Scouter S.B. needs help—literally. Plenty of boys want to join the Cub Scout pack at his church, but few parents are willing to serve as leaders. He wants to know how to engage uninterested parents.

SELL THE SIZZLE

When pitching the idea of becoming a leader, I tell parents it’s about more than just the boys’ experience; it’s about the leaders’ experience, too. I have made many new friends I wouldn’t have met if not for Scouting; my fellow Scout leaders have become some of my best friends.

Cubmaster R.B.
Salem, Ore.

COMBINE AND CONQUER

Many parents are concerned about the time commitment and about working with energetic young boys. Encourage interested parents to pair up and share the leadership role. New den leaders should ease their workload by asking all parents to teach at least one badge requirement and to host at least one den meeting a year. Asking parents to attend all den meetings and outings with their Scout helps new den leaders with crowd control, as well.

Troop Committee Member A.M.
Batavia, Ill.

JUST ONE THING

Ask parents individually—not in a large group—if they can do one thing. Can they transport Scouts to the park or make the den or pack newsletter? Can they help man the attendance table at pack meetings? Can they provide refreshments? Can they help the Bear leader? Can they teach crafts? If they help with one small thing, eventually they see that it’s not really that hard.

And always say thank you. Recognize your leaders or helpers monthly—especially those who do once-a-year things. If parents see others are appreciated, they will want in, too.

Chartered Org. Representative P.A.
Fernandina Beach, Fla.

OVERCOME OBJECTIONS

Address the concerns that may be holding back a parent from volunteering. Discuss the available training, especially online training, and have handouts available with local training schedules.

Show a copy of the Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide; underscore that the guide has den and pack meetings planned out so that preparation and planning are minimal. Show a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book and demonstrate its usefulness as a handy reference for answering Cub Scouting questions. In short, tell them, “We’ll teach you how.”

Unit Commissioner S.E.
Hurst, Tex.

THREE IDEAS

First, at a mandatory parent meeting, have a flip chart on which an eagerly awaiting youth can write down suggestions for programming that parents would like to see. Ask them if they have anything that they can do to help.

Second, find out what specialties the parents have. Those are areas that you can tap into. Third, have everyone raise their hand to questions like “Who likes to do crafts?” Then point to them and say, “You’re it!”

Unit Commissioner M.P.
Fuquay-Varina, N.C.

HOLD YOUR HORSEPOWER

Utilize the pinewood derby to overcome this problem. At the pinewood derby, schedule the races by rank, but before each race make sure the parents of all Scouts participating are signed up for at least one task. If you don’t have 100-percent signups, hold up the race until that occurs. You want to see pressure put on the parents? Watch an eager pinewood racer being held up with the threat of no race. There is no substitute!

Former Cubmaster M.K.
Johns Creek, Ga.

START AT THE END

Some parents have to see the end result to see the need. Have an Eagle Scout or two discuss how it made them feel to have their parents involved at such an early age. You might also check with your troop and attend an Eagle ceremony. I’ve heard several comments during Eagle courts of honor that would bring tears to your eyes and tug very strongly on parents’ hearts.

Pack Trainer S.W.
Arlington, Tex.

NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT

Communicate to parents that Cub Scouting is designed to provide activities for parents to do with their Scouts to make lifelong memories. The age group is the perfect window to give parents the opportunities to watch their Scouts grow and be involved in the fun. Once Cub Scouts move on to Boy Scouting, parental wisdom is replaced by wisdom from peers and leaders and the opportunity to be involved is less personal.

Recruiting Chair B.B.
Saint Charles, Ill.

WE WANT YOUR SOLUTIONS!
Click here to answer the current What Would You Do? question or submit your own questions.

The question for the next edition of Scouting appears below. Click here to submit your answers today!

Food Fight

We have a Scout with very poor eating habits, and his parents are enabling him to continue eating in this manner. On numerous outings he has collapsed, partly because of his lack of adequate nutrition. Our leadership is in agreement that he cannot be allowed to participate in our more rigorous activities. What can we do to make this Scout’s parents understand the seriousness of this situation?

B.P.
Bowie, Md.