Boy Scouts: any advice for being a SPL?

Question

Last night, my troop voted me for SPL for next year. I’m kind of worried because most of the kids in the troop are rowdy, and we’ve had reasonably poor leadership the past 2 years: the former SPL’s would leave it to the scoutmasters to plan most of the trips and we’ve repeated activities in meetings several times because the SPL ‘ran out of ideas’ (ie, knot tying, lashing, first aid, well after having done them multiple times over the year.) I’m looking for any kinds of tips, advice or insight on being SPL, as at this point anything would help. Thank you.

Answer 1

being a cub master and on the committee of my sons troop. youshould sit with the boys in your patrol and ask what they would like to do, make lists of trips, activities and what they want to accomplish at the meetings. Then sit with the troop guide and the scout master as well as the aspl and talk about it. then lay down the plans. By asking you are showing that the position isnt a dictatorship and you can plan what the BOYS like. The SM should help you setup your plans. Then you enact them. If you still require help the SM and ASM's oreven committee should be able to help you.

good luck and congrats.

Ps BSA publishers a booklet that describes the job and offers suggestions on how to be effective in the position. ask your SM to get it for you.

Answer 2

Hello fazoogle:

Congratulations on being elected SPL. You have a chance to take the troop where you would like to see it go. As the SPL, you will be the rudder of the ship that is your troop. Your Scoutmaster is the coach of your team, you are the Captain.

Training is your best asset. Ask your Scoutmaster to get you a copy of the junior leader training and the Patrol Leader's handbook. Study these when you have time. Ask if your Council or District offers Junior Leader training and sign up for the training. Train your Patrol Leaders on what you expect of them. Learn to delegate tasks, don't do it all yourself. Follow up on assignments you have delegated, and ask for progress reports. The Patrol Leaders are responsible for their own patrol members. If boys are approaching you and asking questions, ask them if they have asked their patrol leader first. Don't be snide, just get them in the habit of relying more on their patrol leader.

To plan meetings, BSA offers ideas in Scouting magazine pertaining to the theme for the month. BSA also publishes a planning calendar with the monthly theme. Get your patrol leaders together and plan your year out. You might want to plan on one main activity a month, every month. Camping is basic, remember hikes, canoe trips, whitewater rafting, rappelling/rock climbing, whatever the boys want to do.

Above all, Keep it Simple, Make it Fun. If you aren't having fun, it isn't worth doing.

Keep on Scoutin'

Answer 3

A good suggestion is to make sure you keep in touch with the bys, i was a former SPL and i didnt call making some of the parents mad and also making it hard to know what was going to happen at the meetings.  Just make sure you and your ASPL split up the numbers so you dont have to hassle with calling 20 people.  Also, make sure you dont yell at the boys and dont come on to mean or youll have angry boys and angry parents.

Answer 4

It seems like you are starting out on the right track...you know what the problems are.

I think that having some open communication with your Scoutmaster and the patrol leaders would be the way to start.  Talk to your SM about doing the "boy led" thing.  Hold monthly planning meetings with him and the patrol leaders to plan the next month's meetings (which you would run).

Answer 5

have you all looked at taking them to a scout camp in the summer? also what about durby car night what about camping and hiking trips with all these things tied in like compass reading or map reading basic camping skills. take them to a military base or national monument .