Children may be the heart and soul of scouting, but parents play a crucial role, as well. When moms and dads are engaged in a troop’s activities, everyone benefits, especially the kids.

But as a troop leader, how do you get busy parents more involved in what you’re doing? We have a few tips to help.

Recruit Helpers

One of the best ways to get parents involved is to ask them to help you out. Instead of trying to do everything alone, invite parents to volunteer for various roles. Not only will they be honored you asked, you’ll likely find they offer to help in other ways.

Girl Scouts of America has some recommendations for building and managing a troop committee. They include asking parents to drive and chaperone, head up fundraising drives, coordinate snacks, and serve as community liaisons.

Share Success Stories

Actions speak louder than words. Instead of asking parents to help out, share photos and video clips of parents actively participating in your events. If parents help chaperone your camping trip, include photos of them engaged in activities with troop members.

With each share, make sure you mention that you’re always looking for parent helpers. Include instructions on applying, whether you have a form to fill out or they just need to call.

Make Individual Requests

Sometimes group requests for help are ineffective. Why? Everyone assumes someone else will pitch in. If you notice someone is particularly good at a specific activity, such as leading cookie sales, reach out and ask them to be part of your parent team.

To avoid loading a few parents down with responsibilities, it can also help to spread out assignments. Distribute a sign-up sheet and invite parents to add their names. If you need food for an event, for instance, having everyone bring one item can be much less of an ask than having a few parents do all the catering.

Have Family Days

Your scout troop may benefit from being a parent-free zone, where kids are encouraged to interact with each other and assert their independence. Having an occasional family night can satisfy the parents who want to be present. If you’ve had a recent big event like a fundraiser, consider inviting parents to attend the meeting where you hand out badges and thank everyone for their hard work.

Instead of looping parents in on your normal troop meetings, you could have a special event that involves both parents and kids. Create games where parents partner with their children to compete. This could even be a field trip-style outing where you go camping as a group or spend a day at a local lake or hiking trail.

Scouts aren’t the only ones who benefit from parent involvement. Moms and dads can be a great resource as you try to balance all the duties of a troop leader. Many parents are all too eager to help out, but schedules can be tight. Make sure you offer a variety of opportunities to give all parents a chance to participate.

Need more tips for leading your troop successfully? Check out the scout-specific tips on our blog.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 17, 2022