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Northeast Region New Cub Scout Experience Survey Responses to online and paper survey

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Title: Northeast Region New Cub Scout Experience Survey Responses to online and paper survey


1
Northeast Region New Cub Scout Experience
SurveyResponses to online and paper survey
February 29, 2008
Research Service Boy Scouts of America

2
Methodology
  • The Northeast Region was interested in testing a
    survey instrument with the overall goal of
    providing meaningful data for driving program
    enhancements and positively influencing youth
    retention.
  • Ten councils participated in the pilot study
    including
  • Katahdin Area Council - Mason-Dixon Council
  • Pioneer Valley Council - Keystone Area Council
  • National Capital Area Council - Jersey Shore
    Council
  • Westchester-Putnam Council - Baltimore Area
    Council
  • Revolutionary Trails Council - Otetiana Council

3
Methodology
  • The Northeast Region surveyed new Cub Scout
    parents to gauge their initial experience and
    satisfaction.
  • Specific objectives of the study included
  • Determining the reasons and motivators for
    joining Cub Scouts
  • Identifying the initial level of parent/youth
    participation
  • Gauging overall satisfaction with Cub Scouting
    and factors driving satisfaction
  • Identifying specific problem areas or issues so
    that they can be immediately addressed

4
Methodology
  • Participating councils sent Research Service
    contact information for 14,017 new Cub Scouts who
    joined from August 1 to October 31, 2007.
  • 3,656 records included a valid e-mail address.
    Parents of these new Cub Scouts received an
    e-mail invitation to take the survey in November
    and December 2007.
  • 10,361 mail surveys were sent to parents of new
    Cub Scouts who did not give an e-mail address.

5
Response Rates
6
Response Rate
7
Registering for Cub Scouts
8
Most parents learned about the registration event
through a school newsletter or from family and
friends.
Base 2,837 parents of new Cub Scouts
9
Two-thirds of parents did not receive any
information about the benefits of the Cub Scout
program before learning about the registration
event.
Base 2,826 parents of new Cub Scouts
10
More than nine out of 10 parents agree or
strongly agree that registering for the Cub
Scouts was easy.
Base 2,834 parents of new Cub Scouts
11
The majority of parents were satisfied with the
joining event.
Base 2,735 parents of new Cub Scouts
12
Parents found the location and times convenient.
Three-fourths also say they received the right
amount of information, and more than two-thirds
say the event was fun. Only a few indicated they
would prefer registering without attending the
event.
Base 2,760 parents of new Cub Scouts
13
Most joining events lasted one hour or less.
Only around one-fifth lasted more than one hour.
Base 2,504 parents of new Cub Scouts
14
More than half of the boys were assigned a den
the night of the joining event. A few boys
(1.1) had not been assigned to a den three
months after joining.
Base 2,742 parents of new Cub Scouts
15
Reasons for JoiningCub Scouts
16
Parents get their son involved for the variety of
experiences, for the values, because their son
wants to join, to build friendships, for outdoor
activities, and to build their sons
self-confidence.
Base 2,842 parents of new Cub Scouts
17
When asked to select the main reason, parents say
they get their son involved because their son
wants to join, for the values, and for the
variety of experiences.
Base 2,784 parents of new Cub Scouts
18
Outdoor Experiences
19
After at least three months of membership, more
than one-third of boys have not attended a
council or district sponsored outdoor event.
Base 2,767 parents of new Cub Scouts
20
Among those who attended field day,
three-fourths were very satisfied with the event.
Base 467 parents of new Cub Scouts who attended
field day
21
Among those who attended a family campout, more
than three-fourths were very satisfied with their
experience.
Base 757 parents of new Cub Scouts who attended
a family campout
22
Among those who attended some other outdoor
experience, more than seven of 10 were very
satisfied.
Base 1,063 parents of new Cub Scouts who
attended an other outdoor event
23
Den Meetings
24
The largest percent of dens meet every other
week, followed by once a week, and once a month.
A few parents indicate their son has not had a
den meeting after three months of membership.
Base 2,837 parents of new Cub Scouts
25
Among boys who have attended den meetings, the
largest percent have attended five or more
meetings.
Base 2,789 parents of new Cub Scouts who
attended a den meeting
26
More than nine out of 10 parents say their son
enjoys the den activities, looks forward to
attending den meetings, and the meetings include
a variety of activities. The majority also say
their den meetings are well organized.
Base 2,799 parents of new Cub Scouts who
attended a den meeting
27
Pack Meetings
28
Most parents say they and their son attend the
pack meetings. A few boys have never attended a
pack meeting.
Base 2,830 parents of new Cub Scouts
29
More than eight out of 10 parents say their son
enjoys the pack meeting activities, their son
looks forward to the next meeting, all boys are
included, and the meeting is well organized.
Base 2,654 parents of new Cub Scouts who
attended a pack meeting
30
Most pack meetings include awards, games and
ceremonies activities which are liked by more
than eight out of 10 of boys.
Base 2,589 parents of new Cub Scouts who
attended a pack meeting
31
Overall Satisfaction with Cub Scouts
32
Most parents are very or extremely happy with
their sons Cub Scout experience.
Base 2,841 parents of new Cub Scouts
33
Parents who are extremely or very happy with
their sons Cub Scout experience are happy
because
  • Their son is having fun and likes the Cub Scout
    activities.
  • They like the leadership because the leaders are
    caring, organized, and run a good program.
  • Their son is making new friends and learning how
    to get along with others.
  • Their son is learning new things and being
    challenged.
  • The program provides a variety of experiences and
    outdoor activities that their son would otherwise
    not have the chance to do.

