: uniforms, travel, camps, and competition expenses
• Marching band: uniforms, camps, instruments, and travel fees
• Martial arts: monthly tuition and testing fees
• Private arts/music lessons: ongoing instructional costs

Many families are surprised to discover how much value Scouting delivers for a comparatively modest investment.

The Popcorn & Product Sale Makes Scouting Affordable

One of the greatest advantages of Scouting is that families can actively offset costs through the Southeast Louisiana Council’s annual Popcorn and Product Sale.

This is not simply fundraising — it is leadership development, confidence building, communication training, and goal setting.

Many Scouts earn enough to help cover:

• Registration fees
• Uniform expenses
• Camping fees
• Summer camp
• Activities and trips

How Scouts Sell More Successfully

Top-selling Scouts:

• Wear their uniform proudly
• Set personal goals
• Practice their sales pitch
• Sell consistently
• Participate in storefront sales
• Use online sales tools
• Ask family and friends for support
• Thank every customer

Parents can help by:

• Sharing online sales links
• Promoting sales at work
• Supporting storefront shifts
• Encouraging consistent participation

The popcorn sale teaches youth responsibility, confidence, entrepreneurship, and communication skills that extend far beyond Scouting.

Volunteers — Let’s Share the Adventure!

This fall is our opportunity to invite new families into something truly meaningful.

Every Scout sitting around a campfire today once attended a Join Scouting Night for the very first time.

Every Eagle Scout started with one invitation.

Every parent volunteer once walked through the door not knowing what incredible experiences awaited their family.

Now it is our turn to extend that invitation to others.

Let’s fill our schools, neighborhoods, churches, and communities with the excitement of Scouting.

Let’s proudly share the adventures, friendships, leadership, service, and life-changing opportunities that Scouting has given our own families.

Together, the volunteers and families of the Southeast Louisiana Council can deliver the strongest and most exciting Fall Membership Roundup yet!