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How to Get Parents Involved with Cub Scouts

Cub Scouting is a volunteer-run organization, but do you struggle to get parents involved with Cub Scouts? Consider these 14 ways to get the parent volunteers you need.

getting parents involved with cub scouts

Recently, one of our readers asked for suggestions on how to get parents involved with Cub Scouts. That is something that many Cub Scout packs struggle with. How do we get parents to help out so that the burden isn't all on the den leaders or committee members?

We all are busy, but I'm a big believer that we make time for what's important to us.

Scouting isn't like soccer or baseball where we're on the sidelines cheering our kids on. Cub Scouting is hands on, and it's for the whole family

parents at cub scout meeting

Whether you're helping them learn how to tie knots or showing them how to use hand tools or teaching them how to cook their own breakfast, parents will definitely need to be involved.

And that doesn't mean that parental involvement is only being one of the registered leaders. In fact, family involvement comes in many forms. You may take a leadership role such as committee chair or pack committee member, but Scout parents can help deliver the Cub Scout program in many other ways such as helping with the Pinewood Derby or Blue and Gold banquet, planning field trips as one of the den activities, or helping run the monthly pack meeting.

I did some research and found 14 ideas that may be helpful to get families involved with Cub Scouts.  Not all of the suggestions will be appropriate for your pack or den, but I hope that some of these will be beneficial for you.

14 Ideas to Encourage Parents to Volunteer for Cub Scouts

  1. Explain the benefits of volunteering.
  2. Set expectations.
  3. Ask personally.
  4. Start early.
  5. Break up jobs.
  6. Share roles.
  7. Know your parents.
  8. Discover talents.
  9. Have clear expectations.
  10. Define responsibilities for your specific pack or den.
  11. Provide training.
  12. Plan den meetings.
  13. Mentor new leaders.
  14. Use drastic measures.

1.  Explain the benefits of volunteering. The number one thing that we need to stress to new parents is that they have a great opportunity to interact with their children in a way that they wouldn't otherwise. 

A great (albeit a bit guilt-laden) appeal you can use with your parents is the Adding Machine Tape Demonstration. I like this because it drives home the point that we really don't have a lot of time with our kids before they're off to live their own lives.

2.  Set expectations. In our pack, we tell all new families (and remind the current ones) that Cub Scouting is a family program. It is run by adult volunteers, and we need every family to participate in order to make it successful. We expect each family to volunteer in some way during the year.

3.  Ask personally. While talking to or emailing your entire pack is efficient, it's pretty easy for everyone to have the “someone else will volunteer” attitude. Personal appeals and direct contact usually work better.

Asking an individual to do a specific job makes it a lot harder for them to say no! Start with the pack approach, then talk to parents individually for any jobs that aren't filled yet.

parent volunteer pie in the face

4.  Start early. When the younger Scouts are Lions or Tigers, they have an adult partner who must attend with them, so use this opportunity to get them involved.

For example, ask a parent to lead the gathering activity for a particular meeting. When you first arrive, ask a parent to help you get everything set up.

One mom of a Tiger said she couldn't be the leader, but she would plan all of the outings. We also told my Tiger families that they would each be responsible for leading one meeting.

5.  Break up jobs. No one wants to be the “fund-raising committee chairman”, but they might be willing to coordinate the popcorn sale or organize the lemonade stand at the local festival. 

Splitting up responsibilities could allow some parents to get involved in Cub Scouts who might not otherwise be able to.

6.  Share roles. Dens can have co-leaders who take turns with the meetings. One den leader is responsible for one meeting; the other is responsible for the next meeting.

My husband was the den leader for our Arrow of Light Scouts, and I was the assistant leader. I planned the meetings, and he ran them.

7.  Know your parents. You may find out that one parent is reserved and introverted. Don't ask that person to lead a meeting or head up a committee.

Instead, ask him if he would be responsible for keeping track of advancement and awards for your den including going to the Scout Shop to buy the awards. Jobs that are more “behind-the-scenes” will be better suited for this type of parent.

Leading songs or helping with Cub Scout skits are good jobs for the parents who are outgoing. 

Matching the job with the parent's personality will make them feel more comfortable accepting the job.

Scout Leaders
Image Courtesy of WoodleyWonderWorks

8.  Discover talents. Many packs have parents fill out a talent sheet similar to this one.  It's a lot easier to ask someone who is an avid woodworker to lead the Bear Baloo the Builder adventure than to ask a person who has never picked up a hammer before before.  Parents will have hobbies and interests that you never expected.

9.  Have clear expectations. People want to know what they're getting into before they agree to do something. We all know what it's like to be told “all you have to do is…” only to find out later that there's a lot more to it than that.

10.  Define responsibilities for your specific pack or den. It's easy to simply point someone to a generic position description online, but that might not be how your pack operates.

For example, your secretary may be the one who is responsible for any required tour permits, but that isn't on the generic pack secretary job description provided by BSA.  Ensure that the job description matches the pack's expectations.

