Scott Robertson

SM Tip - How to Make Your SPL Quit

By: Posted On: 2015-07-09

How to Make Your SPL Quit

I've been doing interviews recently with Scouters for a forthcoming Scouting magazine article on the boy-led troop (or boy-run or Scout-run or Scout-led--you pick the term). The most remarkable quote I've heard didn't come from a Scouter, however, but from a senior patrol leader. He said, "Honestly, I think I would quit Scouting if my Scoutmasters cooked me every single meal. There’s just no fun in that."

This quote struck me because I've seen many, many cases where Scouters do all the cooking or where they take over cooking duties when the troop is in a hurry to get to a fun activity or to pack up before heading home. My representative sample of one SPL says that's a dumb idea, that those Scouters aren't doing their Scouts any favors when they "help" in this way.

How to Make Your SPL Quit

Interestingly, even the first-year Scouts in this SPL's troop seem to agree. When they've gone to closely packed camporees, some of those first-year Scouts have looked across a campground and wondered aloud why other troops' leaders were doing all the cooking. Then they've turned back to their overcooked pasta and charred French bread and continued having fun.

Are your Scouts having fun? Or are they just eating nice catered meals in a rustic setting?

For more ideas on making Scouting fun, be sure to check out The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook today.

This tip list is a free service from Resources for Boy Scouting.

For more information, visit www.eaglebook.com

Feel free to forward this message to your friends, but please send it in its entirety.
Helpful Email Addresses:
Subscribe: eagletips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 
Unsubscribe: eagletips-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: eagletips-owner@yahoogroups.com
Tip submissions: eagletips-owner@yahoogroups.com
Copyright © 2014 by Mark A. Ray. All rights reserved.


 
 

Materials found on InsaneScouter'.org is © 1998 - 2025, but may be reproduced and used for anything consistent with the Scouting and Guiding programs. Unless otherwise noted on the page. If you believe we are republishing your copyrighted material without permission, please Contact Us including the url to have it removed or your copyright information added. All opinions expressed on these pages are those of the original authors. All holdings are subject to this Disclaimer.

Please be advised that InsaneScouter is NOT affiliated with any Scouting or Guiding Organization including Boy Scouts of America.

Scouting resources for Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Girl Guides, Girl Scout, Cub Scout, Venturing, Exploring, Beavers, Joey, Boy Scout Leaders