Scoutmaster

Creating Functional Boy Scout Patrols

Scouting Magazine's Front Line Stuff asks the question:

Our troop's patrols are organized by age and don't function well. We  basically have two patrols: the "chaos" patrol of 11- and 12-year old  boys and the "I'm too cool" patrol of older Scouts. How can we create  functional patrols where the older Scouts teach the younger ones?

A.S.
Louisville, Ky

Encouraging older and younger Scouts to interact with each other is simple when we observe the methods and aims of Scouting. Examine the 'chaos' Patrol carefully - what appears to be chaos to an adult may be a highly functioning patrol of 11 and 12 year-olds.

Since the Patrol method is THE method let's examine how A.S. could apply it to resolve the situation. If there is instruction going on ad it isn't coming from the older Scouts where is it coming from?

Assure that responsibility for the Patrols and skill development where it belongs - in the hands of youth leadership. Put a moratorium on all adult instruction (except in mentoring leadership) and reduce adult oversight of the patrols to a minimum. The troop may have to step back and do some youth and/or adult leader training to accomplish this.

A.S.'s fellow adult leaders probably have the common concerns we all have had in taking the plunge with such advice. But when we step back the Scouts step up.

Once there is a clear understanding of leadership roles start asking lots of questions of the Youth leadership:

• What are your goals for Troop and Patrol advancement, activities and involvement in the next several weeks or months?
• Does our current Patrol structure lend itself to reaching these goals? (i.e. does having all the younger Scouts in the same Patrol make sense?)
• What do you plan to change about your Troop so to achieve the goals you have set for yourselves?

The Scouts will surprise you. They will work hard once given the latitude to do so. The short answer to any problem or dysfunction within a Scout Troop is asking the leadership (specifically the youth leadership) if they see it as a problem and then guiding them to discover a solution

The Uncertain Senior Patrol Leader

Scouter 573 asks:
What can I do to help an SPL who thinks he got chosen for something other than his leadership abilities?

Most of my SPL's (twenty five or so and counting) have had at least a minor crisis of self confidence. A few have had some major misgivings. I try to help them recall that they were elected by their fellow Scouts, and that in itself witnesses that they have confidence in him.

Imbue them with confidence and support, make their disappointments small. If they are beaten down by many failures find some element of success to build upon.

Think of yourself as a drill sergeant who, instead of finding every opportunity to tear down, finds every opportunity to build up. Don't floridly overreact in the manner of a doting parent but find your opportunities for praise.

The confidence you exhibit in any youth leader is proportional to the confidence they will develop.

Early Departures from Campouts

Scouting Magazine publishes answers to questions from Scouters in 'Front Line Stuff'.
They have posted questions that will be featured in upcoming issues here. There is also an archive of past questions.

Here's the question for the May-June 2008 issue.

Early Departures From Weekend Camp-Outs

Our troop has a growing problem of parents picking up their sons from a camp-out on Sunday morning, right after breakfast but before the real work of breaking camp begins. The parents have many excuses for their son's early departure, but this makes the other Scouts feel like they are getting stuck with all the take-down and packing chores. They even wonder if they should ask their parents to make an excuse to pick them up early. Any suggestions?

J.S.
Dallas, Tex.

I would encourage J.S. to take this to his Patrol Leader's Council at their next meeting. They are the ones who have to do the chores, they should be able to find some resolution.

A more predictable reaction is creating a policy of some sort or tossing the problem to the Troop Committee. To do either denies the Scouts a prime opportunity to  practice some leadership and self government. Once he has asked the PLC to solve the problem J.S. should listen carefully to their discussion, perhaps ask a question of two and let the Scouts formulate a solution.

If they own the solution they are more likely to make it work.