ELEVATING YOUR PACK’S SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE
Become a Pack Your Community Knows.
A strong school and community presence makes recruiting easier because families already recognize your pack and understand the positive role Scouting plays in their community. Build relationships throughout the year rather than appearing only when it is time to recruit.
Topics on This Page:
RECRUITING RESOURCES
Build a Year-Round School Presence
School sign-up nights are important, but they should be only one part of your relationship with the school. Look for ways to become a positive and familiar presence among teachers, staff, parents, and students throughout the year.
Strong relationships can create opportunities for both the school and your pack and may make it easier to promote future Scouting activities.
Use Fun Events to Welcome Families
Spring, summer, and fall pack activities can also become welcoming and joining events.
Invite prospective families to:
- End-of-school celebrations.
- Pinewood Derbies or Raingutter Regattas.
- Pack parties.
- Bike rodeos.
- Fishing events.
- Picnics and field games.
- Kite-flying events.
- Swimming or other family outings.
Participate in School Events
Ask whether your pack can participate in:
- Open House
- Meet the Teacher
- Registration Day
- School festivals
- PTA or PTO events
- Community nights
- Volunteer and service days
Be visible as an organization that contributes to the school rather than one that appears only when asking families to join.
Use School Communication Channels
Learn how your school communicates with families and ask about appropriate opportunities to share pack information through:
- School websites
- Email newsletters
- Digital flyer systems
- Social media
- Bulletin boards
- Parent organizations
Parent-to-parent conversations before and after school can also help spread awareness of your program.
Scout Uniform Days
Where school policies allow, coordinated Scout uniform days can remind students, parents, teachers, and staff that Scouting is active in their community.
Consider scheduling them in connection with an upcoming pack activity or joining event.
Increase Community Presence
Extend your visibility beyond the school. Participate in community festivals, neighborhood events, parades, civic activities, chartered organization events, and other places where families gather.
Current families can be some of your most effective ambassadors. Encourage them to invite friends and share what they enjoy about your pack.
Service Opens School & Community Doors
Service demonstrates Scouting values while building relationships with schools and community organizations. Ask where your pack can provide useful help.
Examples may include:
- Campus cleanup.
- Flag ceremonies.
- Helping with school events.
- Supporting community service projects.
- Participating in an Adopt-a-School effort.
Once families recognize your pack and the value it brings to the community, invite them to join you. Continue to Step Five: Sign-Up Events.
