The Ultimate Guide to Cub Scout Websites
Hey fellow Scouters! 👋
I'm a web designer who recently took on the challenge of redesigning my Pack's website. After researching dozens of Pack sites, I noticed virtually every one suffered from the same problems:
The Three Most Common Pitfalls
Text Heavy / Image Light
Almost all sites I looked at were overloaded with text and resources but didn't convey the amazing activities that Cub Scouts offers. It's the experiences that draw kids to join, yet most sites bury this under walls of text or didn't show it at all.
Outdated Design
Most Packs use platforms integrated with their Scout management software. In almost every case, sites look like they were built in the 90s—fixed vertical menus, clunky navigation, and zero responsive design for different screen sizes.
No Clear Call-to-Action
A typical Cub Scout Website Template fire-hoses information up front and buries the 'Join Now' button. Most sites don't make it clear what you want visitors to do when they land on your homepage.
What a Good Cub Scout Pack Website Should Do
CONVERT
Now that your site visitor is set on joining, ensure that your Cub Scout Website has strategically placed conversion buttons for joining as well as accessing additional info.
ANSWER
Provide answers to 90% of frequently asked questions (how to join, where to get uniforms, event schedules, etc) and reduce the number of repetitive communications with interested families.
SHOW
Your Cub Scout Website Template should bring your site visitor into the world of Cub Scouts by featuring high quality photography of all of the amazing events and activities
Critical Design Principles
Show, Don’t Tell
Cub Scouts is about the events! From Pinewood Derby to camping, put your activities and Scouts enjoying them front and center on your Cub Scout Website. Photos are your #1 recruiting tool.
Mobile-Responsive Design
70% of traffic happens on phones. If your site doesn't work on every screen size, you're losing families. Big buttons and readable text aren't optional.
Live Events Calendar
Parents need meeting times on the homepage, not buried deep in navigation. A live, embedded Google Calendar ensures updates are automatic—no webmaster intervention needed.
Clear 'Join' Path
'Join Now' buttons should appear throughout the site, not just on one hidden page. once you've sold them on Scouting, make joining easy.
Comprehensive Resources Page
Consolidate forms, uniform guides, and FAQs into one well-organized page. This answers 95% of new family questions and dramatically reduces email friction.
So What Did I Do About It?
I built a custom site for my Pack incorporating all of the above (and probably spent too much time doing it)
The template is built with Wix Studio (no coding needed), which I believe is the most user-friendly platform for volunteer webmasters. It includes all the core info every Cub Scout Pack needs. From there, packs can customize it with pack info, photos, meeting info, and unique activities to make it their own.
My hope is that this template can help modernize Pack websites across the nation so when parents Google "Cub Scouts [city]," they find professional sites that make Scouting look like the amazing program it is.
I hope this helps all of my fellow volunteer webmasters out there. Happy Scouting! 🏕️