Juniors: Keeping their interest for Cadettes Part I

"Last night Michelle said the scuttlebutt is that several of our terrific (Junior) scouts are thinking of dropping out after this year.  They say their schedules may be too busy and they may have other interests."

This was the start of an email I received from Shellie Massick, Volunteer Development Manager a couple days ago.  Shellie shared this, knowing we'd be really interested in the topic.  Retention is key, and something we talk about in all our trainings, starting with a hard push in Juniors. We know that if we can keep them interested and successful in Cadettes, we have the best chance of keeping them in the program through Ambassadors.

"My girls are having a fun year with lots to do & Michelle verified that everyone thinks that GS is exciting for now."

Happy Juniors!  So what do they need to know to want to become happy Cadettes?  How can we engage them now, as Juniors, to WANT to stay in Scouting?  How can we show that there is more to Scouting after Bridging in San Francisco?  More than camping, crafts and cookies?  More that they can do as older girls that will be fun and make them feel good?

 Barb Christensen suggested a way for the girls and their parents to see the successes of older girls:  "We have a plaque ceremony for girls who sell 200+ boxes of cookies.  We have Daisy through Ambassador families there and we use this opportunity to highlight the older Girl Scouts so the parents know there are Girl Scouts beyond elementary school and we ask any of the traveling troops to share where they are going so not only the girls hear what the older girls are doing, but the parents of the younger girls hear what is possible.  Other Service Units run a service unit-wide bridging ceremony and start with the oldest girls first and they recognize all the Gold and Silver award recipients so that the parents of the Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops get exposed to the information."  What great ideas!

"I also believe the parent perception is that GS is for elementary."

Unfortunately a common misperception!  All the parents of Junior girls need to know what their girls are learning NOW, and they need to see the benefit of the program for their girls.  The parents AND girls need to see successful older girls. Perhaps this is an opportunity to have Ambassadors come in and lead a couple meetings?  Have the older girls come in and talk about how much fun they had in destinations, or how much they enjoyed being a Council Delegate to the National Convention.  Perhaps have some favorite camp counselors come in and teach/lead some camp songs. They could talk up the benefits of being an older Scout.  Or get solicited by the Day Camp Committee in their Service Unit to be incoming Cadette staff at the camp.  

What else could you do to keep the girls engaged in Cadettes?

And what could you do, as a leader, if you really don't want to be a Cadette leader, but your girl wants to stay in?

What else would resonate with the parents to show that there is a value to Scouting, and that the girls benefit?

Stay tuned for more...