Re: Adult/Leader Patrols
Jonathan Dixon (dixonj@ROCOCO.COLORADO.EDU)
Tue, 2 Dec 1997 12:21:33 MST
Several people made the point that the adult leaders should eat as
guests of the patrols, a la Wood Badge. While this is a good theory,
it takes well-trained adult leaders to be able to stand back and let
the boys destroy their dinner. So Wood Badge staffers can do it
but getting mom or dad (who go camping once a year) to do it is more
of a task.
In our troop we went to using an adult-leader patrol (the "Geezer
Patrol"), mainly because we started emphasizing that the boys were
responsible for planning their meals. They seemed to feel that Pop
Tarts, cold cuts, and spaghetti with plain sauce were the ideal
components for a day's meals; the adults were less than thrilled with
this as a menu. So we started to cook on our own, using
cast-away/spare equipment and limiting ourselves to the same food
budget. We did Italian sausages, breakfast burritos, Dutch oven
cobbler, tossed salad, and other such treats. Unlike what someone
else posted, our Geezer Patrol only functions on camping trips, and is
led by the SM or designated trip leader; we have no input into the
planning and running of the troop. (an exception -- on rare occasions
the PLC has requested the Geezers do ceremonies for a troop meeting)
We make sure that there are always adults in position to keep an eye
out for safety/health issues with the scouts, and someone is always
available to assist a patrol with a problem if they ask, so we are not
abandoning the boys. So we are not just abandoning the boys to their
own devices. But preparing the "adult food" gives those parents who
would otherwise be standing around "giving suggestions" something to
do. Since we used the left-over equipment, we also avoid becoming
"elitist" as one other poster mentioned.
An added benefit to having an "adult patrol" is it lets the boys see
what sorts of things can be done at campouts without them having to be
the first to try something (which most boys are reluctant to do). On
occasion they even get to see the adults "crash and burn", which is
good (for them). All in all, it seems to have more positives than
negatives.
Jon
--
Jon Dixon
dixonj@colorado.edu
http://sandman.colorado.edu/~dixonj/
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
