course #1117 engaging your parents in cub...
TRANSCRIPT
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Course #1117
Engaging Your Parents in Cub Scouting
Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council
Leader Education & Discovery
January 27, 2018
Richard Lazzaro
Cubmaster
Pack 458, Antioch
Once upon a time…
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Introductions
Please share the following:
• Name
• Role in Scouting
• Unit and location
• What has been a memorable / rewarding Scouting
experience for you so far?
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Encouraging Parental Involvement
Sound familiar?
• Volunteered vs. ”Voluntold”
• “It’s only an hour a week/month…”
• Begging or “has it really come to this?”
• Guilt: ”we can’t do this activity unless you step up.”
• Flattery: “you’re a natural at this kind of thing!”
• Method Acting: “what’s my motivation?”
• Bribery: Do Oreo’s count?
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Cookie break!
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Is there another way?
• How do we get other parents to help out so the
burden isn’t on just a few?
• Ask the question: (politely, of course)
• “What’s important to you about having your child in
• Scouting?”
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Scouting vs. Youth Sports
• In youth sports, the parent is usually on the
sidelines. (unless you are the coach tho’ still on side)
• SCOUTING IS HANDS ON!
• Knot-tying
• Whittling
• Setting up a tent
• Cooking a meal
• Using hand tools, hammer, saw, drill
• Performing service
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TOP TEN STRATEGIES FOR
ENGAGING YOUR PARENTS• 1) Explain benefits
• 2) Set expectations
• 3) Ask personally
• 4) Start early/start small
• 5) Break-up jobs
• 6) Know thy parents
• 7) Define responsibilities
• 8) A Scout is Truthful
• 9) Provide/encourage training
• 10) Mentor new Leaders
• 11) Drastic measures
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1) Explain benefits
• You get to interact with your child in activities during
a few short years. (there’s that guilt again…)
• Adding machine tape demonstration.
679 Saturdays from age 5 to 18
• What kind of Scouting program do you want for your
child?
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2) Set Expectations
• Cub Scouting is Family Scouting
• We expect each family to volunteer in some way
• during the year.
• *Caveat: There’s ALWAYS a caveat, right?
• *What we do does vary from actual theme…
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3) Ask personally
• Pack-wide email may not get the job done
• Ask in person
• Maybe just start with one thing: it gets hard to say
no to just one task.
• Sign-up sheets: do they work?
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4) Start early/start small
• Ask a parent to lead a gathering activity either at a
Pack or Den meeting.
• After they have done this, they will feel more inclined
to help again or in a bigger way.
• This not only gives them confidence in helping out,
but gives you valuable time while you work on other
things.
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5) Break-up jobs
• ACTIVITIES CHAIRPERSON might sound like a lot of
work for one person, but Activities Committee-
working with one or two others—might be the step
you can get them to take.
• You can do this with nearly all Pack functions and
needs.
• Works great with fund-raising and activities.
• Also can work in a Den: If you have an Assistant Den
Leader who just planned all of the Go-and-See-Its
that can help out the Den Leader.
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6) Know Thy Parents
• Extrovert? Introvert?
• This is a little harder, especially with new parents:
• you may not have a clear sense of their personality.
• Discover talents/skills/abilities
• Family Talent Survey Sheet: filestore.scouting.org
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7) A Scout is Truthful
• “It’s only an hour a week/month, etc…”
• Example: Pinewood Derby Commissioner is not all
year, but at least 3-4 months of some planning prior
and you have to know the ”what-ifs” BEFORE race
day.
• Den Leader: if you have a changing work schedule,
you need to work with your Assistant and parents if
you ever have to miss a meeting, but you can still be
a Den Leader. Don’t let very good become the enemy
of perfect.
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8) Define responsibilities
• Your Pack’s specific job may be different than a BSA
job description.
• If possible, have Pack Committee draw up job
descriptions that apply to your Pack’s traditions and
expectations.
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9) Provide/encourage training
• BSA/Council/District: in person, online
• Make this part of Pack communications to let people
know of upcoming training opportunities and to
encourage.
• Go as a group.
• Recognize trained leaders/parents
• Can Pack pay for a training for a Leader? That might
encourage more.
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10) Mentor new Leaders
• Very important for new Leaders—especially Den
Leaders—to have established Leaders working with
them.
• More than, “call me if you need anything.”
• Cubmaster or Assistant or another Den Leader can
help lead first couple of Den meetings or, at
minimum, be present to monitor, guide or help-out.
• Track their progress and offer assistance.
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11) Drastic measures
• At some point—and I’m sure it has never happened
with anyone here-–you might have to consider how
to get some more help.
• “This was such a great activity last year and the
Scouts loved it, but if we can’t get some help in
organizing it, we won’t be able to do it.”
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What about you?
• Anything you can share that has worked?
• Anything you are planning to use?
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Online Resources
https://cubscouts.org
https://bsalearn.learn.taleo.net
http://www.scouting.org
http://scoutermom.com
http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org
https://www.pinterest.com
https://www.cubscoutideas.com
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Thank-you!
• Richard Lazzaro, Cubmaster Pack 458
• Cite: Sherry Smotherton-Short, cubscoutideas.com
• Thank you for your participation!
• Please expect online survey through Survey Monkey.
• Remember: I provided Oreos!
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