The data is in! New Scout families want to feel welcome and a sense of belonging in their new unit. And when they do, these Scouts will stay in Scouting programs for a long time.
So what does this mean for Cub Scout leaders? Of course, being welcoming and kind to newcomers is at Scouting’s core. But there is one tool you can start using right now to get families the info they need to feel welcomed right off the bat.
Check out the new “Welcome to Cub Scouts one-pager” and fill in the blanks for your unit. Then, make handing, mailing, emailing or texting this info sheet to new parents part of your welcoming process.
What do new parents, especially Cub Scout parents, need to know right away?
Don’t overthink it. The most important information to impart to a new family is how to make it to their first Cub Scout meeting. A family needs the time, date, and place of the meeting as part of the “onboarding” journey.
Onboarding means getting new Scouts and parents looped in with what’s going on in your unit and demonstrating the welcoming atmosphere of Cub Scouts. If someone doesn’t come from a Scouting background, they may not know the difference between a “den” and a “pack.” They likely have no idea how often Scouts meet. And they certainly don’t know when and where your unit meets.
That’s why it’s critical to give new families this info as soon as possible, as simply as possible. Then, parents and kids have a foundational understanding of how Cub Scouts is structured and you can ensure they make it to that first, crucial meeting.
Give new Cub Scout families the information they need quickly and easily
If your Cub Scout unit’s onboarding process needs a refresh, we’ve got your back. Check out the Welcome to Cub Scouts one-pager. It’s an editable PDF. Add your unit’s info using your computer, or print the one-pager and fill it out by hand.
Consider the best way to distribute this one-pager to new families. Perhaps your delivery method changes depending on how a family signs up for Scouts. You could turn it into a poster for joining events or copy-and-paste the one-pager’s text into an email you send to every new family that registers online. You could distribute it as a flyer or text it to parents after you receive their children’s applications.
Giving new families the info they need to stay engaged in Scouting and pursue volunteer opportunities is our shared goal. Let us know in the comments: What are some of the ways we can continue to make new families feel welcome in their Cub Scout units?
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