Spring can be a great time to recruit as the promise of summer adventures are only weeks away. Prospective Scouts and families are thinking about nice weather, the outdoors, and activities that are at the core of the Scouting camping experiences.
What is Spring Recruiting?
Spring Recruitment is simply the process of inviting and registering new Scouts and their families in the Scouting program. Spring Recruitment is for kindergarten-age youth going into 1st grade through 4th grade youth going into 5th grade.
Spring Recruitment is NOT for youth going into kindergarten. Lion recruitment should be fall only (starting in August). There are no summer opportunities for Lions and Lions should register as close to the start time of the program for their den, which is the fall. If inquiries are made, packs should collect information and invite those families to recruitment opportunities starting in August.
Orienteering Challenge
This year’s district-wide recruiting event is an orienteering challenge with beginner and advanced courses appropriate for age and experience levels.
It is also recommended that packs don’t do spring recruitment for youth entering the 6th grade. If there are inquiries, packs should have the contact information for the local troop(s) to provide to the prospective Scout and his/her family.
Spring Recruiting Timeline
Late February
Early March
- Reach out to the principal of your unit’s elementary school(s) to establish the date and time of your Spring Recruitment Night for March or April. (The principals are expecting your call and will welcome you in the school.)
- Communicate the details for your event to the district membership chair to get pre-printed promotional materials: membership@northshoredistrict.org
- Date
- Time
- School
- Pack Website
- Attend Roundtable on March 9th, 2023 at Good News United Methodist Church at 7:00 pm to receive training and supplies for your upcoming Spring Recruiting Events
- Begin external publicity (press release, posters, yard signs, church bulletins, social media, etc.)
Late March
Early April
- Visit the school during lunchtime or an assembly to advertise your Spring Recruitment Night a few days before your event. Hype it up! This should be a FUN and lively presentation about 2 – 5 minutes long to advertise the fun things Cub Scouts get to do with your Pack.
- Distribute stickers and flyers to the kindergarten-age youth going into 1st grade through 4th grade youth going into 5th grade.
- Host a Spring Recruitment Night in your elementary school(s).
- Advertise your units’ events coming up. Have printed calendar of events through the summer that families can attend.
- Advertise district wide Spring Orienteering Challenge on April 22nd. (More details to come.)
April 22nd
- Attend the North Shore District Spring Orienteering Challenge (More details to come).
May
- Set a date with the elementary school(s) for your Fall Recruiting Night. Ideally, your unit wants to be in the school the first couple of weeks back after summer vacation.
- Follow up with anyone that didn’t commit and invite them to your summertime events.
June
- Packs should hold 2 June pack activities as part of National Summertime Pack Award.
July
- Packs should hold 2 July pack activities as part of National Summertime Pack Award.
August
- Packs should hold 2 August pack activities as part of National Summertime Pack Award.
Learn more about the National Summertime Pack Award and how to plan your summer calendar by following this link: National Summertime Pack Award | Boy Scouts of America (scouting.org)
