Last summer I went through this in my course. I was the patrol leader and was sent to conference with the others outside the group. While this game at first seems to be 100% against everything that scouting stands for, I think that is the point. We ended up not even being able to finish the game without staffers walking out of the room and patrols furious with one another. Thank goodness for our course's Sr. Patrol Leader! He was able to bring to light exactly what was happening between us. Our patrols lacked trust in one another and ego's got in the way of allowing us to all win. This happens on every level in scouting, and it was an excellent demonstration of what not to do. Leaders of different packs, troops, and even among themselves (this is especially apparent at scout-o-rama and Pinewood derby) to become way to competitive to allow the kids to benefit from the original goals of these activities.
Our course had 8 patrols, 4 on each team. We were told that the team with the highest cumulative points would win the game and the patrol with the highest individual points would win the patrol prize. I can see how our staff set us up for this! When we went to the lodge, our tables had been moved around, and I personally believe that they put those of us with a strong personality on the side of the room together to let the strong personalities come out, and come out they did! The other side of the room worked together in perfect harmony while my side of the room went for the gusto!
Our Sr. Patrol Leader was able to show the difference in the level of cooperation and how strong personalities can throw a group off. While heated words were exchanged, and there may be some lasting effects from playing this game with other strong personality people, its a life lesson I will not soon forget! No matter what, I think or feel about the actions of some of the other people involved, I must continue to work with them in my council, ever known a scout to have an issue with another scout then they have to learn to get along later? I can remember this and relate to my scouts a whole lot better now!
I was the person in the conference but was not the member of my patrol who got to hold up the voting card. No matter how bad things got, and no matter how far behind my patrol was in the points, my patrol stood behind me and voted the same way I had agreed to in the conferencing. I cant say that this was true of the other patrols. We as a patrol were also able to express to the rest of the course how important it was to trust one another and listen to your leadership even when it looks like you are loosing. The patrols who's voters did not vote the same way as their conferencing member agreed to got the short end on the individual points. There are tons and tons of lessons to be learned from this game, and I strongly feel that it should be included in every woodbadge course.
Win All You Can
in Wood Badge and adult leader training
Posted
Last summer I went through this in my course. I was the patrol leader and was sent to conference with the others outside the group. While this game at first seems to be 100% against everything that scouting stands for, I think that is the point. We ended up not even being able to finish the game without staffers walking out of the room and patrols furious with one another. Thank goodness for our course's Sr. Patrol Leader! He was able to bring to light exactly what was happening between us. Our patrols lacked trust in one another and ego's got in the way of allowing us to all win. This happens on every level in scouting, and it was an excellent demonstration of what not to do. Leaders of different packs, troops, and even among themselves (this is especially apparent at scout-o-rama and Pinewood derby) to become way to competitive to allow the kids to benefit from the original goals of these activities.
Our course had 8 patrols, 4 on each team. We were told that the team with the highest cumulative points would win the game and the patrol with the highest individual points would win the patrol prize. I can see how our staff set us up for this! When we went to the lodge, our tables had been moved around, and I personally believe that they put those of us with a strong personality on the side of the room together to let the strong personalities come out, and come out they did! The other side of the room worked together in perfect harmony while my side of the room went for the gusto!
Our Sr. Patrol Leader was able to show the difference in the level of cooperation and how strong personalities can throw a group off. While heated words were exchanged, and there may be some lasting effects from playing this game with other strong personality people, its a life lesson I will not soon forget! No matter what, I think or feel about the actions of some of the other people involved, I must continue to work with them in my council, ever known a scout to have an issue with another scout then they have to learn to get along later? I can remember this and relate to my scouts a whole lot better now!
I was the person in the conference but was not the member of my patrol who got to hold up the voting card. No matter how bad things got, and no matter how far behind my patrol was in the points, my patrol stood behind me and voted the same way I had agreed to in the conferencing. I cant say that this was true of the other patrols. We as a patrol were also able to express to the rest of the course how important it was to trust one another and listen to your leadership even when it looks like you are loosing. The patrols who's voters did not vote the same way as their conferencing member agreed to got the short end on the individual points. There are tons and tons of lessons to be learned from this game, and I strongly feel that it should be included in every woodbadge course.