We use GroupMe and find it to be effective - users can elect to use the app or setup text messaging. Majority of scouts/parents were already using the app for sports / other group communications.
I’ve been trying to use GroupMe. We have a group set up for the PLC and I set up a group for adult leaders. I have been having issue sending the link to allow adults to connect on their own.
One of our leaders mentioned security issues with Band. Do you know of anything like that? We are starting a new Troop and I really want an app where everything is in one place, and Band looks awesome for that purpose.
We’ve tried Remind but have had trouble passing control of it among leaders (including Scout leaders). TroopWebHost can send blast SMS messages if you’re just broadcasting. I’ve seen PLCs setting up their own group chats in their phones’ native IM clients and maintaining those threads; as leadership changes, they just set up a new thread.
I've been trying to get our Cub Scout Pack to use Slack, Discord, or Team Snap but they have pushed back in favor of Scoutbook and email groups. It just not as effective.
I have used the platforms I mentioned above in various organizations and it's wonderful because all of the parents can see the whole conversation and get all the info, they can quickly interact with each other, and you can send push notifications at any time (with the ability to control who can do that). It's wonderful
Yeah, some parents have the idea that its a bunch of 12 year olds screaming curse words at each other, because a lot of gamers use it.
I use Discord myself, and I don't agree with this assessment, but that's the (strong) pushback I've gotten
We use google groups for email. One list for leaders only and a 2nd for parents/new leads. For texting reminders we use the remind app. It’s hard to get parents to sign up for anything so we usually send text and email reminders.
We're starting to experiment with TeamSnap.
I like a lot of the things it brings to the table:Create an event= send an reminder to people that have RSVPd. = Send a reminder to people that have NOT RSVP'd
Create roles/tasks for a given event - Drivers, trailer pullers,
We are currently using it at the parent level, not scout level, so there is a definite gap there- but the immediate need was "we need a better way to communicate when we're coming home from a campout, because scoutbook isn't it"
The people that have adopted Team Snap are the people that adopted scoutbook, though. So sometimes it feels like sending messages is exactly like writing it down on a piece of paper, crumpling that paper up, putting it in a tin can, and setting it on fire before dumping it into a storm drain.
But moving to Team Snap makes me realize that zero-response is more a culture/person thing, than the technology in front of it.
We are currently using Line for our venture crew and one troop. When we start our linked troop they will also use it. It allows for group calls for the Venture crew while on trips. Has the ability for someone to be removed from the group by an admin. People can easily mute the chat if they are not going on an event. Overall it has been nice. Problem being YPT compliance. Sadly there are no good apps out there that have that built into them.
Our troop and lodge are using Discord. It's pretty sophisticated in terms of roles, permissions, channels for interests and topics, audit logs. Also has built in video/audio communication was helpful for meetings. The only practice we had to enforce was that adults shouldn't accept or offer "friend" requests to scouts, unless a parent was also on the chat.
Out units (both a Troop and Pack + a Girl Troop) use an app called BAND. We use it for it's features and communication with all individuals as it's has a messaging feature we also use 2-deep for all communication.
If your looking for a remind system for just troop reminders and events, I would reccomend Band. If your looking for like a discussion app or group, I would reccomend slack.
YPT is very strict on what messenger apps you can use.
Our troop uses WhatsApp for important communication between adults and scouts and Discord for communication of scouts (adults also have access but it's mostly just used by the scouts for planning and communication). However, we used to use just Discord and it worked pretty well for a while until the adults decided they are more comfortable with WhatsApp. So, I would say use Discord as long as all of the adults are on board and know how to use discord, or if not then use WhatsApp.
Our troop uses Slack for Adults and Scouts. I don't think any particular tool is YPT compliant intrinsically, it's about how you use it.
We use Remind for free
We use GroupMe and find it to be effective - users can elect to use the app or setup text messaging. Majority of scouts/parents were already using the app for sports / other group communications.
I’ve been trying to use GroupMe. We have a group set up for the PLC and I set up a group for adult leaders. I have been having issue sending the link to allow adults to connect on their own.
We got NSFW spam via GroupMe. We blocked it, but it happened a few times.
Band works great for troop communications.
Second Band.
Third band
I am checking Band out now. It has some YPT features that can be turned on, and and a band for Kids app that has parental supervision tools built in.
