1. The Answer: Youth-Run & Adult-Guided Troop
University of Scouting 2007

2. The answer… 42

3. Q: What is the Patrol Method and Patrol Spirit?
What was the question?
Q: What is the Patrol Method and Patrol Spirit?
A: The boy-run, adult-guided troop

4. Dave Byrne Troop 1333 New Scout ASM Dave.Byrne@anadarko.com
Your presenter
Dave Byrne
Troop 1333 New Scout ASM

5. Patrol Method troop Troop Method troop Webelos III troop
Three types of troops
Patrol Method troop
Troop Method troop
Webelos III troop

6. Three types of troops Patrol Method Troop Method Focus Webelos III
Patrols
Patrol Method
Troop Method
Focus
Webelos III
Boys
Adults
Boys
Leadership & Decision-Making

7. Character Development Citizenship Training Physical & Mental Fitness
Aims of Boy Scouting
Character Development
Citizenship Training
Physical & Mental Fitness

8. Methods of Boy Scouting
The Ideals
The Patrol Method
The Outdoors
Advancement
Association with Adults
Personal Growth
Leadership Development
The Uniform

9. Scouting is…
“A game for boys under the leadership of boys with the wise guidance and counsel of a grown-up who still has the enthusiasm of youth in him.
A purposeful game, but a game just the same, a game that develops character by practice, that trains for citizenship through experience in the out-of-doors.”
-- William “Green Bar Bill” Hartcourt

10. What is a Patrol? What do we know about boys?
Boys want to be with their friends
Boys want fun and adventure
Boys need a reason to be where they are

11. Patrols Who decides in which patrol a new scout is assigned?
How large should a patrol be?
How long should a patrol be together?
What about “virtual” patrols?

12. Who chooses who is in each patrol?
Let the boys choose
He should want to be in his patrol
Boy must believe he is choosing his destiny
Q: How should you handle influx of many boys vs. small number of new Scouts?

13. Step backward in patrol unity
Are patrols permanent?
Mixing of patrols
Step backward in patrol unity
Patrols should stay together as much and as long as possible!

14. “Virtual” patrols – good or bad?
TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF PATROLS: 1.
A troop is a group of patrols, NOT a group of boys. 2.
Patrols must be real entities with their own identity.

15. Building Patrol Identity
Patrol Name
Patrol Symbol
Patrol Flag
Patrol Yell
Patrol Meeting Place
Patrol “stuff”

16. Scouting is… “A game for boys under the leadership of boys…”
“The only way to develop leadership in a boy is to give him a chance to practice it.”
-- William “Green Bar Bill” Hartcourt

17. How are leaders selected?
Elected and appointed by BOYS
SM should NOT appoint Scouts to POR, nor should they “force” the vote to get their way
Guide; let the boys’ make their own decisions -- for better or worse

18. Patrol positions of responsibility
Elected: Patrol Leader
Appointed:
Assistant Patrol Leader
Scribe
Quartermaster
Grubmaster
Cheermaster

19. Troop positions of responsibility
Elected: Senior Patrol Leader
Appointed:
Assistant SPL
Scribe
Quartermaster
Historian
OA Representative
Librarian
Chaplain Aide
Instructor
Troop Guide
Den Chief
JASM

20. Some friendly competition…
Use friendly, well-spirited competition between leaders
Great for PL, Troop Guides, Instructors, QMs, and Grubmasters!
Use to encourage desired behavior and promote teamwork

21. Leaders need jobs to do!
To learn to lead, Patrols need tasks that are…
Regularly occurring
Complex
Meaningful
Challenging
For example…

22. It’s about communication
“Have you asked your Patrol Leader?”
Senior Patrol Leader
Patrol member
Patrol Leader
Troop POR

23. It’s about communication
Patrol member
Senior Patrol Leader
Weekly!
Patrol Leader
PLC

24. The PLC & The Patrol Method
Boy planned, run, and executed
Let’s hear it for the SPL!
Where are the adults? “Close but separate”

25.     Will it always work? Two steps forward, one step back
The most common problem… 
“If you only give partial responsibility you will only get partial results.” 
Remember the goal: Boys working together as patrols under leaders they selected.

