The Patrol System

A thorough, yet concise discussion of the Patrol Method available at the White Stag from the Handbook for Scoutmasters, Volume One. © 1936 Boy Scouts of America, Compiled by Bill Hillcourt. We must keep constantly in mind, though, that “The object of the Patrol Method”—as Baden-Powell says”is not so much to save trouble for the Scoutmaster, as to give responsibility to the boy-since this is the very best of all means of developing character. The Scoutmaster gives the aim, and the several Patrols vie with each other in attaining it, thus automatically raising their standards of keenness and efficiency all round.” “Get an easy chair and place it in a corner of the Troop meeting room. If you [the Scoutmaster] can sink into it just after the opening ceremony and just sit throughout the meeting, without a worry for its success, without lifting a finger or moving a foot until time comes for the closing-well, then your Troop is run on the Patrol Method-your boy leaders are actually leading.”

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