If you’ve been following our Scouting Wire series on understanding what makes Cub Scout members tick, you’re feeling more confident than ever about the new program and how it appeals to the youth you serve. We’ve taken a look at the mind of a Cub Scout, better understand their parents, and now we’re completing the triad by highlighting unit leaders. After all, a Pack is as strong as the adults leading it, so recruiting and supporting your volunteer leaders is critical.

How can you make sure your council is drawing the most effective unit leaders and ensuring their needs are met? That starts with understanding the internal motivation of current Cub Scout leaders. So let’s take a look at the persona of these leaders. If you’ve forgotten exactly what we mean by persona, we’ll break it down. A persona is the emotional portrait of various people involved in Cub Scouting based on insights real-life members have shared with us, along with other research. The personas presented in this series are developed using customer insight data from the Voice of the Scout, academic and published data, and third party research from YouthBeat, The Family Room, and Pew Research Center.

The parent and unit leader persona share a lot of cross-over characteristics. The distinction is that a unit leader commits to assuming a leadership role in his or her son’s Pack. Read on to see what drives this decision.

What Turns a Cub Scout Parent into a Volunteer

“One way I show my child how much I care about him, and how committed I am to guiding him through childhood, is by taking time to assume a leadership position in Cub Scouting³.”

Parents look to volunteer in Cub Scouting to take a leading role in guiding the program’s adventures. These parents realize they are modeling the way for their sons to take on leadership roles as they mature, as well.

“I’m passionate about developing character and values in youth and Cub Scouts helps me do that¹. As a leader, I understand that I am a part of ‘something bigger’ that could change a boy’s life².”

Unit leaders and others who volunteer in Cub Scouts understand the influence of the program on young minds. Whether they’ve experienced it firsthand or witnessed it in their children, volunteers believe the program works when executed effectively – and strive to ensure it does.

“I am able to help guide boys to become positive, future leaders of America through experiences we share in Cub Scouting³.”

Parents who volunteer as unit leaders see the benefit not only for their sons but also for themselves, as they experience the Cub Scout program together. In fact, 94 percent of leaders feel Cub Scouting teaches youth important life skills⁴. And parents who volunteer as leaders grow with their sons in imparting this youth development.

What Inspired You to Volunteer in Cub Scouts?

Understanding what drives your unit’s current leaders can guide you in the quest to recruit more standout parents. As a volunteer who is looking to attract more skilled leaders, you have insight on what appeals to parents of Scouts. Did any of the above facets of the Cub Scout unit leader persona hit especially close to your experience? What drew you into a leadership role in the program? Share with us in the comments below.

1. Spring 2014 VOS/I understand the unique benefits Scouting provides to today’s youth/Net Promoters (403 respondents) – data analytics. Character development (72 responses), Values (30 responses).

2. Spring 2014 VOS Driver Question: “I fully understand my role within the unit.” (85% agree).

3. Using text analytics for the Spring 2014 VOS NPS question (3,418 responses) highly ranked responses include “shared learning and shared experiences” (998 responses) and “help guide” (1,058 responses). Source: Spring 2014 VOS/Youth Facing Volunteers/Cub Scouts.

4. According to the Spring 2014 VOS Study 93.7% of Cub Scout facing volunteers agree with the statement “Scouting provides an effective way for youth to learn important skills.” Source: VOS Spring 2014/Youth facing volunteers/Cub Scouts/Non-dashboard question.