ScoutParents

ScoutParents is the vision of lifelong Scouter Gerald I. Lawhorn. Gerald credits much of his life's success to scouting and has been giving back to Scouting his entire life.

It was Mr. Lawhorn's belief that all Cub, Boy, and Venture Scout parents/guardians/mentors should be educated about Scouting so they can fully understand and appreciate the timeless values, character development, citizenship training and other benefits Scouting can have in their son's life as well as with their own. If they do, they will participate and persevere with their son(s) in Scouting and may develop into a passionate Scouter.

What is a ScoutParent?

A ScoutParent is a parent or adult mentor of a Scout who enthusiastically participates with their Scout and also helps other volunteers to provide the best quality program experience to all youth in every unit.

A ScoutParent:

Leads their family in obtaining the values, benefits, experiences and rewards from their family’s Scouting participation, and in sharing these with others;
Enjoys participating with his or her Scout and inspires their child to persevere in Scouting with their tenure, activity participation and achievement;
Helps enhance youth and parent-mentor recruitment, retention, enthusiasm, commitment and participation in the passionate GREAT Family FUN of Scouting

Parenting Book

Growing Up Right, Growing Up Strong...Parents, Kids, and Scouting
This book was written in dedication to Gerald Lawhorn for his vision to support parents in their efforts to raise their children the best way possible. You will find chapters filled with stories of how families support the efforts in involving their children in the community. It’s for parents, mentors, and families, as well. It’s all about diverse people finding common ground in shared values, interests, and challenges. It’s people coming together to help raise each other’s kids. It’s people united by a vital purpose: to create a caring, nurturing, loving environment where their kids can flourish. And whether those kids are blood relatives or not matters little.

ScoutParents Unit Coordinator

Units may appoint at least one ScoutParents Unit Coordinator, who will serve as a registered member of the unit's committee. The coordinator will complete the adult volunteer application and pay the annual $10.00 registration fee. Coordinators will go through the regular adult background check just like all other registered members of the unit's leadership.

The ScoutParents Unit Coordinator will welcome all parents to the unit and keep them informed by:

Assigning parents to help with at least one specific small task, assignment, or project annually
Providing an orientation for all parents to understand how the unit works and the benefits to their family
Keeping parents updated on the unit's program and their child's involvement

This position will help to involve more adults with the unit's program and to create a better informed group of parents who will be connected to their child's Scouting experience. The utmost support and commitment of parents directly affect the quality of the unit's program, and provides a more meaningful experience for everyone, especially the Scouts.

Many resources are available from the National ScoutParents website, including a fast start video for the ScoutParents Unit Coordinator: