Have you ever wanted to be a better patrol leader? Are you eager to learn some leadership skills? Do you have ideas you are willing to share with others? Have you wondered what happens in other troops, and how the patrol system operates? Are you keen about Scouting and how it can help you?
Then... do we ever have something for you!
The intriguingly promoted 1981 special weekend camp for patrol leaders, troop leaders, assistant patrol leaders and junior leaders in the St. Catherine's District, Ontario, was a roaring success. Designed to give boys an opportunity to explore leadership techniques and exchange ideas, the Patrol Leaders in Action camp featured a rich variety of experiences and challenges.
The boys plunged immediately into the training exercise at tent-pitching time-a "leaderless experience" in which nothing was organized. The next item on the agenda presented a complete turn-around-from laissez-faire to the "regimental" approach where boys were bossed, bullied, yelled at, criticized and called names. It's not surprising that some of the Scouts became upset at the process, but it certainly proved effective staging for later discussions of good and bad types of leadership.
The pace continued throughout the first day and into the second. Rovers counseled patrols during a role-playing session dealing with common problem situations, and helped as counselors in many other "patrol run" events. Rovers also set up the obstacle trail and many of the challenges.
Patrols had opportunities to consult a resource list of ideas for patrol activities, and were expected to add to the list any ideas they had. During one session, a boy from each patrol demonstrated a Scouting game, skill or contest while the others evaluated his presentation. Patrol yells, invented by the boys to use during camp, also were evaluated. The exchange of ideas continued with "swapshop" huddles and, later, during campfire program planning in preparation for each patrol's responsibility to run, in turn, the evening campfire.
A session of Court of Honour demonstrations acquired particular impact when a real case was included. One of the camp participants, who had used foul language in anger, appeared before acting junior leaders. They dealt with the situation in a very mature way while the other boys eagerly listened.
But the Scouts didn't spend the whole time sitting around just jawing or listening. They had a mystery meal and a novelty snack to prepare; initiative-testing challenges to meet; an adventure trail obstacle course to run; a wide game of "smugglers and coast guard"; and a midnight adventure mystery which took them rambling through the dark and left them talking for a long time afterwards. I mean, how would you react if you'd been awakened at night with the news that a flying saucer had been spotted near camp? When patrols took to the hills, they actually saw lights moving in the night sky. The Rovers had set up a very convincing scene, even to the scoffers!
The camp concluded with an evaluative discussion and presentations, and the expectation that the boys would continue to practise newly acquired leadership skills. Two months later, each of them received an evaluation form to help them reinforce their learning and check their progress. Through this, it's hoped the weekend's promotion promise of "an active and adventurous experience in Scouting" will last throughout the entire Scouting year.
A number of patrol leadership problem scenarios were developed for use during the Patrol Leaders in Action weekend. Any of them could become a basis for discussion, demonstration or role-playing in response to either a potential or real problem situation in your troop.
"Yes, I knew they were going on the raid," said Joe. "But I promised that I wouldn't stop them. They didn't do any real damage anyway. How can I be a good patrol leader if my boys don't trust and like me? If they didn't trust me, they wouldn't tell me about things like this at all. How can I betray their trust and report it to Scouter? Besides, you must expect them to break the rules once in awhile. That's part of the fun-just to get away with it. They don't want a PL who's always watching and spoiling their fun."
On his first night in the tent with his patrol, Don heard quite a few "hells" and "damns", some even more questionable language, and some unsavoury jokes. He felt these off-colour expressions were in poor taste and contrary to the Scout law. The boys seemed to be showing off as to who could tell the most obscene stories and utter the worst profanities. Don wondered what he should do.
Bill was beaming when he handed his lifesaving certificate to Scouter. "Now I've finally earned my badge," he said proudly. "Remember, I was really scared of the water when I first started swimming. Now the guys will look up to me. It's not an easy test. You have to be a strong swimmer to pass. Actually, you're supposed to swim a hundred yards of each of the major strokes, but the lifeguard didn't have the time, so he said as long as we knew the strokes, that's all he cared about. Wasn't that nice?"
Jim had recently been appointed patrol leader and was rather uncertain about how the boys would react to his orders but wanted to do a good job. He soon discovered that his patrol acted up during patrol instruction period. In vain he pleaded with them to take their badge work seriously. As soon as he showed a skill to a couple of the boys, the others would horse around. chase each other with ropes or tie knots in the bandages. Jim threatened to send anyone who wouldn't listen to Scouter, but no one took him seriously. He felt very unsure of himself and discouraged about his job.
Patrol Leader Al was in charge of his patrol on a canoe outing away from base camp. It was a hot summer day and the boys decided to stop for a rest on a shady shore where they could eat dinner. Suddenly Al realized that they'd forgotten to bring fresh water for mixing their drinks, and the lake water didn't seem pure. A couple of boys volunteered to paddle across to an island where cottages indicated drinking water would be available. Meanwhile, the other two wanted to go for a swim, and Al was trying to start a fire for cooking. He didn't know if the area was safe for swimming, but they argued with him until he said okay. Then he heard a yell, and watched Peter limp out of the water with his left foot dripping blood. Peter had a deep gash where he'd struck a sharp rock below the surface. The wound obviously needed prompt medical attention and stitches, but the other boys hadn't returned from the island. Peter was suffering from shock.
Last edited: February 22, 2004
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster