PART II

PATROL MEETINGS

"I want you Patrol Leaders to go on and train your Patrols in future entirely yourselves, because it is possible for you to get hold of each boy in your Patrol and make a good fellow of him." Baden-Powell.

The regular meeting of members of a Patrol under the leadership of their Patrol Leader is one of the most important features of the Patrol System. Patrol meetings provide natural settings for the boy "gang" to operate under its own leader. The more closely the boys in a Patrol are allied, the more natural it will be for them to meet together.

Real Scouting is done in the Patrol -

real from the boys' point of view because they are doing it by themselves; and

real from the Scouters' point of view because it is through this method that the Movement endeavours to achieve its Aim.

Troop meetings are simply the meeting together of Patrols for combined operations, and it has been said that one well-run Patrol activity is worth two Troop activities.

For Patrol meetings to be successful from the boys' point of view they must be fun, and that usually means doing what the "gang" wants to do at any particular time. Thus, if Patrol meetings are to achieve their immediate purpose, namely helping boys with their personal progress and preparing the Patrol for combined operations at Troop meetings, these two ideas must be combined. If Patrol meetings merely consist of tying knots in a corner or drawing compass cards on pieces of paper, interest will fade very quickly. Patrol Leaders must use their imagination to ensure that Patrol meeting programmes present attractive activities for the boys.

This is where you will have to give special guidance to your Patrol Leaders. Patrol Leaders will get many ideas from the activities they have with the Arrow Patrol.

Ideally, Patrol meetings should be held once a week and normally last from one to one and a half hours. Where, for some good reason, this cannot be the case, one of the following arrangements should be adopted:

(a) Alternate Patrol meetings and Troop meetings

(b) Three weekly Patrol meetings followed by a monthly Troop meeting

(c) A period of at least half an hour set aside during Troop meeting for Patrol meeting, planned and executed by the Patrol Leaders. (See page 41 The Troop Scouters Handbook.) They probably will be held in the Patrol Den, although the type of activity may dictate the place. Apart from an opening and closing ceremony, which each Patrol should be encouraged to develop for itself, the content of the meeting is likely to vary considerably from week to week, although a short period should be set aside at each meeting for Patrol-in-Council to discuss planning. These Patrol meetings should provide opportunities for each member to exercise his special responsibility --- and a wise Patrol Leader will see that some of the members contribute something to every programme. Patrols should be encouraged to keep a record of attendance at Patrol meetings and if Patrol dues are collected, proper records must be maintained.

In Troops where, for one reason or another, the boys in a Patrol are not very closely allied, it may be necessary to have rather a special type of Patrol meetings to begin with in order to give them a feeling of belonging and wanting to do things together. For instance, if they all enjoy swimming, it may be a good idea to organize a couple of Patrol swim meetings and perhaps some artificial respiration or lifeline throwing could be included as a related side activity. It is important that the boys develop a team spirit, as Patrol meetings are not likely to be very successful until this happens. The discovery of what they want to do will most likely come as a result of discussion by Patrol-in-Council.

As Patrol Leader of the Arrow Patrol. you must be sure to provide a variety of types of programme for training meetings, so the Patrol Leaders gain plenty of

ideas and an understanding of the different types of meetings possible. It is important to explain that, because of their age and experience, activities at Arrow Patrol meetings will likely take far less time than they will in their own Patrol meetings. Therefore, the programme of an Arrow Patrol meeting will probably provide sufficient material for two or even three ordinary Patrol meetings. Many of the training activities at Arrow Patrol meetings will be in preparation for the future Troop activities. You and your Assistants will prepare and train the Patrol Leaders for these activities and they will work on the skills to attain some measure of efficiency. In the learning process they will gather how to instruct and discover interesting activities involving the skills they are learning. All this they will pass on to their Patrols, tinted with the colour of their own personalities and imaginations, and adapted to the interest of their own Patrols.

Arrow Patrol meetings may be held after Troop meetings and before Court of Honour meetings, say for half an hour -- or, one hour every two weeks - or one evening a month, whichever is most convenient. It is the practice in some Troops to train the Patrol Leaders for half an hour during Troop meetings, leaving the Patrols in charge of Seconds. It is not necessary for Arrow Patrol meetings to be as long as ordinary Patrol meetings, and obviously it is important not to be too demanding of Patrol Leaders' time.

The success of Patrol meetings in a Troop will depend almost entirely on the opportunities, training and enthusiasm brought to meetings of the Arrow Patrol by you and your Assistants.

Here are some suggestions for simple Patrol meetings. They

are in no way connected and no attempt has been made to

provide a time schedule.

INDOOR

1. Patrol-in-Council decide plans for Patrol's part in Troop wide game. Patrol Leader and Second teach the Butterfly Knot to other members. Test knots by throwing rope over

You, as the Patrol Leader of the Arrow Patrol, must organize, with your Assistants, regular hikes of this Patrol for training purposes.

