SPL done. Whats next?

[Lynda J]

I have a couple of boys in our troop that don't "hold positions" but are great at teaching. They have held almost every position we have. But having a title simply isn't important to them.

[diamondbackAPL]

I agree. who says you need a position to teach other scouts?

our troop has started using the "Boy's Life" program helper and each week a scout teaches the other scouts about something with the program.

just a suggestion.

[dad69]

If you are the outgoing SPL, that means that there is an incoming SPL that will need help, guidance, suggestions, advice, mentoring, education, and a positive role model. I think that you will be more challenged in this role because it will involve teaching and training. I even think that you will have more fun in this role.

[t305spl]

Yes especially since the new SPL will be all of 12-13 years old and has never held a leadership position before. I plan on shadowing them after they are elected to office to help get there feet flat on the ground. We do follow the Boys Life meeting helper. Its a great tool.

[ASM-142]

Yes especially since the new SPL will be all of 12-13 years old and has never held a leadership position before. I plan on shadowing them after they are elected to office to help get there feet flat on the ground. We do follow the Boys Life meeting helper. Its a great tool.

Matt - It sounds like the new SPL is only a couple of years younger then you are right now. If I remember from reading your posts (I may be wrong), the new SPL is about the same age as you were when you became SPL.

[t305spl]

Yes except I had no guidance I want this new SPL to have all the resources he needs to run it the best he can.

[ASM-142]

Yes except I had no guidance I want this new SPL to have all the resources he needs to run it the best he can.

It seems that you turned out all right without guidance. Remember that the troop elected this scout to be SPL and he has a right to succeed or fail on this own. It is OK to give guidance but you need to make sure that the new SPL wants it as well and do not just push it onto him. The new SPL may have ideas different then yours for running the troop that he should have an opportunity to try.

[t305spl]

Of course, and i am sure we will have different ideas. I would not want someone to step in with me right now and try and change my views on the way I think this troop should run so I wil make sure to give him the same striding room I had. But I will be there to help him when he wants help. Also i do not beleive he has the right to fail. Him failing would hurt the other scouts too. If he starts failing in his position the scoutmaster, the PLC, and the committee will probabily step in to help him. But yes he will be able to make mistakes thats just another form of learning.

[Lynda J]

Everyone fails. It is as important to fail sometimes as it is to succeed.
Without failing we can't truly appreciate success. Did you tie the tauntline perfectly the very first time you tied it? I doubt it.
We had a SPL that did not do a verygood job. The boys knew he wasn't.
When it came time to vote on OA they did not elect him. He was hurt but it was explained to him what happened. Well guess what. He now understands what he did wrong. He is wanting to run for SPL the next elections. He has told all the boys in the troop he understands what he did wrong and that he understands he was as good a leader as he could have been. I honestly think they will elect him again. But his failure has turned into a learning experience for everyone.

[RWSmith]

Good post, Lynda.

[Mrw]

We have about 35 active boys in our troop right now. They are split into four patrols, generally by age and grade. We have three older boys who are outside of the patrols. They are their own patrol as they are 2-3 years older than the next oldest group. For Klondike they combined with the oldest of the patrols and won the top prize. It worked very well for all.

These boys are currently Troop instructors, tend to cook with the adults on campouts and generally help out whereever they are needed. Two are 16 and new Eagles, one is nearly 18 and has been Star for at least three years. He likes camping, etc, but never cared about advancing. The younger boys all very much look up to these boys.

I am trying to get the scoutmaster to appoint them as JASM's as that is how they are functioning.

Our current SPL and ASPL come out of the oldest actual patrol.