19 September 2009
Boy Scouts Might Advertise More Co-Ed Aspects
Posted by admin under: recruitment .
From the minds of those employed by the Boy Scouts of America are percolating ideas for ways to adjust the program to make it better. If you wade through some of the things like “change the computers in the council from Office 2000 to Office 2007″ you find some things that are interesting. Since I found out about the Venturing program in the Boy Scouts of America my daughter wanted to join. She’s been in Girl Scouts since she was 5 years old and with myself and my wife as leaders she has never wanted for adventure. However, the annual Girl Scout troop calendar is a committee process with all the girls and my daughter just couldn’t talk others into doing hikes and major campouts so she eagerly awaited the time when she could join Venturing when that’s most of what they want to do.
I was surprised that it took me so long to find out about Venturing since I was an active Scouter when it began. That’s why I agree with Gary Savignano at the BSA Innovation Engine when he says there should be more advertising to girls about this program.
I recently attended a camping trip with my daughters Venture Crew. Several of my daughters’ friends (female) are in the Crew and attended the trip. They were talking amongst themselves within ear shot as to why they had joined the Venture Crew. All said they were not getting the “outdoor program” they wanted in another youth serving organization not to be named here. None of them had ever heard of Venturing and if not asked by a friend to join and attending a fun first meeting, never would have joined. They all agreed they would have joined sooner if they had known about the program.
I would guess that this is a problem in most areas. I always call Venturing our “best kept secret”! Here lies the problem. Venturing is not as near a household name as Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting are. How can we truly grow this program when half the potential members are unaware it exists?
Have we ever advertised the Venturing Program to girls in major magazines/media that are geared/marketed to them? Do we plan to? I asked the girls on the trip if they had ever seen or heard an advertisement for Venturing and they said no. I understand that advertising in major media markets or magazines is not an inexpensive undertaking and local councils must continue efforts to promote all of our programs locally. However if we are ever going to break into the 14+ age group in a major way I believe we are going to need a coordinated national marketing plan to do so.
It’s hard to imagine doing this during the centennial celebration. I figure it will have to wait until 2011, but I like the idea as does a large number of professionals who voted on this topic. Of course, this begs a question. Coupled with the BSA signing a memorandum with the American Heritage Girls, does this mean that Boy Scouts is actively distancing itself from the Girl Scouts of the USA? I’ve sent queries to the national office with no reply.
- Girl Scouts and Venture Crews
- Can My Daughter Be an Eagle Scout?
- Woman President? You Betcha!
- Crew: Couldn’t Hack the Hike
- BSA: Online Rechartering
