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Sequoia Council |
Useful information
New NATIONAL PARENT INITIATIVE PROGRAM
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is pleased to announce, as part of the new national strategic plan, a National Parent Initiative to engage parents in all units—Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Teams and Venturing Crews. Elements of the initiative will be added to our current literature as they are revised and incorporated into our program delivery system. Goals, strategies, and tactics are being developed to help carry out the mission and achieve the vision of this program. A special thanks goes to the Gerald I. Lawhorn Family for their kind and generous support of this initiative.
The mission is to develop and implement methods that increase the passion and participation of volunteers, especially parents of Scouts. Promoting parental understanding and appreciation of Scouting will be the foundation from which all methods will develop. It is our intent to highlight the importance of Scouting in the development of youth.
The vision of the program is:
“A passionate parent initiative that continually increases youth and parent recruitment, retention, advancement, participation, determination, and a passion for Scouting.”
By adopting this vision at all program levels, units will be able to access new avenues of support that will serve to increase program quality. The vision captures our passionate attitude about Scouting, and it can inspire many parents to become involved and more committed to the success of their child’s Scouting experience.
All units are encouraged to adopt the program as an integral part of their unit’s program. It is a part of one of the requirements to earn the new Centennial Quality Award beginning in 2007.
The objectives established for the program initiative include:
· Increase parent recruitment.
· Increase parent retention.
· Increase parent participation.
· Increase youth advancement.
· Increase youth determination.
· Increase the passion for participation in Scouting by youth and parents.
As part of the basic program, each youth member’s family will be encouraged to:
1) Complete a “Parent Talent Survey” and turn in to their unit;
2) Influence their child to become a Scout;
3) Participate in Scouting directly with their child;
4) Go to and observe Scout meetings;
5) Be part of the unit’s program-- both weekly meetings and outings;
6) Support the program financially;
7) Coach their child’s advancement and the earning of recognition awards; and
8) Serve in one support role during the Scouting year.
Each unit should select someone to serve on their unit committee to accept the responsibility for delivery and coordination. This person would be responsible for keeping the parents informed of the unit’s programs and needs. They would provide new parents with:
1) A welcome package of how the unit works.
2) Provide an orientation for all parents to answer questions and share the benefits of the Scouting program to their family.
3) Keep all parents updated on the unit’s program and their child’s involvement.
4) Secure a parent’s commitment to help with an assignment or project annually.
Ø Each new parents participant should register with the Boy Scouts of America!
To start, identify a key volunteer to assist with the coordination in your unit. You can go to the Pilot Council’s Web site for what they are doing in the development of the program— www.ScoutParents.org.
