Outdoor Program

1
Outdoor Program - Key to Boy Scout Retention
2
Good BSA Trends

• Increase in Eagle Scouts
• Better Retention
• More activities for older Scouts

3
Reasons Boys Drop Out

• Program Delivery Concerns, 38
• Time Constraints, 32
• People/Leader Issues, 23
• Miscellaneous, 7

4
Program Concerns

• 1. Boring programs

2. Disorganized, poorly-run
3. Not fun
4. Not interesting
5. Not enough activities
6. Too hard/too much like schoolwork
5
Rank Achieved
Highest

• 17 Scout-Entry level
• 34 Tenderfoot
• 18 Second Class
• 21 First Class
• 6 Star
• 1 Life
• 2 Eagle

6
Tenure at
Drop

• 39 - 1 year or less

20 - 2 years
17 - 3 years
19 - 4 years
7
Number of Troop Campouts Annually

• 12 times 15
• 9-11 times 11
• 6-8 times 20
• 3-5 times 31
• Less than 3 20

8
the Drops
Stop
More Outdoor Program Scouting is
Outing Promote Advancement First Class in first
year Camp attendance More Training Adults
and Youth Enjoyable Meetings More Activities,
Less Talk
9
Kids Vote With Their Feet

• Improve Program Delivery
• Make meetings and outings more interesting and
  fun
• Deliver the Promise

10
Quality Summer Camp Programs Enthusiastic
Staff Good Facilities and Equipment Age-Appropri
ate Activities Captures the Imagination Gives
Campers What They Want Utilize Effective
Teaching Methods Support Aims and Objectives of
BSA
11
Negative Program Items
Too much advancement
Over-use of competition
Lack of inclement weather activities
Activities that are not age-appropriate
12
Better Outdoor Programs

• Council camps should set high standards for fun
  and quality
• Use manpower resources to help every troop camp
  more
• Use Program Features and other resources to
  improve the quality of troop activities

13
Every Boy is Important