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Select your HomeScouting Adventure Club subscription. Choose a monthly payment option or subscribe for a year to save! NOTE: Your payment will begin in September for the HomeScouting Adventure club in exactly how many days the "free trial" states is left.
leaders lounge
SUCCESSION PLANNING
OVERVIEW
There are two types of vacancies in adult leader positions in Scouting: expected and unexpected. But even the latter type of departure — perhaps a result of injury, illness or a Scouter moving away — can be taken in stride. That is, if you’ve established a succession plan. Those who follow the Scout Motto simply move the predetermined person into place to fill the position.
Join Lauren Playl, Buckeye Council Commissioner, as she guides us through the process of recruiting new leaders into a unit and why it’s important to have a plan.
SAMPLE SUCCESSION PLAN
What are your leadership roles?
Every unit has leaders (Cubmaster/Scoutmaster/Advisor and committee chair), assistant leaders, and key committee people such as the treasurer and coordinators for pinewood derby, campouts, etc. Assess the likelihood that those people may be leaving over the next year or two. Determine which leaders will need to be replaced.
Evaluate your resources.
List the adults in your pack who are not currently in a leadership role, including new parents. Try to determine their talents and abilities, and the job for which they would be best suited. Make certain that the parents of the youngest members of your unit are tapped early for small jobs that can lead to positions of greater responsibility. Vet your prospects so that you are selecting the very best person for each job.
Approach the prospects.
Once you have confirmed an established leader’s intent to depart at some future date, invite your prospects to consider the first steps toward taking over. If you plan ahead, the new leader could shadow the current leader for several months, receiving on-the-job training in the position.
Set a final date for the transition.
If the parent of a second-year Webelos Scout is moving with their child to a troop, their position (as blue and gold banquet coordinator, for example) will likely open up sometime in late winter or spring. Agree with all parties on a transition date. Don’t forget to have all your new leaders complete Youth Protection Training and ask them to complete basic training for the position.
RESOURCES
FOR CUB SCOUT LEADERS:
FOR SCOUTS BSA OR CREW LEADERS:
SCOUTBOOK
OVERVIEW
Find a number of resources below for your program area for your succession planning!
Enhance your Scouting experience with Scoutbook
FOR LEADERS
Leading young Scouts through the many adventures Scouting has to offer is one of the most fulfilling roles in the organization. But sometimes the act of leading can get lost in the act of reporting, limiting the amount of time spent with Scouts.
Scoutbook provides access to valuable tools and resources that will help with the day-to-day management of a unit, giving every leader more of what they need most: TIME.
FOR PARENTS
These days, kids are busy. But parents are busier. With hectic family schedules, staying informed and connected is critical for any parent on-the-go.
Fortunately, Scoutbook provides the means to help busy parents keep track of busy Scouts.
FOR SCOUTS
The Scouting experience is about learning new things, discovering new talents, and having fun.
With customizable profiles and interactive features, Scoutbook puts the excitement of advancement into the hands of the Scout. They can share their success with friends and family as they progress through the program.
RESOURCES
Find a number of resources below for your program area for your program planning!
FOR CUB SCOUT LEADERS:
FOR SCOUTS BSA LEADERS:
BUDGETING
OVERVIEW
Once you and your Scouts have planned a year of Scouting fun, it’s time for the less-fun part. It’s time to figure out how to pay for it all. Creating a budget for your pack, troop, or crew is an essential part of every well-managed, well-financed unit.
Asking families for money every week is discouraged. You’re better off figuring out the total cost for the complete year up front. No surprises. Today we’ll outline the five-step process to planning an annual budget, list what expenses to include and discuss possible sources of income for your unit.
Create a budget in five steps:
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Plan your unit’s complete annual program, so you’ll know where you’ll spend your money.
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Develop a budget that includes enough income to pay for your unit’s annual program.
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Identify all sources of income, including dues, and determine the amount of product (popcorn, for example) that will need to be sold per youth member to reach the income goal.
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Identify service projects the unit might complete to bring in income
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Get commitments from parents and youth.
Learn about budgets with Buckeye Council volunteer, John Veney!
RESOURCES
Find a number of resources below for your program area for your program planning!
FOR CUB SCOUT LEADERS:
FOR SCOUTS BSA OR CREW LEADERS:
UNIT PLANNING
OVERVIEW
Every great project starts with a great plan. The same goes for Scouting. By having a great plan for your unit, you can expect to see:
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A stronger program at less personal cost to you
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Increased parental involvement
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More Scouts camping
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Better retention
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More funding with less time spent fundraising
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A simpler, easier and more enjoyable Scouting program
Join Buckeye Council volunteer, Joe Bomba as he shares best practices on creating your annual plan for your unit!
RESOURCES
Find a number of resources below for your program area for your program planning!
FOR CUB SCOUT LEADERS:
FOR SCOUTS BSA LEADERS:
LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA & RECRUITING
OVERVIEW
A steady flow of youth into a Cub Scout Pack or Scouts BSA troop is essential to a fun Scouting experience and longevity of the unit. New Scouts and their families bring energy, enthusiasm and new resources.
To ensure the current success and longevity of a great Scouting program, a unit should add at least 10 new Scouts every year. Having a year-round growth plan in place will help attract new Scouts. The first step for any recruitment effort is to select a small recruitment team among parents and/or unit committee members. The team will develop and implement a year-round growth plan that incorporates all methods of recruitment, working closely with other Scouting units in the community, the district membership committee and the unit commissioner.
BeAScout.org Leads
BeAScout.org is a National website that non-scouters and scouters alike can use to find units. It’s an easy way to locate a neighborhood Pack Troop or Crew, but first the unit has to enable it and make sure their contact information is correct. Does your unit have a BeAScout pin? If you aren’t sure, go to BeAScout.org and put your zip code in to find out. If your unit doesn’t (or the information is out of date) click here for instructions on how to update your BeAScout Pin.
Cub Scouts
An essential part of Scouting, the Scouts BSA program depends on the foundation of Cub Scouts. While Cub Scout recruitment is year-round, there are two formal recruitment drives in Spring and Fall.
Scouts BSA
There are three methods of recruiting new Scouts into troops:
Join Buckeye Council volunteer, Jay Hays as he shows us how to best utilize social media in your recruitment campaign.
RESOURCES
Find a number of resources below for your program area for your program planning!
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Pack Recruitment Plan (created by Buckeye Council)
FOR SCOUTS BSA LEADERS: