By Holly Kline
Local sports training facility SPARTA is set to begin its second Junior Leadership Program on Dec. 7 in Fishers. Kids in grades 6-12 can register for the 10-week course that meets once a week on Sunday afternoons and utilizes Inspire2Impact training to teach personal development and leadership.
SPARTA offers sports activities for all ages and it’s the youth coaching experience that led to the creation of the Junior Leadership program. “The evolution of Sparta started with a mentoring mindset,” said Luke Dunnuck, SPARTA owner and director of youth development.
He went on to explain that kids need to learn to create a positive culture within their groups of friends. “Kids are struggling,” stated Dunnuck. “We need an aggressive shift in leadership within peer groups. Great leaders build leaders, not followers.”
The Junior Leadership program’s Inspire2Impact curriculum consists of exploring personal development by learning the Five I’s: Identity, Intentional, Influence, Interpersonal and Inclusive. Leadership skills are incorporated by studying Character, Culture and more.
SPARTA strives to make Inspire2Impact something kids enjoy. “It’s important that it doesn’t feel like school so that kids can see this as their own program and as a want-to,” said Dunnuck. “For example, we have the kids make a bucket list. We start off with identity and with questions like ‘Who am I, What do I stand for’ and then we go into deeper things.”
Dunnuck explained that youths learn how to function in a group. “Kids want to make a difference when they’re challenged to a higher calling,” he said. “They struggle to influence their peer group so we show them how.”
Brian Howard, 16, participated in the program and described the benefits. “You look at yourself in a deeper way than the majority of kids our age,” said Howard. “I’m looking at who I am and who I really want to be. I’ve definitely learned how to build better relationships and know how to handle things in a better way.”
Registration is open for the next Junior Leadership program. Call SPARTA at 842-2933 for details or visit www.spartaindy.com/youth-leadership-program. “We’re trying to send inspired and empowered kids into their cultures to take it back where it should be,” said Dunnuck.
