Troop Open Houses Bolster Spring Recruiting Efforts

Encourage leaders to use the three steps of the troop open house to invite boys to join and to identify new adult leaders this spring.

By George Trosko, Director
Boy Scout Division

While many troops still rely only on the springtime transition of Webelos Scouts for their new membership, direct recruitment of Boy Scouts provides the means for former Cub Scouts and non-members to join.

A recent national focus group study revealed that Scouting's outdoor activities are very appealing to fifth- and sixth-grade boys, and that—if invited—a majority of them would consider joining a Scout troop. However, far too many boys and parents don't know where, when, or how to join a troop. By encouraging your troop leaders to conduct direct recruitment through troop open houses, you can overcome this problem.

Using the troop open house method in the spring gives 11-year-olds a chance to join before they get involved in competing summer activities. It is also a great way to bolster a troop's new Scout patrol formed from transitioning Webelos Scouts. Spring presents an opportunity to entice prospective Scouts with a coming summer of exciting Scout outdoor program.

Steps to Success

The open house method has three essential steps:

Set up a campsite and outdoor equipment display wherever boys gather— ideally at school. The tents, equipment, and something cooking on a camp stove will attract the boys' curiosity. Consider asking your volunteers to wear outdoor clothes to help emphasize the outing in Scouting. No formal sales pitch is necessary. Simply explain the gear, offer a food sample, and distribute an invitation flyer for the coming open house. If each boy fills out a high-adventure survey, No. 34241, you will get all the information needed to follow up with the prospective Scout.

Call the boy and parents to extend a personal invitation to attend the open house. Relying on just the flyer will not work as well as direct messages to parents. Have callers use the survey information as an entrée to discussing the child's interest in Scouting, and make it clear the boy and a parent should attend together.

Plan for a successful open house. Leaders should really roll out the red carpet and make the visitors feel welcome. At the parents' session, leaders should present a brief overview of the troop's activities, the Scouting program, and the program's value to their child. While that is happening, the boys should gather separately for an action game.

Deliver the Promise

Many troops will conduct a special outdoor activity event or campout soon after the open house to get new Scouts into the action quickly. Some have used these events to attract new Scouts—offering them a chance to attend as guests and get a real taste of Scouting fun, thus closing the sale. This is especially effective as a follow-up, using the highadventure survey information to again contact prospective Scouts who missed the open house.

We need to keep our doors open wide to new members throughout the year, and your role as a youthserving executive is to help make this happen. You can use the Troop Open House video, AV-02V018, and corresponding brochure, No. 18-706, to encourage your troop leaders to conduct open houses for new members. Remember, an open house is also an opportunity for troops to identify new adult leaders.

Need some tools to help you?? Contact your District Executive or the Transatlantic Council office!!

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While many troops still rely only on the springtime transition of Webelos Scouts for their new membership, direct recruitment of Boy Scouts provides the means for former Cub Scouts and non-members to join. A recent national focus group study revealed that Scouting's outdoor activities are very appealing to fifth- and sixth-grade boys, and that—if invited—a majority of them would consider joining a Scout troop. However, far too many boys and parents don't know where, when, or how to join a troop. By encouraging your troop leaders to conduct direct recruitment through troop open houses, you can overcome this problem. Using the troop open house method in the spring gives 11-year-olds a chance to join before they get involved in competing summer activities. It is also a great way to bolster a troop's new Scout patrol formed from transitioning Webelos Scouts. Spring presents an opportunity to entice prospective Scouts with a coming summer of exciting Scout outdoor program.
Steps to Success The open house method has three essential steps:
Set up a campsite and outdoor equipment display wherever boys gather— ideally at school. The tents, equipment, and something cooking on a camp stove will attract the boys' curiosity. Consider asking your volunteers to wear outdoor clothes to help emphasize the outing in Scouting. No formal sales pitch is necessary. Simply explain the gear, offer a food sample, and distribute an invitation flyer for the coming open house. If each boy fills out a high-adventure survey, No. 34241, you will get all the information needed to follow up with the prospective Scout. Call the boy and parents to extend a personal invitation to attend the open house. Relying on just the flyer will not work as well as direct messages to parents. Have callers use the survey information as an entrée to discussing the child's interest in Scouting, and make it clear the boy and a parent should attend together. Plan for a successful open house. Leaders should really roll out the red carpet and make the visitors feel welcome. At the parents' session, leaders should present a brief overview of the troop's activities, the Scouting program, and the program's value to their child. While that is happening, the boys should gather separately for an action game.

Deliver the Promise Many troops will conduct a special outdoor activity event or campout soon after the open house to get new Scouts into the action quickly. Some have used these events to attract new Scouts—offering them a chance to attend as guests and get a real taste of Scouting fun, thus closing the sale. This is especially effective as a follow-up, using the highadventure survey information to again contact prospective Scouts who missed the open house. We need to keep our doors open wide to new members throughout the year, and your role as a youthserving executive is to help make this happen. You can use the Troop Open House video, AV-02V018, and corresponding brochure, No. 18-706, to encourage your troop leaders to conduct open houses for new members. Remember, an open house is also an opportunity for troops to identify new adult leaders.
Need some tools to help you?? Contact your District Executive or the Transatlantic Council office!!