Summertime Recruiting – The Season of Yes
Summertime recruiting is one of the great opportunities for reaching a lot of people that most groups tend to let slip away.
The first month that I was the District Executive for Boy Scouts in Aroostook County, Maine, the temperature never got about zero. I thought of this as “the Season of No”. Asking people to do anything when it’s that cold is like taking an exercise in humility. On the other hand, when the weather warmed up, amazingly, people tended to be in a much, much better mood.
So take full advantage of this, and get out there when people are in their best moods of the year – the time when their stress levels are at their lowest points. People take the vacations, family trips, and relaxing outings that they’ve been looking forward to all year. It’s a great time for them to see your message. You want them to associate your program with the positive feelings of summer.
Fairs and Carnivals
I first learned about Scouting in the early 1980s. It wasn’t from a flyer or a yard sign. It was from the Native American Ceremonial Dance exhibition that the local troop (Troop 25 in Putnam, Conn.) has been doing since 1960. I was probably about 4 or 5, and they got to wear cool costumes, make a lot of noise, set off smoke bombs. But the best thing they did was invite the little kids like me into the council ring to dance with them. I was impressed, and when it was I was old enough to join Cub Scouts a few years later, I was excited to do so.
Looking back on it now, it was (and is), a great summertime recruiting activity. The Woodstock Fair where they performed this draws in hundreds of thousands of people every year. So it’s big audience. The troop had an attractive display that drew crowds, many of them had potential members (and volunteers) in them. They got to show off their active program without being preachy, and then the had an interactive activity.
Now, you don’t have to go quite that far (as it took many years, and thousands of hours of volunteer labor to make that happen), but you can certainly set up a table. You could do it as a fundraiser, or just run some basic program for free – but either way, you’re increasing your visibility. Make sure you’ve got plenty of promotional materials ready to go – and people there who can answer questions.
Beaches
If you’ve got posters or yard signs, beaches can be a great place for them in the hot months. You’ve got people in a good mood going to have fun. It’s always good to engage people when they’re happy.
I’m not sure I’d set up a recruiting table at the beach – but anywhere you can find a bulletin board near a body of water should have a flyer for your group on it.
I’d also look at the route to the beach as prime territory for yard signs. As with any yard sign, you’re looking for a high traffic area where people will tend to have to stop their cars. The intersection that everybody has to pass on the way to the beach would be a great place to get your yard sign.
Parades
I personally hate parades. Hate may be too strong a word, but I don’t see the point of some people watching other people walk on holidays. Probably goes back to the Little League Parades I did as a kid. I just wanted to play baseball, and a slow, mile march before the game seemed pointless. Anyway, thank you for indulging my inner 9-year-old.
Of course, as a recruiter, I like them. It’s my cross to bear. Getting your group to march in a parade is a great way of getting some free publicity. If you’ve got some promotional material to hand out, even better.
And now, as a Little League coach myself, I do like marching in them with my son.
Professional Baseball Games / Concerts / Races
One of the places I’ve been successful in directly reaching a lot of people is at minor league baseball games. They tend to be working hard to fill seats, and make community connections, so them letting you set up a table to hand out promotional materials can usually be a win-win situation.
For several years, I would set up a table with the Boy Scouts at Connecticut Tigers games in late August. I’d get a few volunteers and set up a small display. Then we’d give a sticker and flyer to every family coming through the gates.
The same basic principle could be used at auto races and appropriate concerts.
Summer Day Camps
If you’re recruiting for youth programs, you need to do your homework on the summer day camps in your area. Think town day camps, vacation bible schools, etc. When are they being held, how many people will be involved, and can you use them to reach potential members and their families? For Scouting groups with school access issues, this can be a perfect way to get a flyer in the hands of the families your trying to reach.
If you can provide some sort of example of your program for the kids, you’re that much better off. It’s also that much more likely to get you in the door.
Ice Cream Shops
Another place where people tend to be in a good mood over the summer. As a parent, I know that going to the ice cream shop down the street is a reward for my kids when they’re good on a summer’s day. The other nice thing is that these places tend to have bulletin boards. You should definitely have one of your flyers up at each one in your town.
Make Your Own Activity
Can you do a fun event to draw people in? Why wait until September to have a fun outdoor event? How about a luau, touch-a-truck, or a barbecue for summertime recruiting? Why not a family day at the local park when the weather’s nice?
Don’t forget to properly market your event, run a great program, and get more people into your program this summer!
Can you think of any other great summertime recruiting opportunities? If so, please add them in the comments below, and have a great summer!