Revised: August 1, 2012

SCHOOL NIGHT

FOR SCOUTING

TRAINING

TOPICS

1. ORGANIZING AND RECRUITNG FOR YOUR RALLY

2. MAXIMIZING YOUR TURNOUT

3. HOW TO CONDUCT THE “BOY TALK”

4. SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTING CHECKLIST

5. SUGGESTED SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTING AGENDA

6. RESOURCES NEEDED

7. TIPS ON RECRUITING CUB SCOUT LEADERS

8. PACK POSITIONS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

9. APPLICATION INFORMATION/SNFS TURN-IN

10. TAKE HOME ITEMS

ORGANIZING AND RECRUTING FOR YOUR RALLY

Who Do You Need?

School Night Commissioner: Responsible for applications/fee collections

Pack Organizer: Encourage someone for each grade level, 1st-5

th, if possible

Greeters: Needed at your sign-in tables and to direct boys and parents to

appropriate areas

Other Adults: Use as needed

Den Chiefs/Other Boy Scouts: Boy’s activity leaders. Use to conduct games

other activities for boys during the time that you

are explaining the program to the parents

Room Set-Up and Demonstrations

Who will help set up? What time?

What does your Pack have to demonstrate? Remember, this is a time for your

Pack to showcase their activities

Who brings the demonstration materials?

Applications and Fees

Who will help the School Night Commissioner?

Are you familiar with the forms? Do you have enough forms?

Do you have examples filled out for new parents to follow?

Do you have adequate change, pens/pencils, and calculator?

Do you have the fees posted so that it will be easy for the parents to see?

MAXIMIZING YOUR TURNOUT

1. Contact School Principal

a. Make arrangements for building availability and custodian. Make sure

that air conditioning is turned on ahead of time

b. Get permission to put posters/displays around school

c. Arrange for distribution of flyers. Note: Many schools allow handouts to

go home 1 day a week. Make sure that you have your flyers there and

ready to go the week of the rally

d. Ask for permission to conduct in-school talks (promoting Scouting)

during P.E. at lunch. Use gimmick or stickers to get flyers home

2. Promote SNFS Rally

a. Advertise on your school’s marquee/sign

b. Promote rally at school orientation and in school newsletter

c. Place posters and yard signs throughout the campus

d. Prepare articles for local newspaper and neighborhood newsletters

e. Email rally information to all current Pack families for additional

distribution

3. Recruiting Your Team

a. School night coordinator (you), school night commissioner (assists in

registrations of boys and adults), pack organizer (coordinates the

organization of new Cub Scout dens)

b. Confirm dates and responsibilities

c. Recruit volunteer to conduct P.E. or lunch talks

d. Motivate your boys! They are your BEST recruiting tool

4. The Day of SNFS Rally

a. Make sure that you are prepared ahead of time. See checklist

b. Encourage boys to wear uniforms to school if permitted

c. Confirm (reminder) with the school administration the time, place and

date of the rally

HOW TO CONDUCT THE BOY TALK

1. Make arrangements with school principal to conduct the Boy Talk

2. Wear your uniform

3. Sign-in at the school office about 15 minutes before you plan to start

Introduce yourself to the principal and the school secretary

4. The actual presentation should include:

a. A brief description about the fun activities in Cub Scouting

b. The importance of coming to the recruiting night with a parent

c. Use of gimmick to get flyers home, such as have boys put them in their

sock or paper airplane contest, or just place in folder/backpack

d. Stop at the office on the way out and leave extra flyers with the school

secretary

f. Keep your presentation to 5 minutes. Be enthusiastic an

positive! Make Cub Scouting FUN!

School Night for Scouting Checklist (School Night Coordinator)

Before You Leave Home:

Prepare your pre-opening activity

Wear your uniform

Review agenda and practice your presentation

Take a pocket calculator

Take 20-30 pens and/or pencils

Take some change, both bills and coins

Take some masking tape

When You Arrive at the School (30 minutes before rally):

Organize your materials and set up room properly

Check with other team members (including unit leaders) on their part

of the program

Post your organization chart

Assist pack leaders with their displays

Organize your pre-opening activity

Station either yourself or another team member at the door to

distribute attendance rosters and welcome families

Keep families and boys in assigned room

Have boys and parents sit together by grade

The General Presentation:

Present opening ceremony by Pack

Introduce yourself and welcome everyone

Introduce team members and unit leaders

Follow School Night for Scouting Agenda carefully

I. Pre-Opening (Allow ½ hour)

A. Set-up displays

B. Pre-opening activities to keep boys and parents

involved.

