Attendance for Scouts, Guides and uniformed youth groups
The simplest way to record attendance for a Scout or Guide group is to have young people check in as they arrive at the weekly meeting, on a tablet by the door, so leaders have a live list and a history for each member. This is general advice for leaders; RollCall isn't affiliated with any Scouting or Guiding organisation.
What leaders need from attendance
Weekly meetings follow a familiar pattern: young people arrive over ten minutes, leaders are setting up the activity, and the register gets filled in somewhere in the middle. Leaders typically want to know:
- who is at tonight's meeting, and how many,
- who has come regularly across the term,
- who has stopped coming, so a leader can check in with the family,
- who visited as a guest, and how to contact them.
If your national organisation has its own membership or reporting system, keep using it for what it requires. A simple attendance tool can sit alongside it for the weekly roll.
How it works at a meeting
- Young people type their name on a tablet by the door and tap it. No accounts, no app.
- A visitor or new member registers themselves, including an emergency contact.
- Leaders see who has arrived, live, on their own phone.
- With optional sign-out, leaders also see who has left early.
- Each member's profile shows meetings attended out of the total and when they last came. The list can be filtered for members who haven't been for two weeks or more.
An example
A group of 26 meets on Wednesday nights. Halfway through the term, the leader filters for "Missed 2+" and sees three names, one of whom has missed four weeks. A quick message to that family turns out to be about a clash with sport, and the young person comes back the following term.
Leaders, sections and children's information
Leaders get a PIN login to see their group. On Pro, a larger group can be split into sections, each with its own leaders who see just their section.
Member details and emergency contacts are visible only to your group's authorised leaders. Each group's data is kept separately, encrypted, and handled under New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020; see the privacy policy. RollCall's sign-out is a self-service record, not a supervised collection process, so keep your own procedures for handing young people over.
Common questions
What's the best simple way to record attendance for Scouts or Guides?
Have young people check in as they arrive at the weekly meeting, on a shared tablet at the door, so attendance is recorded against each member automatically. Leaders get a live list on the night and a history for each member. RollCall is one simple option, free for groups of up to 30.
Is RollCall connected to Scouts or Guides organisations?
No. RollCall is an independent attendance tool and isn't affiliated with any Scouting or Guiding organisation. Groups should keep using any systems their organisation requires.
Can visitors check in?
Yes. A visitor registers themselves on the same screen, with contact details and an emergency contact, and is checked in straight away.
Can different sections have their own leaders?
Yes, on RollCall's Pro plan. Members can be split into groups, each with leaders who see only their group.
How much does it cost?
RollCall is free forever for groups of up to 30 members, with no card needed. Larger groups use Pro at US$9.99/month (a launch price; standard $19.99), which includes 150 members and starts with a 14-day free trial.
Want to see how this could work for your group? You can try RollCall free. It's free for groups of up to 30 members, with no card needed.