Base 2,237 parents who were extremely or very
happy with the Cub Scout program
34
Parents who are extremely or very unhappy with
their sons Cub Scout experience are unhappy
because
  • There is poor communication in their pack or den.
  • The den does not meet often enough.
  • The den meetings and pack meetings are
    disorganized.
  • The den leader is overwhelmed.
  • The boys are undisciplined and disrespectful.

Base 137 parents who were extremely or very
unhappy with the Cub Scout program
35
Volunteer Activities
36
Most parents of new Cub Scouts do not hold a
leadership position. Those who do are generally
den leaders or assistant den leaders.
Base 2,772 parents of new Cub Scouts
37
Among parents who are not leaders, more than
two-thirds have been asked to help with a den or
pack activity.
Base 2,135 parents of new Cub Scouts who are not
leaders
38
Parents who have been asked to help the den or
pack have helped with meeting activities, Go
See-Its, crafts, Pinewood Derby, and
camping/outdoor activities.
  • Den meeting activities
  • Go See-Its or field trips
  • Crafts/games
  • Pinewood Derby
  • Camping/outdoor activities
  • Scouting for Food
  • Bringing snacks
  • Leading a den meeting
  • Achievements/advancements
  • Popcorn sales
  • Pack events/parties

Base 1403 parents who have been asked to help
with a pack or den activity
39
More than eight out of 10 parents who have not
been asked to help with a den or pack activity
would do so if asked.
Base 677 parents who are not leaders and have
not been asked to help
40
Demographics
41
The majority of parents responding to the survey
have a son who is a Tiger Cub.
Base 2,803 parents of new Cub Scouts
42
More than one-fourth of parents were Cub Scouts
or Girl Scouts as a youth. More than one-fifth
were Boy Scouts as youth.
Base 2,803 parents of new Cub Scouts
43
Almost one-third of parents indicate they have
another child involved in Scouting.
Base 2,710 parents of new Cub Scouts
44
Most parents are between 31 and 50 years of age.
Base 2,852 parents of new Cub Scouts
45
Most parents responding to the survey are white.
Base 2,829 parents of new Cub Scouts
46
The parent who was most involved or equally
involved with their son in Cub Scout activities
was asked to answer the survey. Respondents are
almost evenly split between males and females.
Base 2,827 parents of new Cub Scouts
47
Lessons Learned Recommendations
48
We can be very effective at collecting e-mail
addresses.
  • Lessons Learned
  • Two test councils collected e-mail addresses from
    70 percent of new Cub Scout registrants. These
    councils emphasized e-mail collection in their
    councils school night support materials. One
    council included it in their training
    script/outline and the other provided a half-page
    explanation in their unit materials.
  • The remaining eight councils collected e-mails
    from 33 percent of new Cub Scout registrants.
    These councils did not emphasize e-mail
    collection.