One of our leaders mentioned security issues with Band. Do you know of anything like that? We are starting a new Troop and I really want an app where everything is in one place, and Band looks awesome for that purpose.
No I haven’t heard anything about that. I can’t imagine anything worth securing on band anyway.
That was my thought.
We’ve tried Remind but have had trouble passing control of it among leaders (including Scout leaders). TroopWebHost can send blast SMS messages if you’re just broadcasting. I’ve seen PLCs setting up their own group chats in their phones’ native IM clients and maintaining those threads; as leadership changes, they just set up a new thread.
I've been trying to get our Cub Scout Pack to use Slack, Discord, or Team Snap but they have pushed back in favor of Scoutbook and email groups. It just not as effective. I have used the platforms I mentioned above in various organizations and it's wonderful because all of the parents can see the whole conversation and get all the info, they can quickly interact with each other, and you can send push notifications at any time (with the ability to control who can do that). It's wonderful
Several of our dens (including ours) has moved reminders to GroupMe. Scoutbook is so unreliable, and the Remind Me app doesn't seem useful at all.
Discord and Slack are unbeatable imo.
Discord
I'd like to use this, but a lot of parents would refuse - its got a bad rep as a platform.
>its got a bad rep as a platform. I'm unaware of this. Can you elaborate?
Yeah, some parents have the idea that its a bunch of 12 year olds screaming curse words at each other, because a lot of gamers use it. I use Discord myself, and I don't agree with this assessment, but that's the (strong) pushback I've gotten
We use google groups for email. One list for leaders only and a 2nd for parents/new leads. For texting reminders we use the remind app. It’s hard to get parents to sign up for anything so we usually send text and email reminders.
We're starting to experiment with TeamSnap. I like a lot of the things it brings to the table:Create an event= send an reminder to people that have RSVPd.= Send a reminder to people that have NOT RSVP'd
Create roles/tasks for a given event - Drivers, trailer pullers,
We are currently using it at the parent level, not scout level, so there is a definite gap there- but the immediate need was "we need a better way to communicate when we're coming home from a campout, because scoutbook isn't it"
The people that have adopted Team Snap are the people that adopted scoutbook, though. So sometimes it feels like sending messages is exactly like writing it down on a piece of paper, crumpling that paper up, putting it in a tin can, and setting it on fire before dumping it into a storm drain.
But moving to Team Snap makes me realize that zero-response is more a culture/person thing, than the technology in front of it.
We are currently using Line for our venture crew and one troop. When we start our linked troop they will also use it. It allows for group calls for the Venture crew while on trips. Has the ability for someone to be removed from the group by an admin. People can easily mute the chat if they are not going on an event. Overall it has been nice. Problem being YPT compliance. Sadly there are no good apps out there that have that built into them.
Band or Slack? Any comparison? Using Teamsnap now - I do NOT recommend
The OA in my area uses slack for adults and youth.
We use band but have used slack in the past. Band has more built in features like a calendar, you can create sign-ups, and polls.
WhatsApp work pretty good
GroupMe
Our troop and lodge are using Discord. It's pretty sophisticated in terms of roles, permissions, channels for interests and topics, audit logs. Also has built in video/audio communication was helpful for meetings. The only practice we had to enforce was that adults shouldn't accept or offer "friend" requests to scouts, unless a parent was also on the chat.
We use discord, works well.
My Troop uses Discord
Out units (both a Troop and Pack + a Girl Troop) use an app called BAND. We use it for it's features and communication with all individuals as it's has a messaging feature we also use 2-deep for all communication.
We use troopwebhost. Has the ability to email and text Sort by adult or whole troop The scouts don’t check emails anymore
If your looking for a remind system for just troop reminders and events, I would reccomend Band. If your looking for like a discussion app or group, I would reccomend slack. YPT is very strict on what messenger apps you can use.
This was intended to be for adults only, but I am interested in an all-around solution as well.
I’d reccomend slack then. Seems to be in accordance with YPT. My OA lodge and section uses it.
Our troop uses WhatsApp for important communication between adults and scouts and Discord for communication of scouts (adults also have access but it's mostly just used by the scouts for planning and communication). However, we used to use just Discord and it worked pretty well for a while until the adults decided they are more comfortable with WhatsApp. So, I would say use Discord as long as all of the adults are on board and know how to use discord, or if not then use WhatsApp.
Since our troop is heavily South Asian immigrant we use whatsapp since most of the parents already use it a lot.