From The Patrol System Published by Scouts Canada in 1960. Not a new idea, but a good one none-the-less. What would happen if you put this information in the hands of your patrol leaders? You want your gang to become a real Patrol—and only a hiking Patrol is a real one. We can break Patrol hikes generally into two classes. One—where you don’t want to be tied down by fire making and cooking....
Scoutmaster Podcast 40 Interview with the authors of a fantastic patrol method book – Working the Patrol Method. 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. I cannot recommend Working the Patrol Method strongly enough – an essential tool for every Scoutmaster and adult leader. This podcast lasts 56 minutes (!) – I didn’t want to break up the interview....
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 Scouts but is “too cool” to ever wear his uniform. The SPL and ASPL are NYLT trained and very motivated....
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 can be helped along by giving it rich soil in which to grow, by tending it faithfully, by letting plenty of sun and air get to it, by pulling up the weeds that threaten to choke it....
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 bring the log to a Patrol Leader’s Council Meeting and review them with the Senior Patrol Leader....
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 themselves able to go on and increase the size of their Troops by starting new Patrols or adding recruits to existing ones....
I would guess that one Troop in twenty schedules actual, independent Patrol outings. More likely than not the Patrols all go camping at once – AKA a Troop outing (like my Troop). I haven’t pursued independent Patrol outings for a couple of reasons; Logistics – Planning, supplying and launching three or four separate outings is more difficult than planning one Troop outing. Leadership – Maintaining prescribed levels of adult leadership would be a problem....
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 setup as the Scoutmaster Handbook says – Webelos that cross over together and new boys form a “new boy patrol” – we have “regular” patrols, then we have a “venture” patrol....