How do you measure and evaluate the impact and outcomes of your scouting activities?

1 Define your goals

Before you can measure and evaluate anything, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What are the specific and realistic goals of your scouting activities? What are the expected outcomes and benefits for the participants and the community? How do they align with the scouting principles and values? Write down your goals and outcomes in a SMART format: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2 Collect data and feedback

Once you have defined your goals and outcomes, you need to collect data and feedback to track and monitor your performance. Data and feedback can come from various sources, such as surveys, interviews, observations, testimonials, attendance records, badges, awards, and portfolios. You can use different tools and methods to collect and store your data and feedback, such as online forms, spreadsheets, databases, or apps. Make sure you collect data and feedback regularly, consistently, and ethically.

3 Analyze and interpret

After you have collected your data and feedback, you need to analyze and interpret them to see how well you are meeting your goals and outcomes. You can use different techniques and frameworks to analyze and interpret your data and feedback, such as quantitative and qualitative methods, SWOT analysis, logic models, or outcome mapping. You can also use charts, graphs, tables, or infographics to visualize and summarize your findings. Make sure you analyze and interpret your data and feedback objectively, critically, and accurately.

4 Report and communicate

Once you have analyzed and interpreted your data and feedback, you need to report and communicate them to your stakeholders and audiences. Stakeholders and audiences can include the participants, the parents, the leaders, the sponsors, the partners, the media, or the public. You can use different formats and channels to report and communicate your data and feedback, such as reports, presentations, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, or social media. Make sure you report and communicate your data and feedback clearly, concisely, and persuasively.

5 Learn and improve

Finally, after you have reported and communicated your data and feedback, you need to learn and improve from them. Learning and improving means using your data and feedback to identify your strengths and weaknesses, celebrate your successes and achievements, acknowledge your challenges and difficulties, and plan your actions and changes. You can use different strategies and tools to learn and improve from your data and feedback, such as reflection, evaluation, action planning, or PDCA cycle. Make sure you learn and improve from your data and feedback continuously, collaboratively, and creatively.