1. Update Your Unit Pin

One of the easiest things you can do to help prospective members find your unit is to make sure your Unit Pin is complete and up to date. The Unit Pin provides basic information about your unit and is normally where BeAScout.org directs families looking for a unit.

While the ZIP code search on BeAScout.org does not work reliably for many of our units, many families use our Find a Unit page on the council website, which links directly to individual Unit Pin pages. For this reason, we encourage all unit leaders to update their Unit Pin and periodically review it to ensure the information is accurate.

Unit Key 3 members and their designated delegates can update the Unit Pin by logging into My.Scouting.org and selecting Unit Pins under the Organization Manager module. This module is available to Unit Key 3 members and their delegates.

Your Unit Pin can include important information such as:

• Unit contact information

• Estimated cost to join

• Unit meeting days and times

• Meeting frequency

• Whether the unit charges additional dues

• Other meeting schedule information

Take a few minutes to review your Unit Pin today. Accurate and complete information makes it easier for families to find your unit and understand what to expect when they reach out.

2. The Recruiter Strip

The simplest recruiting tool in Scouting: any youth member who brings a friend into the program can earn a Recruiter Strip, worn right on the uniform. Encourage them by using the There's no minimum, one new friend is enough, and a scout can earn it again at each level of the program. Make it part of every meeting: ask scouts who they could invite this week.

• Official Recruiter Strip requirements: https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/recruiter-strip/

3. Hold a Join Scouting Night

A single well-run event still does more for membership than months of scattered effort.  The shape that works best:

1. Pick a date and a visible location: a school gym or community center works well.

2. Promote it two to three weeks out through flyers, school newsletters, and social media.

3. Brief your leaders so every parent question gets a confident answer.

4. Run hands-on activity stations so kids experience Scouting instead of just hearing about it.

5. Have applications, paper and the online link, ready at the door, and collect them that night.

6. Follow up within 48 hours with anyone who didn't sign up on the spot.

7. Learn more about Join Nights with this Cub Scout Sign-Up Night article. Simply adapt the Cub Scout-specific information and recommendations to fit your Troop, Crew, or Ship.

8. ...and don't forget to contact your district executive to get help with

   • School/community recruiting

   • Join Night planning

   • Registration assistance

   • Military Family Fee Waiver information

   • Tell us your Join Night date as soon as you have it scheduled so we can help promote and support it!

4. Marketing/Promo Material for Your Recruiting Events

Need some flyers, bookmarks, peer-to-peer cards, or videos to show to help promote Scouting in your area?  We have you covered.

• Cub Scout Recruiting Materials

• Scouts BSA Recruiting Materials

5. Use Council Unit Recruiting Incentives & Get Everyone Involved

Units with 5% youth growth over December 31st of the previous year get something back from the council.  Remind your youth, volunteers, and parents in your unit to get involved in recruiting so you can get some nice free stuff!  Contact Your District Executive for More Info

Cub Scouts: A free Pinewood Derby car kit for every newly registered Cub Scout.

All Other Units: 10% off at the Council Scout Shop for every newly registered member.

6. Start A New Unit and Earn the William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award

For the volunteer who does more than recruit into an existing unit, and instead builds a brand-new pack, troop, crew, or ship from the ground up. Named for one of Scouting America's founders, it's earned by following the national Unit Performance Guide through to a chartered, growing unit, and is presented by the council.

• Official award requirements: https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/william-boyce/

• Talk to the council about starting a unit: https://www.fareastcouncil.org/membership/recruiting-materials

6. Marketing/Promo Material for Your Recruiting Events

Need some flyers, bookmarks, peer-to-peer cards, or videos to show to help promote Scouting in your area?  We have you covered.

• Cub Scout Recruiting Materials

• Scouts BSA Recruiting Materials

7. Share Your Membership Recruiting Ideas

Have a successful recruiting idea or strategy that could help other units? We’d love to hear it! Send your ideas to membership@fareastcouncil.org, and we may add them to this list to help units across the council.