49
Tabulating responses from the paper survey was
labor intensive.
  • Lesson learned
  • Surveys that were not collected through the
    online process had to be manually entered into
    the system. This process took about 16 man-hours
    per council.
  • Surveys collected the online system were
    tabulated without any labor since respondents
    keyed their answers.
  • Recommendation
  • The survey should only be sent in electronic
    format. To do this councils will have to be
    aggressive in collecting e-mail addresses. This
    will also benefit councils by providing them
    another way to communicate directly with parents.

50
Some questions were difficult to answer as posed.
  • Lessons Learned
  • Based on feedback from respondents, some
    questions were difficult to answer for parents
    who shared responsibility for meeting attendance.
  • Some responses did not include inclusive language
    such as the use of the word church.
  • Recommendation
  • The template survey will be revised to use more
    inclusive language.
  • Parents with dual responsibility will be advised
    that both parents should answer the survey
    together.

51
Councils reported good experiences with this
early detection of potential problems in Pack
operations.
  • Lessons Learned
  • Councils assigned staff and volunteers to
    follow-up when responses indicated
    dissatisfaction.
  • They were usually able to take specific action to
    resolve issues at the local level before family
    dissatisfaction resulted in the boy/family
    quitting the program.
  • Recommendations
  • Share the early detection survey with all
    councils.

52
Recommendations from Survey Findings
53
Boys and parents learn about Cub Scouts primarily
through school fliers, newsletter, school
boy-talks, and word-of-mouth.
  • Recommendations
  • Continue to use school fliers, newsletter, and
    boy-talks where permitted by schools.
  • Use PTA/parent group talks where possible.
  • Consider using multiple methods of contact
    throughout the year.

54
Parents are not receiving information about the
benefits of Scouting before the sign-up event.
  • Recommendations
  • A few weeks before the sign-up event, provide
    parents with information about the benefits of
    Scouting. Use either council conducted research
    or national research findings such as the Time
    Well Spent or What Will My Sons Future Hold
    brochures to introduce parents to Scouting.
  • Provide messaging to parents multiple times
    throughout the year about the benefits of
    Scouting.

55
Parents are satisfied with the ease of signing up
and information received at sign-up events.
  • Recommendation
  • Keep sign-up events to roughly one hour or less.

56
Only 10 percent of den assignments took more
than two weeks.
  • Recommendation
  • Where possible make den assignments at the time
    of the sign-up event.

57
Boys are key influencers in making the decision
to join Cub Scouts. Parents also consider values
taught and the variety of learning experiences
provided.
  • Recommendations
  • Keep the message on target
  • For Cub Scouts
  • Fun
  • Friendship
  • For Parents
  • Learning experiences
  • Life skills
  • Values
  • Marketing should be dual focused to spark the
    boys interest and sell to the parents interest.

58
More than 90 percent of parents whose sons went
camping were satisfied with the experience.
  • Recommendations
  • Schedule well-organized camping experiences soon
    after sign-up night.
  • Provide extra support to new Cub Scout parents to
    make their first campout a success.

59
Two-thirds of boys participated in an outdoor
event.
  • Recommendation
  • Market the new experiences and outdoor events to
    new Scouting families. They do respond.

60
While most parents had positive den and pack
meeting experiences, those who did not cited a
lack of organization, lack of discipline, poor
communication, and a lack of trained leaders.
  • Recommendations
  • Provide more intensive training and program
    support for new den leaders.
  • Assign experienced den leaders as mentors to help
    new leaders from becoming overwhelmed.

61
Tiger Cub parents felt that Pack meetings were
too long (past my 6 year-olds bed time).
  • Recommendations
  • Shorten pack meetings so that they conclude in
    one to one and a half hours.
  • Start earlier or build in program flexibility to
    accommodate Tigers leaving early.

62
Most parents would help with den or pack
activities if asked.
  • Recommendations
  • Encourage pack leaders and den leaders to ask
    parents to help with specific activities or
    events.

63
Overall satisfaction with the Cub Scout
experience was quite high (95).
  • Recommendation
  • Capitalize on the positive feedback and do more
    of the same.
  • Share the positive feedback with volunteers who
    are cited as providing outstanding leadership
    everyone likes to hear they are doing a good job
    and to feel appreciated.

64
Dissatisfied customers (5) cited issues that are
manageable.
  • Recommendations
  • Training, coaching, communications, and good
    organization can counteract most of the negative
    feedback.
  • Assign Unit Commissioners with good coaching
    skills to help those units that are struggling
    with quality program issues.
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