Tuesday, July 27, 2010

National online unit directory / search

The BSA is putting Scouting on the map all across the nation!  In time for Join Scouting 2010, the Boy Scouts of America has its own joining Web page with information on Scouting, plus a Google Maps application that will help potential Scouts and their parents find packs, troops, and crews in their communities.

How does it work?  In a nutshell, unit leaders can update their unit's Google pin (the bubble you see on Google Maps) through MyScouting.  They can add their unit meeting time, location, phone number, unit Web site address if they have one, as well as a contact name for the unit.

"Ask Us!  We can help."  A new feature allows people interested in a particular unit to e-mail questions to the unit leaders.  The parent can type in the question and the unit leader can then respond.

In summary...

  • Unit leaders publish information about their unit to a pin icon on a Google map.
  • Parents go to the Web site, submit their address, and find units in their neighborhood.
  • Leaders gather information from visits to their pins and compile leads that they can manage                    through MyScouting.

For questions on this process, please contact your District Executive.

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