Flat Scout Program.  

Scroll down for how this program works.

A Flat Scout is normally a piece of plywood that has the general shape of a Scout, that can be used for stand up advertising.

Here is one picture of a flat before a uniform is put on and here is one with a uniform.

What is a flat Scout? A flat Scout is a piece of plywood that
has been cut in the shape of a small person (anywhere from
36 inches up to 7 feet). The piece is then made to stand on
its own and in the Scout's one hand is a box where one
can take out a promotional flyer about Scouting. 

A good part of this competition is designed to have fun. You are not limited to one flat Scout or even a 
thousand. In fact, quantity might even help you out. We are looking for creativity, imagination, team
work between adults and youth, and anything that is highly effective in getting someone's attention.

What is the prize for the flat competition? You'll get three flat Scout patches free for every flat Scout
that you enter into the competition up to the actual number of registered youth and adults in your unit.

We will provide participation ribbons for every unit that participates.

We will award a Scout Shop Cash prize of $100.00 for the top 3 creative and most appealing flat Scout
marketing campaigns launched by three units in our council.

How do you enter this program? We will be posting a flat Scout competition page on our website.
It will have a form to download and complete so we know you are competing. We would like to see
pictures of your flat Scouts in action, in grocery stores, at department stores, hardware stores, events,
out selling popcorn etc. 

Most importantly you will help create awareness for Scouting and that will lead to more members and 
more adults wanting to return to the program of their youth. It's up to us...Do we want to be the best 
kept secret or the best program that has a lot of fun.

We have a limited number of flat scouts that we made up so that we could show as examples.  These are available on a first come first served basis.
To get one, you write to Tide596bsa@aol.com and say you want a flat scout and give your unit's information.  We will provide these for free and you can
even claim them as your own.  You will need to supply the uniform/artwork for your guy.

ORDER FORM FOR PATCHES FREE AND OTHERWISE.

Check us out on facebook here.  You are invited to submit your Flat Scout crazy designs directly to this page as well.

FAQ'S 

1.  You said there was going to be a patch.  How do you order patches or submit patch designs?  The patch will be cut in the shape of a flat scout.
A patch design therefore should be drawn in the shape of the little flat Scout such as follows:

The patch will most likely be about 3 to 3 1/2 inches high.  The design needs to incorporate the words Tidewater Council and also include either the letters BSA or the Scout Fleur De Leis. 

2. How many flat Scouts can we enter into the competition?  You can enter as many as you want.  The more the merrier.  You will get three patches for each one that you enter and you can get
as many patches as you have adults and youth registered in your unit.  For example if you have 20 youth and ten adults and you make ten flat Scouts, you would get thirty patches, enough for every youth and adult
in your unit.

3.  What are the requirements of the flat scout?  They must be decorated by your unit.  You can paint them, put uniforms on them, shoes on them, whatever is Scouting appropriate...you can even include equipment
like canteens and backpacks.  Each flat scout must have a container being held by the hand held up or other device that clearly shows that anyone looking at them can take one of the recruiting informational
flyers enclosed.  Think of the flat scout holding a box that is seen through that has paper flyers in it.

4.  What is the deadline for the flat scout competition?  The deadline is November 12, 2012.  

5.  How do we prove we had so many flat Scouts?  One could take a picture of them all standing together or separate photographs of them.  One might write a log as to where you put them:  Flat Scout Charlie was
in the lobby of the fellowship hall after church; flat scout Charlie was at the grocery store for the week of September 19; Flat Scout Charlie flew in a jet on September 20, 2011...could be at the mall, at the school office,
you name it.  

6.  How do we enter this marketing competition.  Put together what you did, photos, stories, write up by Scouts or leaders and tell us what you did.  We want to feature you all in our newsletter.  Submit all this 
marketing stuff to the council office in care of the membership committee.  We'll review and hand out prizes.  Of course, you get free patches as well.

7.  Should we keep our flat scout secret so no one else knows what we are doing?  HECK NO!  Part of this competition is to embolden you all as to how crazy and fun marketing Scouting can be.  Why not pictures
with the Mayor?  Why not flat Scout repelling down the tallest building in your town?  Why not.

8.  Should we paint it?  You can paint it or do something if you like.  It doesn't even have to be plywood but they are sturdy being made out of plywood.

Materials and tools used in construction of our first prototypes.

1.  A sheet of plywood can make two Flat Scouts, possibly three.  We used about 1/2 inch plywood.  We picked out plywood that was generally smooth, 
but its not necessary to get it too smooth because you will paint it or put clothes on it.

2.  A 2 x 4 cut into lenghts of 13 inches

3.  Screws, wood type 8, 3 1/2 inches long

4.  Screws, wood type 20, 1 1/4 inches long

5.  A 2 x 2 to be used for constructing the Take Me Box.

Tools needed:  A jigsaw, a circular saw or table saw (one can also just use a jigsaw, handsaw etc), a drill, a drill bit for making pilot holes for the screws 
so you don't split the wood, a workbench or saw horses (again something to cut the wood on...can be home made), a phillips head screw bit for driving the 
the screws into the wood.

Scout clothing, t-shirt, uniform, or paint.

General Directions

To make the outline of the Scout.  Have a Scout or leader of whatever size you want, lay down on your plywood.  A large leader would mean just one flat scout
and a smaller youth would mean two or three flat scouts.  After they lay down, take chalk or pencil and make an outline of the Scout.

Use the 2 x 4's to make a base for the Scout to stand in.  Place a 2 x 4 on the table, place the flat scout legs on top of the 2 x 4, and another 2 x 4 on top of the flat Scout
and use the 3 1/2 inch screws to fasten them all together.  Two on each leg for a total of four.

Take two more sections of 2 x 4 and fasten it the 2 x 4 so they jut out from the Scouts base by attaching it to the previously assembled 2 x 4.  

Take a piece of left over plywood and cut a square like shape that matches the base that you have just attached to the flat scout.  This makes it look better plus you can:
put a brick on this piece to have it stand up better in a soft wind.

Construct a take me box out of the 2 x 2's using the 2 x 2's as ribs to provide the space for the flyers to be inserted.  Use the left over plywood and cut them to the desired 
square like shape to hold your flyers.  You can make the box so it holds paper 8 1/2 x 11 or make a smaller one with the paper folded as a tri-fold.  Make sure you don't make 
the box so deep that you cannot see the paper.  Put on a sign on the box that says: Take Me.  Attach the box to the flat scout with either wire or screws.

You can use other variations of this same directions to construct all kinds of different flat Scouts, but those are the general directions.

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