Applying the patrol method is a perennial challenge for all of us, indeed it is the subject of much of the Scoutmaster blog and podcast. Someone took the time to make this patrol method video from the filmstrip that was part of the Scoutmaster Fundamentals course decades ago. However dated the format it is has some very […]
Patrol Method
Patrol System Survey Results
Thanks to the 90 participants who responded to the patrol system survey. I have prepared an analysis of the results that I plan on using during a university of Scouting training event. The patrol system is the essential element of Scouting. It is the central focus of successfully delivering all that the Scouting program promises. […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 34 – From Adult to Youth Leadership Part 1
One of the most common things I am asked about… .. is how to manage the transition from adult-led to youth-led Scouting. In this first of three podcasts talking about this transition I’ll point out that the process begins with education ourselves as to how Scouting is constituted, how the game is played. What we […]
The Art of The Unexpected
My new senior patrol leader and I were talking at a bridge crossing ceremony. He is about two or three meetings into his term a the leader of his troop of 45 Scouts. Like all of his predecessors he’s been caught in the headlights of the unexpected. He seemed to be totally stunned by the […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 7 – The Boy Led Troop 2
Scoutmaster Podcast 7 The second talk about moving from an adult lead to boy led troop. In This Podcast Troop Manuals, Contracts and the like Retreat with George Moving from Adult to Youth Leadership 2 A Scout is Helpful Podcast Notes Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Listen to this episode (00:24:55) […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 6 – The Boy led Troop 1
Scoutmaster Podcast 6 Moving from Adult to Youth Leadership In This Podcast What is a Scoutmaster? Humor – Moccasin Telegraph Moving from Adult to Youth Leadership Scoutmaster’s Minute – A Scout is Cheerful Podcast Notes The Inquiry Net Ask Andy Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Listen to this episode (00:25:24) […]
Reorganizing Patrols
I’ve recently taken over as Scoutmaster and we are working on reorganizing patrols. We have 38 scouts in 3 patrols. One has 11 or 12 scouts, all young and most of them go camping; the second has about 6 active scouts, 2 camp regularly. Patrol 3 is led by a Life Scout that is great with younger […]
Patrol Spirit
Continuing an examination of Patrols based on the 1960 Book The Patrol System (opens PDF file). ‘Patrol Spirit’ as described below is key to fostering strong Patrols- Patrol spirit doesn’t spring up like a mushroom overnight. It can’t be made to order. But it can be developed in the same way that a small tree […]
Patrol Logs
Maintaining a written log is one of the requirements of the Standard Patrol Award at our summer camp. A few years ago we expanded on the idea and now a Patrol Logbook is kept year-round. Every night at camp ends with the Patrols gathering to record their thoughts in the Patrol Log. Patrol Leaders then […]
When Youth Leadership Doesn’t Lead
A predictable frustration for Scoutmasters is the Scout who takes on a youth leadership position and doesn’t meet expectations. We may respond using employee-employer or soldier-officer thinking and tactics because these are familiar models. Scouts are not employees, Scoutmasters are not employers. Scouts are not Enlisted Men, Scoutmasters are not Officers. Scouts don’t sign contracts, they volunteer. […]
B.P.’s Outlook – Patrol Leaders
From Baden-Powells Outlook – THE best progress is made in those Troops where power and responsibility are really put into the hands of the Patrol Leaders. It is the secret of success with many Scoutmasters, when once they have half-a-dozen Patrol Leaders, really doing their work as if they were Assistant Scoutmasters. The Scoutmasters find […]
Building Confidence in Youth Leadership
Green Bar Bill Hillcourt’s oft repeated encouragement to “Train em’ trust em’ and let them lead” remains the simple formula for building and maintaining confidence in youth leadership. Hillcourt’s formula has three active components Train Training youth leaders need not be a protracted formal training event. Real-time, authentic and immediate on the job training (OJT) […]
Taking Direction from Youth Leadership
Sometimes the goals of youth leaders and adult leaders diverge to the point that we may be duplicating efforts or working at odds with one another. In the interest of aligning forces these goals should be examined periodically. Maintaining the integrity of youth leadership means they have the opportunity to plan and act independent of […]
Making Scout Patrols Work
In response to the post Patrol Method a reader asked the following about Scout patrols: I have been an assistant scoutmaster for some time and was recently asked by the committee to be the new Scoutmaster. I have had only one One of the things that concerns me is the patrol setup in our troop. We are […]
The Test of the Patrol Method
The Test of the Patrol Method An old experienced Scoutmaster said once: “The test of the Patrol Method is in the easy chair!” His audience looked nonplussed, so he elaborated his statement: “Get an easy chair and place it in a corner of the Troop meeting room. If you can sink into it just after […]
Patrol Method
A succinct definition of the patrol method: The formation of the boys into Patrols of from six to eight and training them as separate units each under its own responsible leader is the key to a good Troop. The Patrol is the unit of Scouting always, whether for work or for play, for discipline or […]
