Photos & Videos
Show the Adventure
When it comes to recruiting, showing families what Scouting looks like is far more powerful than simply telling them about it.
Photos and videos capture the excitement, adventure, service, friendships, and leadership that make Scouting unique. They allow prospective families to imagine themselves as part of your unit and help tell the story of Scouting in an authentic way.
The best photos and videos are the ones that feature your own Scouts, families, and volunteers enjoying real Scouting experiences.
Capture the Moments
Get in the habit of documenting your unit’s activities throughout the year. Some of the best opportunities include:
- Pack and den meetings
- Camping trips and outdoor adventures
- Pinewood Derby and Raingutter Regatta
- Hiking, fishing, and shooting sports
- Service projects
- Advancement and award ceremonies
- Summer camp
- Community events and parades
- Family activities and celebrations
Don’t worry about taking the perfect photo every time—take plenty of pictures and select the best ones to share.
Share Your Story
Use your photos and videos to highlight your unit on:
- Your unit’s Facebook and Instagram pages
- Your website
- Email newsletters
- Recruitment flyers and presentations
- School and community newsletters
- Digital displays at Join Scouting events
Rather than posting every picture, choose the images that best tell the story of your Scouts having fun, learning new skills, serving others, and building friendships.
If your unit has a large collection of photos, consider creating an online photo gallery or digital album that families can browse.
Create Short Videos
Short videos are one of the most engaging ways to promote Scouting.
Simple clips of Scouts launching rockets, crossing a bridge on a hike, cooking at camp, racing Pinewood Derby cars, performing skits, or laughing around a campfire often generate more engagement than posed photos.
You don’t need professional equipment—a smartphone can capture excellent videos that showcase the excitement of Scouting.
Use Official Scouting Resources
In addition to creating your own content, you can supplement your recruitment efforts with official Scouting America photos, videos, and branding resources.
Helpful resources include:
- Scouting America Brand Center
- Official Scouting America YouTube Channel
- Blue Mountain Council social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube)
These resources can help reinforce your local recruitment efforts while maintaining consistent Scouting branding.
Share Your Photos with the Blue Mountain Council
Help us tell the story of Scouting across our council!
The Blue Mountain Council is building a library of high-quality photos and videos to use in recruitment campaigns, social media, newsletters, presentations, and promotional materials. We encourage every unit to share photos and videos that highlight the adventure, service, leadership, and fun happening throughout our council.
Upload your unit’s photos and videos here
By sharing your best moments, you’re helping inspire the next generation of Scouts and showing families what Scouting is all about.
Build Your Library Year-Round
Don’t wait until recruitment season to take photos.
The best recruitment materials are created throughout the year by capturing genuine moments at meetings, campouts, service projects, and adventures. By maintaining a library of quality photos and videos, your unit will always have fresh content ready for social media, flyers, presentations, and Join Scouting events.
Every adventure is an opportunity to capture the next photo that inspires another family to join Scouting.