11.  Provide training. While the BSA required training is good, it isn't enough, especially for new den leaders. Your pack should have additional, practical training

Parents of new Scouts who have never been involved in Scouting are especially hesitant to volunteer. We owe it to our Cub Scouts and our parents to ensure they are spending their volunteer time actually planning activities–not researching what goes into a den meeting.

parents at crossover

12.  Plan den meetings. Planning is now easier than ever, thanks to the new Cub Scout Den Leader guides!  If your pack can afford it, purchase one of the leader guides for each rank.  They can be passed down at the end of the year.

Adults can also volunteer at the pack level to help plan pack activities such as a camping trip. 

13.  Mentor new leaders. New leaders need to know there's help available. A casual “call me if you need anything” isn't good enough.

The Cubmaster, Committee Chairperson or an experienced Den Leader should run the first two meetings for the new den leader so that she can get the hang of the meetings.

At a minimum, they should attend the first den meetings with the new leader. After that, call or email the new leader to ask what questions they have.

14.  Use drastic measures. In my research for this article, I discovered one Scouter's extreme method.

He says, “I have always promoted the ‘if-the-program-is-important,-here's-what-needs-to-be-done' approach. … I never had to cajole, beg, plead, guilt, people into doing something they didn't think all that important.” Here's how it works:

At a pack meeting, have an individual sign up sheet for each event/activity during the year. Ask parents to sign up as they come in the building. After the meeting starts, collect the sign up sheets. Pick up a sheet that doesn't have a volunteer and hold it up. Say, “here's the fall camporee flyer, who wants to take charge?” If no one raises their hand, crumple up the paper and throw it in the trash. Move on to the next sheet with no volunteers.

I like the concept but not necessarily the approach. I'm not sure I would crumple the paper and throw it away. I would, however, say that since we can't get a volunteer, we'll need to cancel the event. “It was so popular with the Cub Scouts last year, and I hate that we aren't going to be able to do it this year” would be my approach.

parents helping out at cub scouts

Our young people need some of our free time to give them the best possible program. Hopefully, these ideas will help you get the volunteers you need for this.

What other ideas do you have for encouraging parents (or other family members) to help out? Leave a comment below!

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

P.S. If this article gave you some ideas to help with recruiting parent volunteers, sign up below for more Cub Scout suggestions!

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Kelly

Wednesday 21st of March 2018

Our pack was a father led group when we first joined 3 years ago. I was the first female den leader, with 12 boys in my group. Trying to get parents do anything was SO difficult. Your article rings very true for my first year as a den leader. I did everything.

Late summer, leading up to our den's second year together, I sat down and planned out our Wolf year. Instead of asking for volunteers this time around, I assigned a parent to each lesson.

When I emailed the calender and assignments a couple weeks before school started, the reaction was crazy. I had never received that many replies from my scout parents about anything! All of them scared to have to lead a lesson. They all did great though.

I did my best to answer questions and lend support, but tried to stand back for the most part. I think most of the parents realize now what goes into leading a group of young boys, and are a little more willing to help. Or at least aren't as surprised when they are volunteered for something. It's been a real learning experience for all of us, including myself.

Keith

Monday 12th of March 2018

We have run into the opposing issue as parents. We have tried to volunteer. I wanted to teach the knife section and the knots section to Bears this year (as I did last year). I am thorough... a captain taught by my father (an old senior boatswain's mate). I placed it before the cub master and the den leader. The knots came up and the den leader never said it was coming up; the dads teaching were stumbling over each other and did not want to hear of help so I taught my son in the corner and all was well. I use poems to teach knots and my boys retain everything.

Next, we were not told about knives. I just taught my son individually because when I tried to interact with the mom who is acting as the den leader, it became a lot of drama. Less than a week later, a scout had an open knife during some free time at a pack meeting (another parent told him to put it away but it was not further addressed).

The result... we are pretty much done with scouts.

Tammy Allen

Sunday 20th of August 2017

I was thinking of signing my son up this year. However, when I was a kid most the of the events that included parents (at least where we are) only wanted the fathers and grandfathers to volunteer. His dad works way to much to be able to attend most of it. And I am all my son has other than that that is willing and able to go. Have things changed since I was young, and they now allow moms to attend and volunteer too? Or is it still male dominated? I understand if it is, however, I dont think I will sign him up if he isnt able to have someone to do stuff with him

Brenda

Sunday 26th of January 2020

It probably depends on your community. I was active on the pack level but had a similar situation on the troop level. Since I was made to feel unwelcome, my son was not motivated to attend much although I encouraged him. He eventually dropped out.

Holly

Wednesday 20th of September 2017

We're not make dominate in our area either, we have a large handful of mom's who are leaders /co leaders, myself also being a new Tiger den leader. Our cub master and committee chair are both female too. I have a son who is a boy scout and a cub scout (tiger) I love being involved.

Nacole

Monday 21st of August 2017

It's not male donminaited in our area. If not for our moms we probably wouldn't have our group anymore. We have 3 female den leaders, several female assistant den leaders, a female Cub Scout and troop master along with a lot on the committee.

This week is join scouting night at schools, I hope you go and check things out. :) Sign up for the $5 and go to a few meetings at least and get a feel for your area.