The Patrol Leader's Notebook

2. Developing a good Patrol spirit

The best size for a Patrol is between six and eight. Don't let the Patrol get bigger than eight Scouts, otherwise it will be very hard to get the right team mix going. (If you have five or less Scouts in the Patrol try very quickly to build the numbers tip by going on a recruiting drive.)

Doing things TOGETHER is going bring the Patrol along fine.

PLAN together - Get the whole group's ideas and involvement on what you are going to do. Plot the progress of each individual Scout.

DO things together - Try to have something special for your Patrol at each Troop meeting and have at least one weekend outing a month. Make your plans happen - together.

IDENTIFY together - Each Patrol will want its own Patrol flag showing your Patrol name and emblem; a Patrol yell; a Patrol song and your Patrol Logbook.

STAY together - Aim to keep the Patrol together at all times. Stick up for one another. Support each other in the Troop, at school, in your home territory. Work to find a Patrol den of your own (which only you have success to) which is safe enough to keep your own library of Scout books and your own camping equipment in.

There are four very special ways in which you can keep the Patrol's spirits high.

• Ensure the Patrol is successful. Somehow success brings the team together, making the members of the team glad to be a part of it. Success is not only in inter-Patrol competitions (though obviously you will work hard to win them), but also in projects you undertake. Plan well, and complete your plans.
• Work hard to give attention to each Scout in the Patrol. Make friends with him. Get to know him and his family. Find out his interests. Most importantly help him to progress in his Scoutcraft tests and along the Scouting Trail.
• As their leader, think of your Patrol as a team. A good tip is to think and talk about OUR Patrol, OUR den and not MY Patrol or my den. Talk with the Patrol members a lot, and try to keep them informed.
• Try to build traditions of high standards in your Patrol. No one wants to belong to a sloppy show - everyone wants to be part of a success story.

When your Scouts say such things as:

• we don't camp in a sloppy way - our campsite is always clean.
• you will never see one of us looking untidy in Scout uniform.
• no-one from our Patrol ever misses an outing or meeting.

then you will know you are running a good Patrol.

Next: Sharing Leadership