Getting Parents Excited About Scouting

Scouting Magazine’s Front Line Stuff asks the question: Some parents aren’t as eager to participate in Scouting as others. As a result, their Cub Scout or Boy Scout sons don’t attend as many events as the children of active parents. How do you create excitement about Scouting among your Scouts’ parents?

I am not sure if this is a resolvable situation, or if it should be. One of the key features of Scouting is that Scouts and their families are able to participate at a level that works for them. We leaders may feel like they are ‘missing out’ but they may be doing all they can, or want, to do. It seems to me that sports teams, schools and churches are constantly expanding their expectations for attendance and participation; sometimes with little consideration for the other activities in any given community. We may also, with the best of intentions, be making parental participation more difficult than it needs to be.

There are a few things that will encourage attendance and participation from parents; - Respect their time and commitments.

Meetings must begin and end on time and when parents are asked to participate in them be sure that their participation is relevant, engaging and important. - Be specific and focused when requesting participation. It is much more likely that parents will volunteer for tasks than positions.

Tasks have a beginning, middle and end – positions are open ended. - Be considerate of siblings. If a parent’s participation is dependent on bringing other children along see that there is something to engage them. A few crayons and coloring books may be all that is needed. - Plan and present ceremonies that are brief and meaningful rather than overly long and elaborate. - To my lights no Pack meeting should last longer than 1 hour, 45 minutes is better. With younger siblings, parents and Cub Scouts in attendance less is almost always more.