The Patrol System

At the core of the success of Scouting is The Patrol System. This organisation and management system is tried and tested. Here we explore the details behind the method. Time to allocate for this session: 60 minutes Recomended programming for this session: This session should take place AFTER the role of a PL but before the Patrol in Council sessions. Note: There are separate sesssions on the Patrol In Council, Patrol Activities and Patrol Camps. This is more a session on the overall Patrol System.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the session, Scouts will:
clearly

explain the operation of the Patrol System state reasons for using the Patrol System identify the responsibilities of each role in the Patrol System

Content to be Covered
During the session, you must cover:
The

definition and an overview of the Patrol System The value of the Patrol System in todays Scouting Practical examples of the Patrol System in operation

Measuring Success
The session outcomes will have been achieved if:
Scouts

operate as a Patrol during the course.

 Scouts

practise the attitudes of a Patrol and demonstrate effectively the role of the Patrol Leader. Scouts show confidence in wanting to run the Patrol System in their own Troop.

Suggested Activities and Resources

Here are the suggested activities for this session:
Activity Activity Choice 1: Physical game Activity Choice 2: Initiative activity Activity Choice 3: Patrol System Video activities Type of Activity A game to show how the Patrol System works Any of the short initiative exercises taken from the Solutions and Decisions Session. These activities can be used in this session. Resources

see Solutions and Decisions Session

Watch the video, get the T-shirt

The video is available on the resource disk.

Participant Handouts
Resources that can be printed or included on a disk to take home: The Patrol System

Training Adult Leaders

Adult Leaders attending for training purposes should:
All

of the outcomes expected of the Scouts. Show their understanding of the Patrol System during this and other Sessions.

The Patrol System - Team Game

Time to allocate for this activity: 60 minutes Resources required: Game materials (balls, etc.)

Activity Notes
Patrols have a team game to encourage teamwork.

Introduction
(5 mins) What is The Patrol System? Ask for some ideas from the course. Encourage ideas that talk about a team work environment, youth leadership, communication channels, etc. Why is The Patrol System important for a leader? Again, briefly encourage comments from the group which include ease of management, shared leadership, youth decision making, etc.

The Task
(10 mins) Play a team game of your choice for 10 minutes with the presenter making observations of how the team works together (or not) and is led.

Discussion
(5 mins max) Stop the game and discuss the presenter's observation:
How

does the game work? Who is the leader? How was the leader selected? Could the leader selection be done better?

Continuing the Task

(15 mins) Play the game for a further 15 minutes with some of the Scouts sitting out to observe the actions of the team (they can rotate on a "subs-bench" principal).

Patrol Activities
Each Patrol gets together as a Patrol Council to discuss their understanding of The Patrol System:
What

is it? How does it work? What are the advantages or dis-advantages?

Presentations
(2 mins each) Each Patrol feeds back on their discussion to the group.

Notes on other Patrol Structures

During the session, it is essential to mention that other Patrol Structures exist - in particular, those that are formed ad-hoc for special events or activities (State Rally, Blue Cord Hikes, canoeing interest, etc.) and some Troops re-structure around friendship groups, activity interests or age grouping. Encourage the Scouts to think outside the box when looking a the "Patrol".

Conclusion
(2 minutes) The presenter sums up the outcomes of the session and gives a brief overview of the Patrol System (as found on the participant handout). Use examples from real life.

The Patrol System - Initiative Exercises

Time to allocate for this activity: 60 minutes Resources required: 5 Initiative Activities - see Solutions and Decisions

Activity Notes
Patrols have a set of initiatives to encourage teamwork.

Introduction
(5 mins) What is The Patrol System? Ask for some ideas from the course. Encourage ideas that talk about a team work environment, youth leadership, communication channels, etc. Why is The Patrol System important for a leader? Again, briefly encourage comments from the group which include ease of management, shared leadership, youth decision making, etc. Introduction - Alternative Watch the video "The Patrol System" included on the resource disk.

The Task
(5 x 10 mins) Patrols rotate around 5 brief team challenges to highlight the Patrol System. These activities can be selected from the Solutions and Decisions Session choosing activities that were not completed in that session. The focus of the activities is on the PL receiving the instructions and then passing the informaiton onto the APL.

Notes on other Patrol Structures

During the session, it is essential to mention that other Patrol Structures exist - in particular, those that are formed ad-hoc for special events or activities (State Rally, Blue Cord Hikes, canoeing interest, etc.) and some Troops re-structure around friendship groups, activity interests or age grouping. Encourage the Scouts to think outside the box when looking a the "Patrol".

Conclusion
(5 minutes) The presenter sums up the outcomes of the session and gives a brief overview of the Patrol System (as found on the participant handout). Use examples from real life.

The Patrol System - Video and Discussion

Time to allocate for this activity: 60 minutes Resources required: Poster making equipment (butchers paper, pens)

Introduction
(15 mins) Watch the video (see your Region Commissioner or District Scout Leader for a copy). It's an old video, but it is still relevant to this area and only lasts 10 minutes.

Discussion
(10 mins) Discuss the video, using examples for the Scout's own Troop to highlight successful uses of the Patrol System.

Activity
(30 mins) Each Group is to produce a poster, role play or skit that shows an important part of the Patrol System in action. Report back or perform at the end of the session.

Notes on other Patrol Structures

During the session, it is essential to mention that other Patrol Structures exist - in particular, those that are formed ad-hoc for special events or activities (State Rally, Blue Cord Hikes, canoeing interest, etc.) and some Troops re-structure around friendship groups, activity interests or age grouping. Encourage the Scouts to think outside the box when looking a the "Patrol".

Conclusion
(5 minutes) The presenter sums up the outcomes of the session and gives a brief overview of the Patrol System (as found on the participant handout). Use examples from real life.

The Patrol System - Handout

Outline of the Session
At the core of the success of Scouting is The Patrol System. This organisation and management system is tried and tested. Here we explore the details behind the method.

The Patrol System

The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the only method. - Lord Baden-Powell Patrol system (or patrol method), the individual in a group. Scouts are organised in small groups (about 5-7 Scouts) because this is the natural way young people work together. These patrols are therefore more important than the Troop. Patrols must be kept intact under all circumstances, which means working, tenting, learning, cooking, so surviving together. In a Patrol the Scouts learn to work with others, while the Patrol leader learns responsibility for others. Both have to give in a part of their personal interest for this. Still Scouting deals with the individual, not with the Company. A Scout has his own identity within the group and learns as an individual. The Patrol serves as the character school for the individual. What is a Patrol? A Patrol is a group of Scouts who belong to a Troop, are similar in age, development and interests. The Patrol system allows Scouts to interact in a small group outside the larger Troop, working together as a team, and sharing the responsibility of making their Patrol a success. Patrol size depends on a Troop's membership, the ideal being a maximum of eight Scouts.

Patrol Spirit Patrol spirit is the glue that holds the patrol together and keeps it going. Building patrol spirit takes time, because it is shaped by the patrol's experiences - good or bad. Often misadventures, like getting lost on a night hike, will contribute much in pulling a patrol together. The weekend it rained and flooded your camp is the one you will never forget. Some patrols build up traditions, and these help build each patrol member's sense of belonging. Kind of Patrol Patrols work best when there is a mix of ages, skills, interests and abilities. But that is not the only way to group the Scouts in your Troop. You might also try: 1. New Scout patrols are for those who recently joined or moved up from the Cub Pack, maybe led by an experience Patrol Leader. 2. Regular patrols for those who have completed their Scout Membership awards and initial challenges. 3. Older patrols for those shortly heading for the Explorer Section. Troop Councils decide on their own strategy, and what works best for them.