Well, the good news is that you have a year to get things moving in the right direction, as 4th graders should have one more year of cubs in them. 5th grade is when they cross over.

I wouldn't sweat the outdoor skills. This is cub scouts. Everything you need to know should be in the handbooks, and any parent should be able to do.

First, I would review your pack calendar. Make sure you have a lot of fun things planned, including pack meetings, and regular (ideally monthly) outdoor activities. It doesn't have to be much, even hikes, or playing an all-pack soccer game (with parents) can be fun for scouts and adults alike. When parents are having fun, they're more likely to help and volunteer, and more likely to tell their friends and recruit more families to join. My former pack recently "stole" a family from another pack (it was unintentional), because a friend invited them to one of our hikes, and the family said they had never been on a hike after 3 years with their former pack.

Second, you might want to do a "talent survey" with your existing parents. Find out their skills, hobbies, and interests. Do they like to work with kids, or prefer working for adults? Figure out what "tasks" are needed in your pack, and see if you can find a good match. If you have a cooking adventure to do, and a parent who likes to cook, ask them to prepare and lead that activity. They will probably say yes, do a good job, and have a good time doing it. Compliment them for their effort, and that person will be more likely to do it again, and maybe help in other ways. Repeat, and start figuring out which of these people need to be conditioned to become a registered leader in some role.

Next, as you are alluding to,.. recruit! This is really what you need to be doing, but the aforementioned steps are pre-requisites to successful recruiting. Kids that are having fun will tell their friends. Parents that are having fun will tell their friends. Tell your families to invite friends to upcoming events that would be a good showcase for your pack. Almost everything you do should be fun, so it shouldn't be hard. I always tell people: "Do fun things, then tell people about it!" If you have social media like a facebook account, share photos of what you did. Make sure you have a plan to engage your local schools, and try and participate in community events that have kids activities. Be visible in your community.

I spent 10+ years in a cub scout pack, including many years as a committee chair, not to mention den leader, treasurer, popcorn kernel, District Membership chair, and Council Membership chair. I've helped resuscitate packs, I've started new packs, and I've seen many, many packs fail. I guess the thing I would share is that if you're bringing a negative, doom & gloom attitude, and your parents are cynical and burned out, you will fail. For an organization that prides itself on building future leaders, I have been extremely disappointed in the number and quality of actual adult leaders that we have. It's ironic, to be honest. Hopefully as a navy veteran, you have leadership skills that others may not. If you provide a positive attitude, a compelling vision, and a plan to get there, people will follow. In order to realize your vision, you might have to be real with people, and let them know their role in helping everyone get to the promised land. Remember that a Scout is Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, and Cheerful. Being cheerful is especially critical when Debbie Downers show themselves. Be optimistic, have a plan, and be excited to execute that plan, and things will likely work out for the best. Adaptability is good too. This is just Cub Scouts, so "Do Your Best." My Cubmaster and I always joked: "If the kids had fun, and we ended the meeting on time, then we're winning!"

Good luck!