A Note To Scoutmasters

I hope you are able to use some of these resources to train your patrol leaders, and help them develop real patrols. If they manage to do that, your job will be much easier, and the benefit they gain from Scouting will be much more memorable.

I want to assure you that I have seen the Patrol Method work as it was intended to work. It really can work if we give the Scouts the tools to do the job, and let them do it. It won't be easy for either of you. They will doubt their ability to do the job, and you'll catch yourself taking a more hands-on approach occasionally. Don't worry. It takes time and effort to develop the kind of Patrol Spirit and teamwork necessary. Your job will be to plant the seed in your Patrol Leader's minds, and guide them as they grow into the job.

I've written the section for Scouts as If I was speaking directly to the Scouts. Please resist the urge to simply hand your Scouts the URL and let them read it for themselves. While they may learn a thing or two, and may be inspired by reading the site, it's really not the way this site is meant to be used. Take a look at the documents, use what you want in your troop's JLT, PLC meetings, or Scoutmaster's Minutes.