The Arrow Patrol exists for training Patrol Leaders and it is necessary to remember what has already been said, namely, that demands on their time for Arrow Patrol activities must not be such that they interfere with Patrol activities - the very purpose for which the Patrol Leaders are being trained. It is important that a Patrol Leader learn `why' as well as `how'. As a Scout he may have learned a lot of `bows' without attaching too much importance to `whys'. Once a reasonable standard of hiking has been established in the Troop, two Arrow Patrol hikes a year should be adequate to maintain training and ensure satisfactory operation.

The second day is the hardest, physically, when hiking and

camping. Because of this, always set a fairly easy target for the

second day. After this the body adjusts and one does not notice

pack or distance. For this reason get your Patrol Leaders on

lightweight hike camps of more than two days duration as soon

as possible. Otherwise they will think every day on a hike is like

the second day and thus will never discover the joy and vigour

which comes afterwards.

PREPARATIONS

The importance of careful preparation cannot be overemphasized.

Because hiking places physical demands on the body for which most boys are ill-prepared, it is important to introduce training gradually so that feet and muscles may be toned up.

Patrol Leaders may have to be reminded that recruits joining their Patrol may not be at the same standard of physical preparedness as the other members and therefore should not necessarily be expected to keep up with the Patrol at first.

Adequate footwear is essential - no boy would think of playing hockey or football without the appropriate equipment and any who tried would receive little respect from their team mates. Not many boys will be able to afford proper hiking shoes or boots, but they will appreciate the economy of buying a shoe strong enough to stand up to hiking as well as serving

for school wear. Encourage the wearing of two pairs of woollen socks. A person allergic to wool should wear cotton next to the skin rather than nylon.

The boys should understand foot hygiene and the problems peculiar to their own feet. While it is necessary to know how to treat blisters and other symptoms of misuse, it is far better to know how to prevent their occurrence.

Right from the beginning, encourage boys to carry a small pack on their back when hiking. At first it will probably contain nothing more than a waterproof coat and a lunch, but it will start to condition the body for carrying heavier packs as the boy grows older, and in any case, a back-pack is less cumbersome than taking equipment - even a lunch -- by hand. Also, if it is on one's back, it is less likely to be put down and forgotten.

Be prepared. Carry a simple first aid kit and know how to use it. The usual casualties are cuts, grazes and insect bites. There may be blisters, chafing or strained muscles. Every boy should carry a few bandaids in his pocket.

Each boy should carry a small pocket emergency kit (See Page 414, The Troop Scouters Handbook.) which he has made up himself. He must use it only in an emergency.

Every boy should be trained in a `lost procedure' -- this may vary a little according to the terrain and time of year.

Drinking water is essential and if a source of known purity it not available, boys must know how to purify any doubtful water. Every hike party should carry some halazone tablets for such an occasion.

On a hot day a lake can look very inviting. Within the

framework of Rules 391 and 392 in P.O. & R., the Patrol must have clearly defined rules for boating or swimming on

hikes.

Starting a forest fire is not a good way to learn from a mis

take. Adequate training and instruction in fire precaution must be given. Make sure Patrols have up-to-date information on

local `fire' conditions before starting on a hike.

PLANNING

Most hikes are born at Patrol-in-Council and often result

incidentally from some other idea (see Page 136, The Troop Scouters Handbook).

Once the Patrol Leaders have grasped the scope of activities available through hiking and their imaginations get to work there should be no problem about `where to go and what to do'. (See page 131, The Troop Scouters Handbook for ideas.) Avoid going the same way or to the same place too often.

Hikes provide excellent opportunities for "learning by doing". On a hike one doesn't talk about doing things; one does them so that the purpose and value of the knowledge becomes evident and meaningful. A compass takes on new meaning and a map becomes three-dimensional when related to the surrounding country. In order that more value may be gained from hikes, endeavour to have at least one compass and one map for each pair on the hike. (See "Hiking Along" which follows.)

While a Scout hike is usually planned to go to a certain place for some specific purpose such as visiting a place of interest, to meet another Patrol or to carry out a specific activity, it is important to have a supporting theme to provide special interest during a hike or the hike becomes merely a means of getting to a place, and half of its interest is lost. Apart from general observation some of the things which can be done as you hike along are collecting, plaster casting, photography, sketching, and talking to the people you meet. Quite often a background story can be woven into a hike to provide atmosphere and a reason for special observation en route. (See Page 141, The Troop Scouters Handbook.)

One of the special training values of hiking is preparing younger Scouts for camping, thus, an objective for a hike can be tree recognition and fire lighting, cooking, tent pitching, etc. Obstacles on a hike are quite popular too. A Patrol is given a route to follow and certain obstacles to overcome on the way; these might include first aid work, pioneering or ingenuity (e.g. "Because the dam at X has broken, this area will be flooded to a depth of five feet within five minutes. Get your Patrol to a safe place and prepare a hot drink and toast").

