4.0  Growth Through Quality Program

2003 Status

2008 Goal

Strategic Approach

Tactics

Proposed 2004 Goal

Who’s Responsible

4.1  Quality Unit Program

60% Quality Unit Awards.

75% Quality Unit Awards.

- District commissioner staff and District Executives/Quality Unit Executives utilized to help units improve the quality of their program & earn the Quality Unit Award.

- Hold Program Planning Conference for units to develop annual budget & program calendar.

- Promote youth leadership (Patrol Method for Troops, Crew Officers’ Seminar).

- Mid-year Quality Unit reviews.

- Promote Summer Time Pack Award and year-round program for Troops/Crews.

62% Quality Unit Awards.

Council Commissioner

Field Director

4.2  Retention

Emphasis on the retention of Cub Scout aged youth & their transition into the Boy Scout program.

No tracking currently being done.

Improve youth retention by 20%.

- Determine relevance & focus of Cub program.

- Improve transition process between programs.

.

- Identify competing programs & benchmark.

- Collect surveys & other data related to Relevance, Recruitment, Retention, & Transition among existing as well as dropped youth.

- Introduce camping & outdoor aspects of Scouting at earlier ages.  

 - Introduce a formal Webelos Transition program.

- Develop all tracking mechanisms.

- Establish baseline goals.

Council VP-Membership

Council Membership Com.

Council Commissioner

Field Dir./Dist. Exs./Registrar

4.3 Camping

Increase participation in camping.

- Cub Scouts – 32%

- Boy Scouts – 64%

- Venturing – 21%

- Cub Scouts – 55%

- Boy Scouts – 70%

- Venturing – 30%

- Develop good camp promotion plans and materials and effectively promote camping to all units.

- Evaluate existing Cub Scout camping programs & modify and/or develop new programs as required.

- Continue to develop & promote high adventure activities for older Boy Scouts & Venturers.

- Recruit & train effective camp promotion teams in each District.

- Study & enhance Cub Day Camp model to reverse the present slide in participation; benchmark other Councils.

- Venturer Executive Board to recommend additional older youth activities.

-  Survey youth & adults to assure we are meeting their needs.

- Tiger Day Camp in each District.

- Implement Cub Day Camp PIT proposals.

- Develop Venturing Camp promotion materials.

Camping Committee

Venturing Committee

Dir. Of Support Services

4.4  Advancement

- Cub Scouts – 71%

- Boy Scouts – 58% 

- Cub Scouts – 85%

- Boy Scouts – 75%

- Promote the Scout Advancement Program as a key to youth retention

Through training and promotion efforts, encourage all Cubs to achieve their rank advancement by Blue & Gold Banquet in February

-  Boy Scout units should include a first-year program – “Operation First Class”

- Cub Scouts – 74%

   - Boy Scouts – 60%

Field Director

Council Advancement Chair

4.5  Membership Growth

Increase total membership & new unit growth by 2% annually, with emphasis on Venturing.

31,629 youth – 12/31/02

535 units – 12/31/02

Venturing density – 1.5%

35,663 youth

639 units

Venturing density – 3.5%

- Special emphasis to be placed on Monroe County & the cities of Bethlehem, Easton, & Allentown.

- Emphasis placed on growth in the Venturing & LFL/Exploring programs.

- Strategic Plan developed for each District.

- Increase staff resources to drive increases in Exploring.

- Develop the Explorer Officers’ Association.

- Improved collaboration with school districts, churches, & gated communities.

- Work through guidance officers & career counselors.

- Develop new relationships with Vo-tech schools for Learning for Life program.

-  Collaborate with other Councils to hold Venturing conclaves.

32,947 youth

590 units

District Executives

Council Membership Com.

Field Director

Council VP-Membership