Helpful Hints:

Uncontrolled horseplay and running can ruin your meeting

within seconds. Consider on of the following pre-opening

activities:

Group singing Lively background music

Visit displays Get acquainted games

Use adult leadership to keep boys and parents in assigned rooms

and out of the hallways. As people enter the meeting rooms, ask

them to sign the attendance roster, give each boy a Cub

Application and a sample of Boy’s Life magazine

(Cub Application to be collected later in the program.)

II. Opening {Be sure to start on time!} (5 minutes)

A. Teach the Cub Scout sign and salute

B. Ask everyone to stand and give the Cub Scout sign

as they are led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the

American Flag.

C. Explain how the sign is used in den and pack

meetings as a signal for silence, when the leader’s

hand goes up, all talking comes to an end.

D. Have the group recite the Cub Scout Promise

printed on the front of the Cub Application.

III. Opening Remarks (5 minutes)

A. Welcome

B. Briefly state purpose of meeting. Explain what

Cub Scouting is all about, how parents can use it

with their sons, and how you became part of

scouting.

C. Consider showing a PowerPoint presentation of

Pack activities.

D. Introduce all leaders present.

E. If more than one pack is present, give each unit

leader two minutes to tell about his/her unit, their

focus, number of Scouts and when and where

meetings are held.

IV. What is Cub Scouting (5 minutes)

A. It’s purpose, objective, program, etc.

(See Cub Scout Leader Book, Chapter 2)

B. Utilize Parent Orientation Guide

V. Separate Boys into Groups (5 minutes)

A. Tiger Cub (1st graders)

B. Cub Scout (2nd

& 3rd

graders)

C. Webelos (4th

& 5th

graders)

Helpful Hints:

Pack leadership should take over running the groups and guide

each group through a fun activity; while the Cub Master

explains the benefits of scouting to the parents. This is also a

good opportunity to discuss the responsibilities of scouting (at

the appropriate level) to the parents.

VI. Gather by Prospective Dens (5 minutes)

A. Eight to ten boys per group (den)

B. Divide geographically by neighborhood, school,

or by grade.

Helpful Hints:

Pre-select trained den leaders to work with each group. This will

allow you to concentrate on recruiting parents for leadership

positions.

VII. Registration & New Leader Recruitment (20 minutes)

A. Introduce yourself again and explain the

importance of parental involvement. Reinforce the

different time commitments available. “We have

volunteer positions that will work with

everyone’s busy schedules!”

B. Pass out registration forms and literature such as

The Parent Orientation Guide booklet (be

sure to include a listing of the meeting time and

location for each den).

C. Collect Interest Forms.

D. Reemphasize the importance of volunteerism to

the success of scouting; ask if any parent is

willing to volunteer a few hours a month to

secure the success of his/her child.

E. Describe vacant unit leader positions and duties

associated with each.

F. Answer questions from audience. Once they have

completed their applications, tear off the front cover

and give to the parent. Den Leader or Cubmaster

keeps last copy of boy’s application. Ask all new

leaders to complete an adult application.

VIII. Additional Information to Cover (10 minutes)

A. Give each adult new unit leader training information

for both online and group training and encourage

them to attend.

B. Give them the date, time, and location of the new

pack leader’s meeting.

C. Distribute upcoming BSA activities information.

D. Collect all fees and applications (place in envelope

with attendance rosters and turn it in at the District

report Meeting).

IX. Closing (5 minutes)

A. Thank everyone for coming and express your

excitement for the coming year.

B. Question and Answer

Don’t forget to turn all money and application into the district

representative the night of your Roundup.

