Re: ideal patrol size
Charles Batteau (B3ZAATN@CPSLSOPS.BELL-ATL.COM)
Mon, 1 Apr 1996 11:49:08 -0500
Jeff wrote
> ... I have always felt that in a large Troop, the patrol sized 8-12
> boys will often present itself for trips and other activities with
> 6-8 boys, ...
But what happens when you have a DYN-O-MITE activity and ten or eleven
show up? You then have a new scout as a patrol leader trying to lead
ten others! Even with a good troop guide that can be overwhelming.
I've found that our NSP actually worked better with fewer than eight
boys in it. I think the reason is twofold:
1. The Patrol Leader, who is himself a new scout, can keep track
of the smaller number more easily.
2. Requirements for advancement can be met more rapidly. For
example, the cooking requirement for 1st class says, more or
less, "serve as cook for a whole day." If you have one patrol of
eight boys, only one boy can meet that requirement on a weekend
campout. If you have two patrols of four or five boys, TWO boys
can meet it. (Yes, we COULD further subdivide to three patrols
of THREE boys each, but let's not wax ridiculous!) Additionally,
in a smaller NSP, EVERY new scout can have a crack at being
patrol leader for a couple of months!
I would recommend splitting the nine boys into two patrols, assign
each of them a troop guide, and letting them fly. (This would also
give the NSPs a bit of room for growth if new boys joined later.)
In the same thread, Pete wrote
> ... But what if there's only one regular patrol? How does one
start up regular patrols if there haven't been any up to now? ...
Last year our NSP voted unanimously to remain as a standard patrol.
This brought the number of patrols in our troop to three. Since then
they HAVE added another member and will probably do so in the
future. Thus, the patrol SHOULDN'T disappear when the original
members turn 18!
YiS
Chuck Batteau -- SM, Troop 751, Glen Allen VA USA
-------------------------------------------------
CHARLES.R.BATTEAU@BELL-ATL.COM
maybe they meant an hour a DAY! :-)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
