Do a Good Turn for Membership

Service projects are at the heart of some of the most valuable learning experiences for young people. By combining service efforts and recruiting, we can create win-win situations for youth and our communities.

Of course, membership isn't the main goal of a service project. But these efforts can raise the profile of Scouting, creating opportunities to invite youth and families to join the program. There are several important elements to developing service projects that support membership:

Select activities that appeal to youth and families. All service projects should have achievable goals and a visible impact on the community. Service projects intended to involve families should also be fun and have a strong social aspect. These projects should also be kid-friendly. Clearly, some projects, such as home construction or projects that involve power tools and equipment, are inappropriate or dangerous for young children. However, fun runs, food or clothing drives, and community cleanup efforts are ideal for people of all ages.

Make sure you have enough participation to get the job done. Generally, the more people who work on a project, the faster and easier it is to complete. To make sure you have enough participation, collaborate with other groups that also serve youth and families, including service clubs and religious organizations. Such collaborations not only increase participation and support, they can also build goodwill and help us accomplish things we could not do alone. (For more guidelines on collaborations, visit www.goodturnforamerica.org.)

Let local media know about your service project. Be sure to emphasize the family involvement aspect of your project and the positive impact the effort will have on the community. Local media personalities may want to support your effort. Ask them.

Ensure leaders are ready to "make the ask." The leading reason youth and parents give for not joining is that they've never been asked. Make sure volunteers know to tell potential members how much their participation was appreciated and to personally invite them to visit a pack, troop, or crew meeting. Get participants' names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses so leaders can follow up later and invite them to join. Business cards with the leader's name and contact information may also be helpful.

Keep in mind that recruiting is not the first goal of a service project. The first goal is to benefit the community and our members. But a service project that meets those goals can send a positive message about the impact Scouting has in our neighborhoods and communities. That may be the most powerful recruiting message of all.

10 Service Events to Build Membership

  1. Hold a family "Take a Hike" day at a local park or recreation area.
  2. Conduct a community cleanup at a city park or school playground.
  3. Conduct a book drive outside a book store or library to benefit a school or shelter.
  4. Organize a Scouting fun run/health fair just for kids. Be sure to work with community service organizations and invite schools and churches to participate.
  5. Work with local law enforcement to sponsor a child fingerprinting event in a high-traffic location such as a mall, library, or retailer.
  6. Have Scout troops work with hospitals or Red Cross offices to sponsor "First Aid for Kids" events.
  7. Collect clothing, toiletries, and supplies for people living in shelters.
  8. Conduct "Helping Hands" glove drives outside hardware stores to support Habitat for Humanity chapters.
  9. Assist in community beautification projects such as planting flowers and repairing and repainting homes. Invite church youth groups or school groups to participate.
  10. Collect toys or gifts for children living in shelters.

Additional service project ideas can be found at www.goodturnforamerica.org.