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(WSIL) -- With so many students learning from home, it's taken a toll on new kids joining the scouts. 

One way the group gets boys and girls to join Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA is by visiting schools and telling students about the opportunity. That hasn't been able to happen this year due to COVID-19.

Rick Morse, Executive Director for the Scout's Big Muddy District, says leaders are trying to get more creative with recruitment.

"We're working through different avenues whether it be digital media. We've plastered the area with yard signs with our recruitment events," he explains. "We have active units throughout the region that are working with their families and working to recruit new families."

Another challenge during this time is for kids to come together safely, but scouting can still take place with social distancing.

Some of those activities include hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, camping, archery and STEM projects.

Morse believes this gets kids outside and connecting with others their age, which is needed with so many youth going through the difficult transition to remote learning and being at home instead of the classroom.

"To be able to go on a weekend camp out with their friends and sit around a camp fire with masks on and sleeping in tents by themselves instead of with a buddy in the tent," he says. "Gives them that opportunity to have a mental break from it all."

There's a few local scouts who have taken up those opportunities including Christopher Banks and Talyn Frick.

Banks, a member of Troop 85, says getting the chance to spend time with other troop members was a welcomed break following stay-at-home orders.

"In these times, we've actually been able to go camping and actually stay active," he explains. "The first part of it wasn't fun because we couldn't go anywhere."

The 7th grader recently added a badge to his shirt after being inducted into the Order of the Arrow, which is Scouting’s national honor society.

"It's a brotherhood of cheerful service," Banks says. "It's just a lot of service and we do things for the community. We have a lot of fun."

Meanwhile, Talyn Frick says she's also enjoyed being able to camp with members of her Troop 42G and do socially distanced activities.

"Just spending time with my girl troop and just get to do all the activities that we get to," she recalls. "We're still trying to do as many activities as we can with COVID like hiking and canoeing."

Frick comes from a long line of scouts in her family including her grandpa, dad, brother and cousin.

"Most of my family has been in Scouts their whole lives," she says. "I kinda just wanted to follow in their foot steps, and I just think Scouting is really fun."

One highlight for her is giving back to the community such as the annual Scouting for Food event. That's where scouts collect food and donate it to the St.Louis Area Food Bank.

"I've done Scouting for Food," the 9th grader remembers. "That helps people that really don't have money to get food."

Both Frick and Banks encourage other kids to join saying scouts gain lifelong skills, make new friends and learn how to become an all around good person.

Those interested in having their child join, there is an upcoming Cub launch day on October 3rd at Pine Ridge Scout Camp. For $10 kids can spend the day trying scout activities and find out if they'd like to sign up for scouts. 

Those interested in signing up for the Cub Launch in Makanda can click . While a list of all the Cub Launch locations and dates in the region can be found at .

For families ready to jump and join right away, find a troop .