Meeting and Outing Attendance Survey Results 2

This is second in a series of three posts about the Meetings and Outings Attendance Survey. Part one is here and part three will be published tomorrow. We know that there are complimentary activities that can conflict with our Scout’s attendance at meetings and outings. here’s what survey respondents reported about what keeps Scouts away and what draws them in – let’s look at meetings first: The results for outings stated similar things but the power to influence was different; It’s no big surprise that sports and school are reported as the biggest things that Scouts cite as reasons they don’t make meetings or outings; nor that the program has the greatest influence on their active attendance. The aims of Scouting are not in conflict with other activities; we want Scouts involved in them – Scouting and these other activities are complimentary.

I note that program is perceived as the strongest influence on attendance and I agree to an extent. In my experience youth-led activities are better attended regardless of program content so I would rate youth leadership as more important than program content. ‘Fun” is also noted.

I always think what we mean by ‘fun’ bears a little discussion. and that’s where we’ll pick up in the final post on the subject tomorrow.