Marketing Scouting

Notice that they didn't describe Scouting as "fun".

I just returned from the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto. The cadets had a large display at Ontario place. They had a boat, a glider, a jeep, and other things that kids could touch, feel, and get into. I was thinking at the time that a similar setup for Scouting would have been good exposure.

During the airshow at the CNE they towed around one of the cadet gliders and had running commentary on the pilot (a 19 year old cadet) and cadets in general. The glider towing continued during a SAR demonstration so they got a lot of coverage. One thing they mentioned was that cadets was the largest youth organisation in the country.


Allan.

While numbers aren't everything, I happened to stumble across the cadet figures:

Air cadets 24,500
Army cadets 20,000
Sea cadets 10,500

For a total of 55,000 kids; aged 12 to 18.

So Scouting (Scouts Canada) still has more kids in total, 66,656 Beavers/Cubs/Scouts/Venturers at the end of 2007/2008 (the latest published figures). However, we only had 19,691 (Scouts & Venturers) in that age range

Lies, damn lies, and statistics.


Allan.

As a professional marketer, I feel I should put my two cents in on this topic.
Exposure is 100% the issue. Every time there is a president sworn in or publicly speaks in the USA there is a member of the BSA there in the camera shot. Ottawa gives us X number of dollars every year but we have no Scout in the shot when our politicians talk. I have been talking with my MLA about this and he seems to agree.
In addition, Scouting turned 100 two years ago and in Canada at least it seems like no one outside of Scouting noticed. When I was a youth, there was a documentary about scouting on CBC that I can remember seeing my parents even taped it. How about how most other counties around the world had a coin like the dollar coin in Australia or the 50 pence coin in United Kingdom was issued for the 100th year of Scouting. Scouts in Canada did not have this. There was barely a whisper out of most groups about this event. Mind you, this is coming from a person that collects old scouting hand books. I only say this because if look at the last 4 additions of the Scout field book or better yet the cub hand book we are dumbbing them down. In the 1986 Cub book, they talk about how to build a crystal diode radio that is not in the current copy… I ask why? Have the youth gotten dumb so they will not understand how this works? No…. I build them with the cub pack 2 years ago and they thought it was “SO COOL!” I madly bided for a copy of the 1953 “Scouting for boys’ Canadian addition” on e-bay just so I could see what was cool in 1953 to do with my scouts today. I would highly recommend to all leaders to head to a used book store and get a hold of a 1970’s Cub book and a 1960’s or 70’s Scout field book to do some of the experiences in them.
Do not get me wrong I think we are all to blame for letting scouting get stale in off years I know I have in some ways, but it is up to all of us to bring it back. Talks to your youth see what they say to help the program may help. There is no reason that Scouts cannot be cool again. I know my program would see more youth if there were more youth in my area of Calgary. Last night at our cub meeting, alone we picked up three new youth and one that came from another group saying that he is going to tell his friends about our cub pack. However, the leadership teams that is part of my group rock. About 20% of all of our youth in our Beaver, Cub and Scout groups are youth that are outside of our area we should be drawing from. They may start by living in our area then when they move away they keep coming because of the program we offer. Do not get me our program is not for everyone. Some things that have killed our numbers in the last few years out side of a dying part of the city is that we no longer can do our buddy camp. We use to have a camp the first month of the year to help draw new youth from our current youth. Under the new insurance rules, we can no longer do this. Our little group was hit hard with this ruling, but in the last few years lots of Community events where the Scout Troup offers to host and patrols helps people in the area see we are alive and active has helped our numbers. Go to one of your local schools and just ask 5 youth you encounter if they would like to do what would did at your last meeting or camp. If they are board of what you are telling them then you have to change your program. If you get at least two of those youth sign up you know you’re on the right track.

You want to read the COOL BOOKS fram yeateryear and all the original Scouting books. Grumpy Ogre has uploqaded them all to a site called The Dump: http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/scouts.html This is a really worthwhile site for all Scouting Handbooks. Try it, you'll love it.

I have to say that someone got the message!
I love the "good turn" bracelets idea. Now is that hard part, getting them to our youth and having them hand them out. I would love to get one from a person that I don't know that has never looked at scouting before.
For all the dumb things that SC has done in the past few years they have done a great job with this one!

Scouter james, Are you saying the red wrist bands are a good idea OR dumb. Sorry, I can't seem to quite understand, a little slow today.

Well, after explaining and handing them out, I am glad they are red. Easy to see in the dark parking lot after the meeting. I have to move to the side of DUMB idea. The wrist bands are elastic, so they make a great weapon with a stick or finger. The squirrels had to run for cover at Mondays meeting. Now I have had a two return because they thought that they belong to the group (idea of passing it along didn't quite take, although I can start the process again, but one has amy inked on it ). Is someone brave enough to step forward to let us all know who idea this was, and how much did this cost?

BalooTwo - I think the bands are a great idea. I don't have costs but I'm sure that they cost only pennies. I'm just sad that the logistics have failed us - if we get any at all it will be after Good Turn Week is over and done with.

I actually thought the wrist bands were a neat idea when I first heard about it. At least somebody is trying. Though I knew it wouldn't work at the Venturer level; at least not with my Venturers. I thought it would work best at the Cub age. It will be interesting to see what our Cub leaders have to say about it.

A quick check on Google shows the cost for 89,000 wrist bands to be ~$14,000.


Allan.

The concept is good, and it appears low cost which is good. I would think that this was not taken far enough. Too me, it would have been more meaningful if the youth crafted a wristband or two. more of a personal touch. Unfortunately, one band per child doesn't last long and all is forgotten. Plus, my hammy wrists couldn't quite support a band (and took some hair off with it... enough said). And, wood working night on walking sticks + elastic wristband = bad timing on my part and sore squirrel tails.....

Yes, I agree, someone is trying and I think trying on the core values of Scouting like 'do a good turn' is a good way to go.

Scouter james, Are you saying the red wrist bands are a good idea OR dumb. Sorry, I can't seem to quite understand, a little slow today.

Well, after explaining and handing them out, I am glad they are red. Easy to see in the dark parking lot after the meeting. I have to move to the side of DUMB idea. The wrist bands are elastic, so they make a great weapon with a stick or finger. The squirrels had to run for cover at Mondays meeting. Now I have had a two return because they thought that they belong to the group (idea of passing it along didn't quite take, although I can start the process again, but one has amy inked on it ). Is someone brave enough to step forward to let us all know who idea this was, and how much did this cost?

I thought they were a great idea. I know my youth loved them, and my co-leader that works in a school said they were going around the school like wild fire.

Hello all,
All it took was a quick e-mail to the local newspaper to invite them to see what we could do. She came out for ~30 minutes and here is what we got:
http://www.orleansstar.ca/Living/Commun ... d-skills/1

Some quick suggestions on how to make this easy for everyone:
1) Prepare a cool night where the media and your section would be interested;
2) Prepare notes for yourself as to what message you want to get across;
3) Find a parent who can also speak with enthusiasm. Suggest some speaking points for them;
4) About 2 weeks before the event, send an e-mail to the local media people to invite them. Follow up 4-5 days in advance;
5) Arrive 10-15 early to brief the media and then carry on as if they were not there. They'll do the rest.

Fingers crossed that between this and the invitations we made, Monday will be a bustling night with lots of early registrations.
Hawkeye