Patrol Work

Having received his training in Patrol leadersnip in the meetings and on the hikes of the Green Bar Patrol, the Patrol Leader sets out to build his Scouts into the best Patrol imaginable. He will try to make each member realize that the reputation of the Patrol depends on the labor and achievement of each Scout. His work is to see that every one of his Scouts has an opportunity to share in the planning of Patrol activities, to learn and to live, at Patrol meetings, hikes and camps, and that they get as much benefit as possible out of every Troop undertaking.

Patrol Meetings

And when we speak of Patrol meetings we mean independent gatherings of the group for specific Scout purposes under its own leadership with no adult present. The Scoutmaster's aim in training his leaders is to make these gatherings not only possible but purposeful.

Troop life and Troop spirit are created at Troop meetings and hikes, but it is mostly at individual Patrol meetings and hikes that Patrol spirit is formed, that the Scouts are molded together as one solid individual "gang." At Troop meetings the Scoutmaster's individuality reigns-it cannot be otherwise-but at the Patrol meetings the Patrol Leader gets his chance to put his ideals up to his Scouts, to be to them, so far as he can, what the Scoutmaster is to the Troop as a whole.

The time and frequency of Patrol meetings will be governed largely by circumstances. For younger boys the afternoon, for older lads the evening may be best suited. As to frequency, it is recommended that Patrols hold Patrol meetings at least once a week in addition to the Troop meetings, except when the Scouts have extraordinary demands on their time from school work and home work. As a matter of fact, many wide awake Patrols with boys of the same neighborhood or school come together almost daily to train in Scoutcraft.

Hiking back to their camp site, singing as they go, this Patrol is swinging along with the breeze. Their totem is with them.

In warm weather Patrol meetings should be held in the open. When colder weather comes, the boys will need an indoor meeting place. For new Patrols, the homes of the Scouts will most appropriately constitute the meeting place, alternating from one to the other from week to week. It will be found that parents welcome Patrol meetings more readily if it is made clear that "eats" are not expected. As the Patrols grow older they should bend every effort toward finding and developing their own "dens."

As to the contents of these meetings: the time will be spent in training for and reviewing various Scout Requirements, working on a Patrol project, playing Scoutcraft games, discussing a proposed program for the Patrol for the year, welcoming a new recruit, planning the next hike or Patrol Good Turn, preparing for an Inter-Patrol contest. Occasional meetings will be just good times designed to build Patrol morale, a songfest, an evening of fun, games and the like.

Patrol meetings are discussed fully in Handbook for Patrol Leaders, Chapter V.

The Scoutmaster, an Assistant or a junior Troop Leader should attend Patrol meetings only occasionally, and at all times should leave the conduct of the meeting in the hands of the Patrol Leader.

Patrol Hikes And Camps

While Patrols are encouraged to go hiking and camping on their own, obviously no group of raw recruits should be permitted to wander off into the woods without adult guidance. From sheer ignorance they are almost certain to get into some kind of trouble. It is always desirable for an adult to be with such Scouts.

The Scouts meet in their den for work and play, creating a firm foundation of Patrol spirit and loyalty.

However, after the Patrol Leaders have been properly trained for hike and camp leadership and the Scouts have learned to take care of themselves on several Troop hikes and camps, to respect growing crops and green trees, to avoid unnecessary danger, to be courteous to farmers, and in all ways to conduct themselves as Scouts, opportunities for them to go on their own outings under the leadership of a responsible Patrol Leader should be very definitely provided

Patrol Hike and Camp Leadership

To aid the Scoutmaster in determining whether a Patrol Leader is ready to take his Patrol hiking or camping, the Handbook for Patrol Leaders suggests the following boy leadership requirements:

For Patrol Hiking Leadership

To take his Patrol hiking, a Patrol Leader should have:

(1) His first Class Rank.

(2) Experience on at least three Troop hikes and two hikes of the Green Bar Patrol.

(3) One month's experience as a successful Patrol Leader.

(4) Written consent of the parents of each boy.

(5) A reasonable familiarity with the country to be covered.

(6) Permission of the property owner to build fires and cook.

For Patrol Camping Leadership

To take his Patrol short-term camping, a Patrol Leader should have:

(1) As above.

(2) a. Experience on at least two Troop overnight, camps and one Troop Leaders' overnight camp, or at least one week in an Approved Boy Scout Camp.

b. Experience on at least five Patrol hikes to the satisfaction of the Scoutmaster.

(3) Three months' experience as Patrol Leader.

(4) As above.

(5) As above with Familiarity with camp site added.

(6) As above with Permission to make camp added.

These requirements are not meant to be hard and fast regulations, but rather to be considered as a measuring stick for the Scoutmaster's use. You may find, for example, that a certain Patrol Leader, not yet a First Class Scout, may be trusted absolutely to make a Patrol hike a success, while another, apparently should have still stricter requirements imposed upon him before he is allowed to take his Scouts out alone. Use these "requirements" therefore "with a grain of salt" for the best of the Troop-and the boy leaders themselves.

In all instances, plans for Patrol hikes and camps should be submitted in writing to the Troop Leaders' Council and should be definitely approved by the Scoutmaster, who must be ever conscious of the fact that his is the ultimate responsibility. Furthermore, no Patrol hike or overnight camp should be undertaken without the expressed approval of the boys' parents.

As to the technique of Patrol hikes, the Patrol Leader should be directed to the helpful suggestions found in the Handbook for Patrol Leaders, Chapter VII. Similarly, Chapter VIII in the same volume provides thorough instruction in the art of Patrol camping.