Scouters, I’ve heard great membership stories, but imagine starting with a den of eight Tigers and ending up with 10 Eagles! Mike Borkowski’s son began in Cub Scouts as one of those eight Tigers. Mike’s approach was threefold:

1. Have super cool fun.
2. Get to critical mass in each den.
3. Remind families that the Scouts’ attendance isn’t mandatory and it’s fine to include sports.

First, Pack 48 delivered, as Mike says, “absolutely fun programming with super-cool things the kids wouldn’t do in everyday life, like visiting a cave—so cool that the kids talked about it at school.” And then Pack 48 really grew. And grew. Mike’s den grew over the years from eight to 12 to 18 and then to 24 by Arrow of Light. Mike crossed over 16 of those AOL Scouts to Troop 48.

Second, Mike says “it’s tricky” but common in early fall to have some dens with just a few youths from that grade. That’s OK. Have early fall activities that make it easy to combine dens temporarily as you add more youths. Just keep inviting families.

Third, Mike knew sports would be in many kids’ lives, but not all. In fact, research shows only 54% of youths participate in sports. When you couple that with about 2% of youths being in Scouting, in every town there are many youths who could benefit from Scouting right now. Mike made sure to keep recruiting through the fall to attract families who are done with fall sports or whose children don’t fit with sports.

So how can you get started on great growth like Mike Borkowski’s?

As youth sports end this fall, remind families, teachers and principals that “our Scouts are always on the field and never on the bench.” Northeast Illinois Council has a video campaign to support you.

Call and leave a voicemail for your feeder school’s principal. Here’s what I’m going to say to mine: Hi, Principal Smith. This is Russ McNeilly, and I just want to update you about the Lake Forest Scouting units. Pack 148 just had a wonderful family campout at the Lake Forest Golf Course. Troop 48 had a backpacking training hike through town, and Troop 46 planted trees at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation. Scouting is a great program for all youths but especially for youths at Cherokee School who don’t necessarily fit with sports. If we can be of service to those youths, please let me know. Thanks for your time. I’ll talk to you soon.

By Russ McNeilly, NEIC VP of Membership