new pack in low income area

[tommymcl1230]

Hi fellow scouters. Next week will be our first parent meeting for a new pack that is starting in a low income area. My question is since most of the parents do not drive and have little income coming in.what can i do to make this a pack fun doing the outdoor thing like camping and just fun things? I have so many questions,like i said this is a brand new pack and we still need to do all the organizational things. MY son wll be in this pack and i BELIEVE that everyone despite income or race deserves to be a part of this special SCOUTING thing we have.I do believe that our founding father started scoutingfor the low income kids back then,but maybe i am wrong.PLEASE help me with some advice!!!

[Karen_216]

Good luck to you.

We have a program called Scoutreach in our area to bring the scouting program in a non-traditional sense to lower income areas.In one program they play soccer,in another mostly do things after school at a time when they boys could be vulnerable-- maybe some do not have anyone to look after them after school even.

You could do relays and take hikes- even just walks in the neighborhood to and from areas- doesn't have to be the woods. Teach them personal safety. I'd say the sports thing may be good. Also appeal to companies such as TArget, Walmart, local sporting goods places for donations of camping supplies. Target chooses a certain amount to donate each month to organizations so put a letter in to them.

[John-in-KC]

Karen highlighted a National program, Scoutreach. It's an attempt by BSA to penetrate lower income, rural, and inner city areas with Scout units. In some cases, the Council will provide assistance, including additional volunteers, to help a SR unit run.

 

There is a huge amount of resources available, free, to help you ramp up your Pack. The knowledge base is fantastic; leverage it if you possibly can:

 

- http://www.scouting.org/CubScouts.aspx There is tremendous information available to you. Drill through this website, there are sheets which describe the roles of each person working with youth.

 

- District Roundtable: Your Pack is part of a geographic area called a Council. Within the Council are smaller areas for operations, called Districts. Each District, each month, provides the National program to leaders a month ahead of when they deliver it to youth. I encourage attendance

 

- Training: The National webiste, through the MyScouting portal, has the first (1/world) view of each Scouting program: Fast Start training. It's free, and it puts some tools in the toolbox. You do not have to be an adult member of BSA to register.

 

- More training: Ask your District Executive (he's a professional at the Scout Office) who your unit commissioner is. He/she should be a fairly experienced volunteer who can help you find resources. Hopefully, he can do a grip and grin with the training team and have some folks visit you to help you ramp up (btw, training should be offered fall and spring on a schedule).

 

- Your Council website: Most are full of resources these days.

 

- Finally, the Aims of Scouting are 3: Character Development, Citizenship Development, Personal Fitness. Here's a site with the methods and purposes of Cub Scouting:

http://www.scouting.org/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/pandm.aspx

 

Ask away, there are folks who like looking in here.

[gcan]

we pull from a low-income area, too. I would suggest a few things...

-have weekly den meetings someplace most parents can walk too.

-send lots of letter to local businesses- you can get freebees, sponsorships, all kids of good things. All you have to do is ask- but make sure you include your tax exempt # (altruism is much more apparent when it has a positive impact on your bottom line, lol).

-try to tie events in with a local free activity.

-DON'T get in the habit of picking up every kid for every meeting in your car because the parent 'just can't make it'. One of our leaders started this, and she's really about had it by now but can't seem to figure out how to stop it!