Improving Communication throughout the Scouting Experience

1. Improving Communication throughout the Scouting Experience From Units to Scouts and Parents Units to Units Council to Units

2. No Communication Left Behind • On Pack Level • Sign in Board • Assures leaders of who has received information • Lets leaders know who still needs to get information • Written Information • Cannot rely on younger scouts to accurately remember verbal information • Leaders know exactly what was relayed

3. No Communication Left Behind • On Pack Level • Group Email/Text messaging • Easy way to distribute latest information • Have policy of mandatory reply, even if just “got it” or “OK” lets leaders know message was received • Need to constantly update email/text numbers as these seem to change often

4. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Essential for Packs • Improves experience for Scouts • Provides source of experienced leadership • Increases success of Webelos to Troop Transition • Essential for Troops • Improves experience for Scouts • Provides opportunity for youth leadership • Provides source of new members and patrols

5. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Troop Helps the Pack • Provides Den Chiefs • Plans Joint Pack-Troop Activities • Invites Webelos/Arrow-of Light Dens to activities, especially outdoor oriented • Assistant Scoutmaster serves as liaison, meeting with Webelos Den leader • Conducts a parent orientation conference for Webelos Scouts and parents

6. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Pack Helps Troop • Graduating Webelos into Troop • Maintaining advancement standards • Inviting Scoutmaster to attend Webelos Den meeting • Inviting Scoutmaster and troop youth leaders to participate in pack graduation ceremonies • Using Webelos Den chief as recruiter • Providing an excellent Cub program so Cubs and families will be interested Boy Scouts

7. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Improving Coordination • Comparing Calendars • Pack and Troop Committees working with boy led units avoiding conflicts • Inviting to important events • Blue and Gold Banquet • Courts of Honor • Bridging Ceremony • Pinewood Derby • Outdoor Troop Activities

8. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Troop Leadership Roles • Den Chiefs • Provides opportunity for leadership for younger Boy Scouts • Appointed by Senior Patrol Leader in consultation with Scoutmaster and Cubmaster • Work with Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster and Den Leaders to determine roles and expectations • Den Leader Training available on Council or District levels

9. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Troop Webelos Resource Person • Usually an Assistant Scoutmaster • Helps teach new skills to Webelos • Secures resource people to teach Webelos adventures • Responsibilities include • Work closely with Webelos Den Leader • Helps schedule joint activities on quarterly basis • Recruits and trains Webelos Den Chief • Occasionally attends Webelos Den meetings • Helps loan Troop outdoor equipment for Webelos overnight campouts • Helps plan bridging ceremonies

10. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Pack Leadership Positions • Webelos Den Leader • Develops relationship with 1 or more Troops • Ensures completion of Webelos and Arrow of Light ranks • Plans joint events with Troop • Coordinates with Troop Resource Person • Plans Bridging ceremony with Scoutmaster or troop resource person • Provides guidance and expectations for Den Chief

11. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Pack Leadership Positions • Cubmaster/Assistant Cubmaster • Coordinates with Den Leaders, Scoutmaster and SPL the assignment of Den Chiefs • Participates in Den Chief Training • Helps to establish and maintain good relationships with Troops • Works with troop leaders to establish Webelos to Scout Transition plan, including Bridging Ceremony

12. Improving Communication Between Packs and Troops • Troop Court of Honor • Webelos Overnight campout • Webelos Den Meeting • Evening Campfire • Afternoon of troop campout • Community Good Turn • Day Hike • Field Day • Blue and Gold Dinner • Memorial Day Parade • Eagle Scout Service Project Suggestions for Joint Pack and Troop Activities

13. Getting the Word Out • How to Connect with Council/District • Send leader representative to monthly District Roundtable meetings • Develop working relationship with Unit Commissioner • Receive Council News/Notices

14. Getting the Word Out • Council Information Resources • Council Newspaper or email • Council Webpage • Council Facebook

15. Improving Communication with Parents • Essential for Parents • Improves Scouting for Parents • Gains trust from Parents • Improves the understanding of the principals of Scouting for parents • Essential for Scouts • Improve the experience for Scouts • Improves the understanding of the principals of scouting for Scouts

16. Improving Communication with Parents • Parents understand and know what is going on within the unit. • Parents have a clear direction in which way the unit is heading. • Parents are up to date with events within the unit • Scouts understand and know what going on within the unit • Scouts have a clear direction in which way the unit is heading. • Scouts are up to date with events within the unit

17. Improving Communication with Parents • Training- Parent orientation training • Making sure parents know they are welcome (especially in packs) • Social media • Calander of events up to date • Suggestion/feedback box- feedback is positive • Appropriate handouts

18. Improving Communication with Parents • Between Units and Parents • Parent Orientation Meeting at beginning of program year • Required attendance • Handout calendar of main events

19. Improving Communication with Parents • Between Units and Parents • Periodically invite to meetings to provide updates • Invite to attend part of campouts to see what Scouts are doing • Utilize variety of communication methods • E-mail • Text • Facebook • Print

20. Improving Communication with Parents • According to Council, What is the #1 barrier of communication between the Council and parents?

21. Improving Communication with Parents • Scoutmaster/Cubmaster not passing on to parents what activities are available to the units.   

22. Improving Communication with Parents • Council advised they could do a better job of updating the calander of events. • Also would like to see the leaders pass on any information for events. • Even if the unit was not going to participate in that event.

23. Improving Communication with Parents • Open mindedness and a willingness to go the extra mile by leaders. • We volunteer to be here for the Youth, so be here in all aspects.