The Patrol Method
Lessons and questions of Scout leadership and operating troop program
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LATEST POSTS
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Semantics. I'd argue that anyone under the rank of first class is a junior Scout. I wouldn't call one a new Scout after being in the troop for over a year. Splitting the 16 Scouts into two patrols within the new/junior Scout patrol is far easier to manage than one single patrol. The ASMs aren't leading the patrol. They are assigned to them to advise the patrol leader. The handbooks aren't a suicide pact, last I checked. Right now, we have 11 y/o patrol leaders who can't get themselves straight, let alone teach skills to the rest of the patrol. The 14 y/o SPL is likewise lacking in leadership competence, having failed to ensure patrol leaders and meeting focus on Scout skills. In a perfect world, we would have older, more knowledgeable and mature Scouts who would keep the meeting focused. Instead, we have an SPL throwing jello on the roof of a shelter at camp and wondering why no one is following his instructions. It's been 31 years since merit badge factory summer camp. Not Scouting. Our OA chapter isn't much better. I was trying to turn that around until the Army sent me 600 miles away for three years. I've been supporting a troop at that location while simultaneously operating a pack and helping the OA in NC on the weekends. -
They aren’t teams, they are patrols. They aren’t junior scouts, they are scouts or new scouts. They aren’t lead by an ASM, but by a PL and a troop guide. It’s been awhile, 31 years, I suggest reading the PL, SPL, and SM (Unit Leader) handbooks again. Words matter. -
By HashTagScouts · Posted
I think the roll out timing post NAM 2024 was a little late to see immediate impact - AOLs would have already crossed over at that point. Waiting to give measurement now that they have seen numbers for the pilot units that took on crossovers this spring, plus seeing what recruitment numbers look like for those units as they approach back-to-school recruitment events, you should see a better picture. -
Post NAM, post the status update of the coed pilot, post everyone now being told that the pilot is an overwhelming success; we're definitely going coed. The thing that confuses me is that the pilot was supposed to end in July 2025 and results available, and now that has all been punted to December 2025. What does that punt mean? Is someone fighting the success? Do corporate lawyers need more time to get documentation of the program together properly? Is national trying to sneak a few extra bucks with 1 more double charter fee for the coed units? what what what does it mean? -
I am going to guess that it's a teacher/student thing. I know several teachers who are also scout leaders in my community; technically if they are walking down a hall after school when there are barely any people present and a student who is also scout is walking down said hall and there is no one else there; wouldn't that technically be a YPT 1v1 violation? The real answer is that Scouting America was put over a barrel by the lawsuit; a lot of victims were assaulted outside of the auspices of BSA but the perpetrator was someone they knew from within BSA. Now we have these rules that make no sense.
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