If you take a tin of peaches from the cupboard and look at the mouth-watering
illustration you're going to feel a bit let down if you find a lot of dried
up skins inside!
In the same way scouts expect what's shown on the Scouting 'label'
and are soon going to get fed up if you don't give it to them.
YPeople join the Scouts for many different reasons, but once they're
in they expect it to be fun, with a bit of adventure and, above all they
want it to be lively. Tying knots with bits of string in a dusty corner
will soon convince any person with a 'bit up top' that this is not what
they joined for. This doesn't mean that training in basic skills is unnecessary
- far from it. It's the way you put it over that counts. The highwayman's
hitch mastered on the ground and then put into action six feet up over
the bough of a tree will show any scout that training
can be fun too. Get some action into your training projects and stunts
- Training your Patrol in techniques of Scouting is a vital part of your
job - without the 'Know how' it will be difficult, and even dangerous,
to run some of the projects that can give your Patrol the fun that they
are seeking.
Teamwork is one of the things that football crowds go to see, and in
your Patrol teamwork is going to count. Get your Patrol working as a team,
with every Scout taking responsibility for a job in the Patrol . At your
Patrol Meetings, have the occasional activity where your Scouts work as
a team. Once your Patrol get used to working in this way they will see
that it achieves results. In camp, if everyone gets down to the work at
first there's more time for fun and activities later. All this adds up
to getting the right 'Patrol Spirit ' in everything you do. The Patrol, like all Scouting is a collection of individuals. Each Scout
has his strengths and weaknesses and brings these to the aid of the Patrol.
It is Scouting's job to develop the strengths and remove the weaknesses.
This we do through a programme of fun , challenge and adventure. Creating
this sense of enjoyment is one of the main jobs of the Patrol Leader. This
starts with keeping everyone busy and interested. You need to develop a
sense of friendship so that Scouts will have some of their best friends
in the Patrol. This is part of learning to live together which is an important
element of our aim to teach the skills for life .
The Patrol Leader has two main jobs:
Help run Troop by:
Work as a member of the Court of Honour
The idea of giving each member of the Patrol a specific job helps
them to feel part of the Patrol .
The main job is the obvious one of Assistant Patrol Leader.
Some Troops have the Court of Honour making the appointment, others
the Patrol Leader involved. The role of the Assistant Patrol Leader, as
his/her title implies, is to be the deputy of the Patrol, working alongside
the Patrol Leader, taking over when the Patrol Leader is absent , taking
charge of part of the Patrol when an activity requires it, and generally
helping the Patrol Leader to create an efficient and happy Patrol. While
his/her promotion is not guaranteed, he/she should be aware that they are
likely to be a Patrol Leader.
Every Patrol should have a Scribe to keep its Patrol Log or diary. This
contains reports of all the doings of the Patrol, with drawings, photographs
and souvenir items inserted into what should be a hardbound book. The Scribe
should be considered as the editor, seeking contributions from the other
members of the Patrol and their visitors. I know from my own old Troop
that the logbooks contain the true history reflecting all the fun and excitement.
If Patrols need money for their own purposes, they should get this by weekly
subscriptions. You need a Patrol Treasurer to collect these dues and to
keep accounts of them, and to make payments as instructed.
Other jobs can include:
A Job For All
This is not as easy as it seems and the Patrol Leader will need a lot of
support from the Patrol. The Patrol Leader's work can be broken down under
the following main headings:
Help Scout Leader by:
Promote Team spirit by:
Work as a member of the Patrol by:
Make new members welcome