Keeping the members you’ve earned

This page tackles member retention — often the highest-value growth work there is. Recruiting a new member takes far more effort than keeping an existing one, and retained members become your recruiters.

Why members leave (honest version)

• Boring programs. The same activities every term lose even enthusiastic kids.
• Transition gaps. Members drift away moving between sections — Joeys to Cubs is the classic leak point.
• No friends. A young person without a mate in the unit rarely lasts a term.
• Invisible progress. Members who can’t see themselves growing stop seeing the point.

What keeps them

• Variety with progression. Fresh activities that visibly build skills toward badges, milestones and peak awards.
• Smooth section transitions. Joint activities and warm handovers between sections — plan them deliberately.
• Belonging rituals. Names remembered, roles given, achievements celebrated loudly.
• Youth voice. Members who help plan the program defend it when mates say “Scouts is boring”.
• Family connection. Parents who feel part of the Group keep bringing their kids.

Try this

List members who haven’t attended three weeks running. One friendly phone call — “we miss you” — recovers more members than any poster ever has.