LOOKING FOR "Stalking. The help of a Dad who will be a secret agent will be needed. He passes achosen spot within agreed short period of time. Patrol’s job is to shadow him withoutbeing spotted and to discover his ultimate destination. The Patrol is to prepare anaccurate description of the man, what he is wearing and what he does. Patrol and"

agent meet at agreed spot about an hour later. Agent describes who he saw, where, and why his attention was drawn to him. This is good practice in Patrol organization, stalking and tracking.

Patrol-in-Council afterwards to discuss the activity and to note the mistakes they made in organization and stalking and to emphasize the points they have learned.

A list of Patrol activities may be found on Pages 95 to 99 of The Troop Scouters Handbook. For more, refer to the Patrol Series booklets and devise your own list with the Arrow Patrol-in-Council.

It should be noted that most of the learning in the above programme is achieved through participation in activities and situations meaningful to boys - some of which, on the surface, appear to have little relationship with Scout training.

MEETING PLACE

If a Patrol is to meet regularly, it needs a place of its own in which to meet. Such a haven, to which the Patrol or any member may go practically at any time, is called a Patrol Den and for the boys, is a priceless possession.

The Patrol Den does not have to be a fine room in a building, but can be an old shack in a back yard, a comer of a basement, an old box car or farmhouse building, a small room in the Troop Headquarters or, as a last resort, a corner of the Troop room. In some respect, the more ramshackle it is, the more challenge there will be to the Patrol to make it into a Den worthy of its members. Also, there will be less restriction placed upon them. A room where you cannot knock a nail into the wall without giving the janitor or owner apoplexy is not really suitable for a Patrol Den. Ideally, a Patrol should find its own Den but if this proves too difficult the Group Committee may help.

Within reason, a Patrol should be encouraged to decorate its Den in its own way, and probably it will be furnished with old furniture from members' homes. The Den may also be the storage place for the Patrol's equipment, such as cooking pots

and tools. It will certainly be the resting place of the Patrol's log book, Patrol progress charts, hiking and camping records, charts of Scouting activities, knot boards and so on; the Patrol museum containing model bridges, camp gadgets, camp layouts, items of handicraft made at camp or Patrol meetings, plaster casts and trophies collected such as rocks, fossils, arrowheads, etc.; Patrol library of Scouting and adventure books; pictures and photographs; the Roll of Honour of past members and any award won by the Patrol in Troop or District activities.

If the development of the Den is fairly free and it is open to the members of the Patrol, it will become a favourite haunt and will contain other items which reflect the hobbies and interests of its members such as record player, photographic equipment and so on.

Each Scout will have his own particular interest and this will provide areas for responsibility in the Den, e.g.., Patrol Librarian, Curator of the Museum, Quartermaster, etc., and some Patrols may even have a Patrol Janitor.

While a Patrol will want to maintain some items of traditional value, it is important that each generation decorate the Den after its own fashion and display the gadgets and trophies it has made. Ideally, a Patrol Den should never be completed, so the incentive to make it their own is with each generation.

The development of Patrol Dens can be stimulated by interPatrol rivalry and competition.

If, as a last resort, corners of a Troop room have to be used as Patrol Dens, then some form of screen or collapsible screening should be made, and a definite period set aside for Patrol meetings.

Patrol Dens are important to the operation of the Patrol System.

You should visit Dens from time to time and, by

arrangement, drop in occasionally at Patrol meetings.

While proper discipline must be maintained and

respect shown for property, if you and other adults

demonstrate you have faith in the boys' ability to use

the Den properly you will not usually be disappointed.

The degree of responsibility that a Court of Honour can accept will be limited but it is important that they are permitted and encouraged to work out solutions to the problems of the Troop among themselves. This is not only good training but also ensures maximum co-operation.

GENERAL OPERATION

Your attitude with regard to the Court of Honour is one of the most important influences in the proper operation of the Patrol System. Once again evidence of your trust in the Patrol Leader is essential. The Patrol Leaders will then know that they have to stand on their own feet and help the Court of Honour reach its decisions. While you may be in the background and may be asked for opinion or help, you will not interfere, and most of the advice that you will give the Court of Honour will be by way of suggestion, or questions designed to provoke their own thinking and to help them reach their own conclusions. This attitude should prevail not only at the Court of Honour but also when dealing with Patrol Leaders and Boy Scouts individually. You should always try to help the boy resolve his own problem rather than try to solve it for him.

