Recruitment Booths

A recruitment booth is a table set up at a community event to attract new scouts. The goal is to spark curiosity, have a quick conversation, and get interested families to an upcoming troop event where they can learn more.

Where and When

Recruitment booths work best at high-foot-traffic community events where families with kids are present. Good opportunities include:

Back-to-school fairs and school carnivals
Town events
Religious organization events

Supplies

Display

Table
Tablecloth or troop patch blanket
Troop sign
Troop and American flags with stands

Demos

Hiking pack (to show off gear and spark conversation)
Backpacking stove
Axe
Water filter with dirty water and small cups (to demo)
Flint and steels

Information

Laptop with power source (for photo slideshow)
Printed flyers
Info about upcoming events

Giveaways

Frisbees (or other small troop-branded items)

Preparation

Before the event:

Load the photo slideshow on the laptop. Choose photos that show a range of activities — high adventures, camping, service projects, Eagle projects. Action shots are better than posed group photos.
Confirm an upcoming troop event to invite prospects to. This should be something low-commitment and fun — a meeting, one-day outing, or a service project. Have the date, time, and location ready to share.
Print fresh flyers with the upcoming event details and contact info for the Scoutmaster or recruitment lead.
Prep the water filter demo — bring a container of visibly dirty water and enough small cups for multiple demos throughout the event.

Running the Booth

Setup

Arrive early enough to be fully set up before the event opens. Position the demo items (water filter, flint and steels, axe, pack) where they’re visible and reachable from the front of the table. Run the photo slideshow on the laptop facing outward.

Engaging passersby

Lead with a demo or question, not a pitch. Let someone try the water filter or hand a kid a flint and steel. Once someone is engaged, ask about their kid’s interests and share a relevant troop activity. Keep it conversational.

Key things to communicate:

Troop 1607 is a youth-led troop focused on outdoor adventure
Scouts can earn ranks, merit badges, and work toward Eagle Scout
The next step is just coming to a meeting or event to see if it’s a fit

Collecting contact info

Have a simple sign-up sheet or QR code to collect name, email, and scout’s age/grade. Follow up within a day or two of the event. The goal is to get them to one in-person event — that’s where most families decide to join.