The Patrol Method It is the Only Way

1. The Patrol MethodIt is the Only Way David L. Gray Scoutmaster Troop 276 – Gowanda, NY

2. The Patrol Method • Patrols are the building blocks of a Boy Scout troop. • A patrol is a small group of boys who are similar in age, development, and interests.

3. Learning Objectives • At the end of this session, participants will be able to: • Understand what the patrol method is. • Understand why it is important to scouting.

4. What is the patrol method? “The patrol’s a small team of eight or so Scouts, and it’s more than organizational convenience or a Boy Scout version of the den,” “It’s the place where boys learn skills together, take on leadership responsibilities, perhaps for the first time, and develop friendships that will last over a lifetime.”

5. What are the three types of patrols? • New Scout patrol – Boys who have just moved up or maybe new recruits • Traditional patrols – Scouts in the middle age group • Older scout patrol – Older, experienced Scouts, 14 years or older

6. Patrol Meetings • Can be held during regular meeting or own their own time • Have the patrol leader report on what happened at the latest patrol leaders’ council meeting. • Plan upcoming outings, including food menus • Design patrol flag • Outfit and clean patrol box • Work on advancement requirements • Play a game or have fun in some way • Patrols can have activities outside of the Troop

7. What is Patrol Spirit? • “Patrol spirit starts with the patrol name, which members choose and says something about them,” Come up with “a flag, a totem, a yell, a song, whatever they want, something that makes them feel part of a team, just like a sports team.”

8. What does the patrol leader do? • Plans, organizes, conducts patrol meetings activities. • Represents the patrol as a member of the patrol leader’s council. • Keeps patrol members informed about upcoming events and deadlines. • Encourages patrol members to complete advancement requirements. • Sets a good example by living up to the Scout Oath and Law.

9. A quote from our founder • Lord Baden-Powell, the Founder of Boy Scouts, once said, “The patrol system is not one method in which scouting for boys can be carried on; it is the only method.”

10. Troop Strengthened by Patrol Method • Another important consideration is youth protection and the buddy system.  • Having scouts that are about the same age working together using patrols, you have scouts that are about the same age and same interests, and they probably know each other outside of scouting, and so there’s less bullying that occurs in that kind of environment.  This buddy system, using self-selection and they are friends, and that helps us also with the bullying situation.  So the patrol method not only is great for troop structure and working through all the needs of the troop, it’s also an important part of youth protection.

11. Character Development • Two things drive character development; the example of role models and interaction with peers. • Being told how they ought to act or having good conduct modeled for them is only the first step. The real work happens when Scouts develop mutual respect for each other and foster cooperation within a group of equals. This cooperation is where the really radical idea of Scouting, self-government through the patrol method, takes place. • When Scouts, make their own plans, formulate their own rules, keep up their own discipline, elect  their own leadership charged with implementing these plans they have the opportunity to learn through experience what it means to belong to a group and to accept personal responsibility.

12. Role Models • Baden-Powell understood  that role models have a limited influence on Scouts, that character really develops through  small group interactions.  That’s why he was so adamant about the patrol system, that “the Scoutmaster has to be neither schoolmaster nor commanding officer, nor pastor, nor instructor” and  “all that is needed is the capacity to enjoy the out-of-doors, to enter into the boysʼ ambitions, to put himself on the level of the older brother, that is, to see things from the boyʼs point of view, and to lead and guide and give enthusiasm in the right direction.”

13. Patrol Method in Practice -The Adult Role • Imagine a bus tour of some important city where, seated in the air-conditioned comfort of a motor coach, we listen to the guide explain each landmark in detail so we won’t miss anything. The guide sticks to the script, we sit behind the tinted windows of our bus dutifully turning our heads to the left, then to the right. There’s so much explaining that there’s not much time left for questions  and soon the tour is over.

14. Patrol Method in Practice -The Adult Role • Contrast the bus tour with a hike led by a knowledgeable guide. He takes up the rear letting our group lead and find the trail. When the path branches he’ll tell us which way to go if we can’t figure it out on our own. He doesn’t mind if we stop now and then to admire a flower or take in the view. He’ll happily tell you what you are looking at if you ask. • Our guide will volunteer little information, he’ll drop a hint here and there and he’ll answer questions. We may miss some sights along the way or pass by interesting things, but our group will  probably get more out of what we discovered on the hike and asked about than the things the guide told us about.

15. Patrol Method in Practice -The Adult Role • Guiding Scouts using the patrol method is more like the hike than the bus tour; a gentle push in the right direction than dragging them along; a suggestion rather than a command, a question asked rather than an answer given. The adult role in the patrol method is more responsive than directive. Each group of Scouts is different so how we play our role is a response to their development, group dynamics and abilities.

16. Patrol Method in Practice -The Adult Role • Our role in Scouting is important but we aren’t in the leadership structure, we aren’t even on the chart. • Scouts form their own patrols, elect their senior patrol leader and patrol leaders, we don’t appoint them. We respond to the choices made by the Scouts and start guiding the leaders they elected.

17. Here are five practical ideas that can help shape a 21st century approach to the patrol method

18. 1. Redraw the Chart

19. 2. Scouts form their own patrols and choose their own leaders • If a Scout isn’t in a patrol with his friends he is not going to observe the structure of the patrol, he’ll gravitate to his friends anyway. Then patrol leaders are chasing Scouts out of the ‘wrong’ patrol or searching for their lost sheep all the time. Uniform, balanced, patrols make sense from an adult point of view but what we want is a patrol that best serves Scouts.

20. 3. Be patrol-centric • Several years ago our patrol leader’s council started scheduling patrol meetings in lieu of troop meetings at least once a month. There’s no troop meeting that night, only patrol meetings planned and presented by patrol leaders. They are held at the same time and place as troop meetings. We have found that this is a way to allow patrols to function independently without adding any additional logistical hurdles of patrol leaders finding another place or time to meet.

21. 4. Keep your distance • Youth leaders will not lead much if an adult is in the area. You have more influence on this than you think. Of course you lead and present and organize better than a Scout but when you do you’ve taken the opportunity away from them. What does this look like? You are far enough away to observe but not close enough to be heard unless you raise your voice.

22. 5. Re-think, re-tool and re-build • Patrols are not intended to break a troop up into more manageable segments to make the Scoutmaster’s job easier. Patrols are  the central unit of Scouting and troops are just containers for patrols. Patrols are the character school where  Scouts lead, instruct and guide each other, where the real work happens. • The key is the patrol; • The Patrol is the unit of Scouting always, whether for work or for play, for discipline or for duty. Baden-Powell

23. Patrol Method Resources • Resources available to learn more about the philosophy of the patrol method or resources for patrol leaders. • Training such as Introduction Leadership Skills for Troops • Handbooks such as the Patrol Leader Handbook and the Troop Leader Guidebook • Training such as National Youth Leadership Training that councils conduct to help patrol leaders and other leaders in the patrol learn more about how to do their job successfully.

24. Resources • http://scoutmastercg.com/category/patrol-method/

25. Closing Thoughts • Questions? • Thank You!