Once again the Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Rivers Council announces the “drive for 5” campaign. This program has been instituted to recognize and reward the efforts of those Cub Scout packs which go the extra mile to ensure growth in their Pack. When a Pack successfully completes all components of the Drive for 5 program they will earn a free pinewood derby car for each Cub Scout.

How does it work?

Cub Scout Packs that grow their Scout membership by five over their 2010 year end membership December 31^st 2010 (the amount of youth you have prior to rechartering) will receive one pinewood derby car for each registered Scout in their pack.

Note: keep in mind, year-end membership includes an youth who were a registered member of your pack at any time in 2010. This includes youth who quit or bridged into boy scouts.

To qualify for drive for 5 you will need to recover any losses and add 5 youth.

Conditions:

1. Grow your pack membership by five over your 12/31/10.
2. In order to qualify, all youth applications and the appropriate fees need to be submitted by your Pack to the Connecticut Rivers Council office by September 30, 2011.
3. New this year: one Pack representative attends a joining night training session held this summer to learn about recruitment tools and methods.
4.  New this year: Your Pack needs to recruit and staff three leadership positions that are critical to both recruitment and Pack success. The individuals filling these positions need to be identified to the council so that they can receive information to assist them:

• Tiger Den Coach - serves as a resource to den leaders, explains scouting program to Tiger families, divides Tiger cubs into dens, identifies Tiger Den Leader(s), provides ongoing support, and ensures compliance with BSA/ pack policies.
•  Cub Camping Coordinator- (also referred to as Outings Chair or Pack Camping Chair) Reports to the District Cub Scout Camping Chair, schedules pack presentations on camping opportunities, become familiar with camp program to address FAQ’s, work to ensure maximum number of youth attend a cub day or resident camp.
•  Joining Night Coordinator- attend council training in August, distribute and post flyers and posters (after obtaining school permission) and other materials, prepare recruitment materials, plan and coordinate recruitment night activities in September.
  

Anyone who is familiar with the drive for five program from previous years will recognize that there has been a change. In years past, there was no training requirement, but the council has found that Packs that attend the joining night training recruit more youth and new adult volunteer leaders. Who would not want more volunteers to help your pack? Packs that delay their fall recruitment until late September and early October generally recruit far fewer scouts. With that in mind, the fall recruitment plan stresses the need to recruit early in the school year so as to maximize the total number of recruits. Packs without key volunteers at the start of the School year tended to struggle initially and retain Scouts. This program is designed to help you implement processes which have proven successful, will ultimately reduce stress at the start of the year and reflects the fact that recruitment needs to be completed in September.

We wish you all the best as you embark on your fall recruitment and offer a new group of youth the opportunity to join cub scouting.

If you have any questions about the ‘Drive for 5’ program, please speak with your District Join Scouting Night Chair (see the committee listing in the resources menu above.