Train the boys to prepare for Court of Honour meetings, to think objectively and to express themselves clearly, and to avoid becoming personally or emotionally involved in any issue. I f a discussion does not appear to be producing any satisfactory conclusion, it is the dirty of the chairman to cut it o$ or to postpone a decision until the next meeting. However, he should not attempt to hasten the arrival of a decision if genuine discussion on an important issue continues. How well a Court of Honour will handle these discussions will depend to a large extent upon the ability of its chairman and your specific guidance for this job. I f you do not feel competent to do this you should find someone in your community who is --- perhaps the Chairman of the Group Committee. (Helpful guidance on the conduct

The Court of Honour should explain to the new Patrol Leader the basic principles of Programme Planning. This will give him direction and help him to realize how Troop planning is constructed on the requirements of individual boys, the wishes of the Patrols and flavoured by outside influences, The new Patrol Leader will realize that he must be constantly alert for programme ideas and activities and that he may use his Patrol-in-Council as a sounding board for ideas before presenting them to the Court of Honour.

It is not necessary that every idea for programme comes to the Court of Honour via the Patrol-in-Council. Suggestions can be put forward by Patrol Leaders or Scouters and they can be decided upon at once or referred to Patrols for later reference back to the Court of Honour - such things must be flexible.

To help Patrol Leaders be alert for programme ideas, you must keep them aware of what is happening in the community and beyond. Be constantly asking questions: "What can we do about it?", or "If that had happened to us what would we have done?". Observation and imagination are key words here. For examples, see Pages 71 and 72 of The Troop Scouters Handbook.

It is important that Patrol Leaders are given some insight into human nature. The thoughts and actions of people do not necessarily follow any set formula, and an activity which was particularly successful once will not necessarily be so a second time. Boys very often do not know what they want until they have it, and conversely, something which was enthusiastically planned may not be well received in practice.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

The Court of Honour is charged with the general administration of the Troop, including Troop funds (dues). This includes maintaining all equipment in good condition, drawing up a budget for expenditure and deciding what items shall or shall not be purchased, maintaining effective control on routine matters, operation of Service Patrol, etc., and ensuring that the Headquarters is properly used and suitably maintained.

PATROL-IN-COUNCIL

Make good use of the Patrol-in-Council situation in Arrow Patrol meetings. Have a system of rotation of Chairman so that all the Patrol Leaders have the experience and the advantage of learning from the constructive criticism of their fellow Patrol Leaders. The Patrol-in-Council is simply a discussion group and some useful advice on discussion group leadership may be found in books on this subject in the local library. However, it should be emphasized that the Patrol-in-Council is very often only a brief informal gathering together of the members of a Patrol.

The Patrol-in-Council plays an essential role in the life of a happy Patrol. It is the time when the Patrol gathers to talk things over and every member has an opportunity to speak. Successful activities are the result of concerted planning.

The Patrol-in-Council is usually quite an informal gathering, although minutes may be kept if the Patrol wishes. At Patrolin-Council the boys discuss what they have done and what they wish to do; ideas are suggested, accepted or rejected, and plans formulated. It is a time to discuss the Patrol's part in Troop activities, to plan hikes, camps and other events in detail. During these discussions, the Patrol Leader gains the feelings, recommendations and ideas of his Patrol for presentation at Court of Honour meetings.

The Patrol Leader must provide firm leadership and not allow discussions to get away from the subject or to degenerate into an argument. At the same time, he must be particularly careful not to impose his own ideas upon the Patrol simply because he is the leader.

Patrol-in-Council may be called at any time the Patrol is confronted with a problem. For instance, if the Patrol is on an

obstacle hike and comes to a ravine which they have to bridge, the first thing to do is to call a Patrol-in-Council to decide how

it is to be done. In this way, each member knows the agreed plan - who is to do what and how. Also, and perhaps most im

portant of all, because each boy has been consulted, he has a personal interest -- in a sense he feels it is his bridge.

The Patrol-in-Council may also be used for disciplinary purposes. The Patrol Leader may consult the Patrol on what

should be done about Joe who just won't work on his Second Class, or the Patrol may ask the Patrol Leader what he intends to do about Joe, since he is obviously letting the Patrol down.

PATROL RECORDS

Generally speaking, boys do not enjoy keeping records or writing logs -- perhaps it savours too much of school work. For this reason it is wise to reduce record keeping to a minimum but to encourage any initiative shown by individuals, e.g.., boys taking a Commercial High School course may have a special interest in this sort of work.

The purpose of keeping records is to provide factual information for reference and future use. To be useful they must be accurate and kept up-to-date.

There are many ways in which records may be kept. The choice in any Patrol should be left to the Patrol Leader in consultation with the person keeping any specific records.

Progress charts and other visible evidence of achievement often act as incentives to personal advancement. If they are not kept up-to-date they can have the opposite effect.

A Patrol should maintain at least:

1) a progress chart of each member's advancement;

2) a record of attendance and dues; 3) an inventory of Patrol equipment.

END PART 2