Retain Your Scouts!
Keep Scouting Fun!
Westchester-Putnam Council
Best Wood Badge Course
N7–388–11–2
Beaver Patrol
What are we
trying to do?
•Trying to build
confident and
conscientious adults
•Keep youth
inspired and eager
•Build strong
program for all ages
•Boy lead but
parent sponsored
How you might do it?
The old-fashioned way
How do Scouts learn?
1. By example
2. By their own personal
accomplishments
– Setting goals
– Persevering
– Meeting those goals
3. By recognition of those
accomplishments
How do adults help?
•
•
•
•
•
We are conscientious
We strive to be civic minded
We teach what we know
We give Scouts challenges
We recognize Scouts when
they meet those challenges
The Cub Scout Years
Ideas for Retention
Meetings and Activities require PLANNING
» Scout Basics – Sign, Salute, Handshake
» Requirements and Achievements by Rank
» Ceremonies
Ideas for Retention
Meetings and Activities require PLANNING
» Hands-On Activities
» Local Field Trips
» Scrapbook/Historian
Ideas for Retention
Meetings and Activities require PLANNING
» Pinewood Derby
Ideas for Retention
Meetings and Activities require PLANNING
» Summer Camp
» Arrow of Light/Bridging
The Boy Scout Years
•Scout Instructors and
Guides run TT program
with Adult mentors
•First campout and Troop
meetings = Tenderfoot
TRAIL TO FIRST CLASS AND STAR
First Class Activities
Camping Cooking
Knots
Nature
Swimming First Aid
Citizenship Safety
Map/Compass
Position in Troop
+ Four Summer Camp
Merit Badges that
Include First Aid and
Swimming
+ Family /Citizenship
Gets You a Star!
Ready to think about
Eagle
HIGH
ADVENTURE
THE BIG
TRIP
PHILMONT
SEABASE
NORTHERN TIER
SUMMIT BASE
CATSKILLS
ADIRONDACKS
WHITE MTNS
APPALACHIAN
TRAIL
Keeping Your
Stars
Senior
Leaders of
the Troop
New
Challenges
Monthly Campouts
All events are posted on the Troop’s
website calendar
Early sign-up really helps
District Events
3 per year
Trek-O-Ree (November)
Klondike (in January)
Spring Camporee (April/May)
School Breaks
Winter
Winter cabin campout—E.g., Durland,
Read, AMC and ADK cabins in NY and NH
Spring
Backpacking
Memorial Day Weekend
Family Campout helps with Tenderfoot
training and building Troop camraderie
Summer Camp
Summer Camp (first two weeks in July)
Week-long treks for Scouts 13 and older
Troop Events
• Organized by Patrol
• Planned at monthly
Greenbar meetings
Patrol Leaders
(or their assistants)
Plan and run their
patrol
• Assign duties to
patrol members
• Prepare duty roster
Patrol Leader Parents
Help implement
the plan
• Help with food
purchases
• Organize
carpooling
Rules of the Road for Adults
Here’s what to ask from adults:
Be Conscientious
•Touch base with your scout. How he is advancing?
•Be on time for pickup and drop-off
•Make sure they are in uniform
•Bring their books and a pen
•Help them focus on personal goals
Be Civic Minded
•Help your Scout leaders
•Use the troop website
•Sign up early
•Pay for dues and events in a timely fashion
•Follow the Rules
Volunteer to Teach What You Know
•Register as an adult—it’s easy!!!
•Get trained—Youth Protection—it’s Free!
•Teach a course
•Be a merit badge counselor of Patrol mentor
•Whatever…
Recognize Your Scout’s Accomplishments
•Court of Honor
•Reinforcing their achievements
Community Service
Trail to Eagle (Requirements)
Progression to First Class
• Basic Scout Skills
• Participation in 10 or more troop events
Star Scout
• 4 months active participation after 1st class
• 6 merit badges (including 4 of the 21 required
for Eagle)
• Service project (6 hrs)
• Leadership position in troop
3. Life Scout
• 6 months active participation after Star
• 5 additional merit badges (including 3
additional of the 21 required for Eagle)
• Service project (6 hrs)
• Leadership position
• Teach younger Scouts skills
4. Eagle Scout
• 6 months active participation after Life
• 10 additional merit badges (21 merit badges
total including all Eagle required badges)
• Eagle project
• Leadership position
Palm Awards
• 3 months active participation after Eagle
• 5 additional merit badges
The Process
•Scoutmaster conference
•Board of Review
•Troop advancement chairman
Court of Honor
3 times per year
•October
•February
•June
Separate Eagle Court of Honor
The Venturing Years
What is Venturing?
--An Overview-•Co-ed program for Youth ages 14-21
•Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship
between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their
communities and is a program of exciting and meaningful
activities that helps youth pursue their special interests,
grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.
•Offers a broad range of opportunities for youth while still
following the tenets of traditional Scouting
GOALS OF VENTURING
Goals
Young adults involved in Venturing will:
-Learn to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values in
the Venturing Oath and Code.
-Experience a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure.
-Become a skilled training and program resource for Cub Scouts, Boy
Scouts, and other groups.
-Acquire skills in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts and hobbies,
religious life, or Sea Scouting.
-Experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and be given
opportunities to take on leadership roles.
-Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring, and fun
environment
SEA SCOUTS
“Sea Scouts is a specialized segment of the
Venturing program, which was organized to
address members' boating skills and promote
knowledge of our maritime heritage.”
Sea Scout Ships focus on sailing and
cruising either sailboats or power vessels.
During the boating seasons, Sea Scouts
learn to maintain and operate then vessel,
with a focus on learning the safe and proper
methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also
learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to
take advantage of wind and tide, and how to
drop anchor or approach a dock. Most ships
hold formal meetings conducted in either full
dress of work uniforms. Swimming,
lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary
Sailing and Seamanship, and CPR courses
are taught by the officers or outside aides.
ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
-Bronze, Gold, and Silver Awards
-Ranger Award
-SeaScout Quartermaster Award
-Quest Award
-Venturing Leadership Award
The Pay Off?
Something they can carry with them their entire lives:
• Confident
• Conscientious
• Well-rounded adults
Thanks!