RESOURCES NEEDED

Resources you will need for your school assembly and rally:

1. One Tiger-Wolf-Bear-Webelos Book

2. Samples of Boy’s Life Magazine

3. Space Derby Rockets/Pinewood Derby Cars

4. Cub Scout shirt display

5. Several pens and pencils

6. Activity flyers

7. Interest survey sheet

8. Tiger Cub t-shirt

9. Adult volunteers

10. Current Scouts

11. Minimum of two fun-active events for the boys to experience

12. Name tags

13. Table labels for grouping students by grade level

14. Calculators

15. Loose bills and coins to make change

16. Field receipt book

TIPS ON RECRUITING CUB SCOUT LEADERS

Before a good prospect will volunteer, he/she will need several things:

1. Information

a. What is Cub Scouting?

b. Will it help my son and family?

c. What is my job description? (Make sure that you have this information

available)

d. Where do I get training and help?

2. Inspiration

a. Prospects need to know that kids choose their value path between the

ages of 6 and 15

b. We don’t get a second chance in raising kids. We have to spend time

now to help them grow

c. Scouting provides peers for their children that share good solid values.

d. Kids don’t last without parents’ interest and participation

e. Everyone is busy, but what kids need most at this age is our time,

involvement, and interest

f. Explain that you were new once, but with training, Council support

and commitment, they can be a great volunteer

3. Invitation

a. Best choices for leaders are already busy people. These people know

how to manage their time

b. Pick your two best people, recruit them as a team

BE POSITIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC FROM START TO FINISH!

They are just shy and reluctant to get into something they don’t know anything about.

Our job is to sell the concept of Scouting and sell them on making it happen for their

own son by being involved. We provide training and support. People want to join a

positive, motivated team, not a negative group. The most precious gift parents can

give their son is THEIR TIME.

Remember, success is an inside job. Meet the challenge of recruiting new leaders

with a smile and a positive attitude whatever the results.

PACK POSITIONS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Pack and Den Positions

1. Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster

2. Den Leaders, Assistant Den Leaders

3. Committee Members

4. Specialized support: transportation, planning field trips, Blue & Gold

Chairperson, Pinewood Derby Chairperson, Popcorn sales, etc

Training Opportunities 1. Fast Start training tape*

2. This is Scouting*

3. Youth Protection Training*

4. Cub Scout Leader Specific Basic Training

5. Webelos Outdoor Leader Skills Training

6. Monthly Roundtable Meeting (1st Thursday of every month)

Additional Support

1. Musselman’s Scout Shop – large selection of BSA program materials,

uniforms, and badges

2. Roundtable

3. www.alamoareabsa.org

4. www.scouting.org

*Trainings available on www.scouting.org

APPLICATION INFORMATION/SNFS TURN-IN

Cub Scout Registration Form

1. Pack number/rank

2. Full name

3. Mailing address

4. Grade/date of birth

5. Boy’s Life subscription

6. Tiger Cub partner’s name

7. Parent/Guardian’s signature

a. Home phone number

b. Occupation/employer

8. Boy’s health history/medical release

Adult Volunteer/Leader Registration Form

A. Disclosure/Authorization Form

1. Full name

2. Signature

3. Date

4. Unit number

B. Adult Application

5. Unit type/ Unit number

6. Full name

7. Country/Mailing address

8. Contact phone numbers

9. Date of birth

10. Ethnic background

11. Driver’s license number/State

12. Gender

13. Social security number

14. Position Code/Scouting position

15. Email address

16. Boy’s Life Magazine Subscription

17. Criminal background disclosure/References

18. Applicant signature

19. Committee Chairman signature

20. Chartered organization representative signature

APPLICATION INFORMATION/SNFS TURN-IN

Adult Application Approval and Reference Check

1. Turn in last page of application with fee on SNFS

2. Designated Committee Members/Committee Chair must do reference check on

each adult before final approval

3. Committee Chair and Charter Organization Representative must review and

sign application for final approval

4. After approved signatures, turn applications in to Scout office

Fees 1. Boys

2. Adults

3. Boy’s Life Magazine

4. Turn in fees and completed application on SNFS at designated site or BSA

service center

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