26. Scouting is…
“A game for boys under the leadership of boys with the wise guidance and counsel of a grown-up…”
-- William “Green Bar Bill” Hartcourt

27. “Boy-led” doesn’t mean “Boys left alone”
Are you crazy?!
“Boy-led” doesn’t mean “Boys left alone”

28.  OUR job AND in the process...
Create opportunities for safe fun and new adventures.
AND in the process...
Learn practical citizenship
Experience new levels of teamwork
Develop leadership skills
Achieve the aims of Scouting

29. Train ‘em, trust ‘em, let them lead!
One “simple” goal:
Train ‘em, trust ‘em, let them lead!
“A Scoutmaster trains boys to be leaders, makes available to them the resources and guidance they need to lead well, and then steps in the background and lets them do their jobs.”

30. Training the boy leaders
Just as every Scout deserves a trained adult leader, every adult leader deserves a trained Scout!
Green Bar Campout
TLT
JLT
Transition period
Regular POR reviews

31. Four critical questions
The boys should be asking…
How are we doing?
What do we need to start doing?
What do we need to stop doing?
What do we need to change?

32. Q: Who’s in charge of the troop?
Patrol is like a state
Troop is like the United States
PL is like a state governor
SPL is like the President
Troop officers are SPL’s “cabinet”
A: The SPL -- his job is to coordinate the efforts of each patrol for the good of the troop.

33. What about the adults? SHOULD: SHOULD NOT: Advise Enable Empower
Voice of experience
Sound judgment
Bring ideas to PLC
Veto arbitrarily
“Plan” activities
Do a Scout’s job for him
Ignore Scouts’ wishes

34. Simple ways to promote the PM
Communicating with the troop:
Relay all information via PL & SPL; put them out in front of boys
Provide guidance ahead of time – provide success strategies
Step out of view

35. Simple ways to promote the PM
Communicating with a Scout:
Always ask him: “Have you asked you Patrol Leader?”
Lead him to the answer with questions, guide him, don’t grieve him.

36. Simple ways to promote the PM
Whose idea is best?
Boys should evaluate activities
When the boys get an idea just get in mind that it might work
Remember: Boys choose, adults support
Have a plan A? Make a plan B, too.
Enable more, interfere less!

37. Simple ways to promote the PM
Dealing with behavior issues:
Go to his Patrol Leader (or SPL)
Provide suggestions, then step away
Don’t yell or get mad, get disappointed
Direct your disappointment to PL or SPL

38. Simple ways to promote the PM
Encourage patrol spirit!
SPL should frequently talk with PL about his patrol’s spirit.
Recognize great PATROLS more often than individual Scouts.
Praise boys whenever they are displaying great patrol teamwork.

39. If a boy can do it, adults don’t!
The “bottom line”
If a boy can do it, adults don’t!

40. Traditions worth keeping are the ones that define the troop!
What about traditions?
Is it a boy-run or an adult-run tradition? Or is it a rut?
Are you afraid of change?
Traditions worth keeping are the ones that define the troop!

41. Boy Scouting’s “tradition”…
Applying the Patrol Method to camping…this one’s a “no brainer”
Each patrol at its own site
Set up camp without adult help or input
Patrol spirit during the campout
Cook & clean by patrol!

42. The training & sign-off question
The options:
Scoutmasters
Instructor Scouts
Troop Guides
First Class+ Scouts

43. The goal: Boys train boys
Boy-run training
Adults: Verify, counsel, stand back, observe
The goal: Boys train boys
Troop Guide
ASM
New Scout Patrol
via SPL
ASPL
Instructor

44. Boys sign-off on requirements
Two suggestions:
Instructor Scout
ASM
1st Class+ Scout
Instructor Scout

45. Ten key truths Boys want to be with their friends
Boys want fun and adventure
Boys need a reason to be where they are
Boys learn by doing
Boys must be allowed to struggle and fail
Boys only learn leadership & responsibility if they have a chance to practice it

46. Ten key truths
Boys need real, meaningful tasks and projects to perform
If a boy can do it, adults don’t!
Boys need encouragement and praise
Boy leaders run the troop; adults enable and keep the program aligned toward the vision and purpose.

47. Baden-Powell on the Patrol Method
“The strength of the Boy Scout program is its ability to satisfy the boy’s own wants and at the same time direct those wants into social channels. But the reason for our using the Patrol Method in Scouting is not alone because it fits in with the boy’s nature and his desires. The remarkable thing is that it fits equally well with the adult leader’s aims and purposes.”

48. WORKSHEET: Characteristics of a troop using the Patrol Method:
You’re using the PM if…
WORKSHEET: Characteristics of a troop using the Patrol Method:
#2, 5, 6, 8, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30