“The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for boys can be carried on. It is the only method.”
~Sir Robert Baden-Powell
Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouting movement, knew from his military experience that boys (and men) worked better together in small groups than alone or as part of a bigger group. It was this knowledge that led him to develop patrols within the Boy Scouting program.
A patrol is a group of 6 to 10 boys who are often cast together in this small group that must learn to work together for the betterment of all of their members. The best way to make the group “gel” is the development of Patrol Spirit.
Patrol Spirit
Patrol spirit is the glue that holds the patrol together and keeps it going. Building patrol spirit takes time, because it is shaped by a patrol’s experiences—good and bad. Often misadventures such as enduring a thunderstorm or getting lost in the woods will contribute much in pulling a patrol together. Many other elements also will help build patrol spirit. Creating a patrol identity and traditions will help build each patrol member’s sense of belonging.
Every patrol needs a good name. Our patrols use one of the bird names from the Troop’s approved list (Bobwhites, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Owls, Ravens or Roadrunners).
A patrol flag is the patrol’s trademark, and it should be a good one. Have a competition to see who comes up with the best design and who is the best artist. Make the flag out of a heavy canvas and use permanent markers to decorate it. In addition to the patrol name, the patrol flag should have the troop number on it as well as the names of all the patrol members. Mount the flag on a pole, which also can be decorated. Remember, the patrol flag should go wherever the patrol goes. Also, as the patrol wins patrol competitions or is otherwise recognized with a ribbon or award, it should be hung from the patrol flag for all to see.
Every patrol has a patrol yell, which should be short and snappy. Choose words that fit the patrol’s goals. Use the yell to announce to other patrols that your patrol is ready to eat or has won a patrol competition. Some patrols also have a patrol song.
Other patrol traditions include printing the patrol logo on the patrol box and other patrol property.
Some patrols like to specialize in doing something extremely well, such as cooking peach cobbler or hobo stew.
In short, the patrol can be a wonderful thing when everyone in the patrol works together to move the group forward.
Chris Holder and his family invite members of Troop 108 and their families to attend the presentation of his Eagle Scout award on Saturday, March 14th, 2009 at 1PM.
The ceremony will be held at Providence Baptist Church on Old Friendship road in Rock Hill, SC (see directions below) and a reception will follow.
Those that plan to attend are asked to RSVP with Tony and Rhonda Holder at 329-9841 or via email at “tholder at comporium dot net”.
Every scout and scouting parent should be painfully aware of the amount of work that goes into earning the Eagle Scout award and every scout should take the time to experience an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, if he is able (before he has his own).
Click the link below for directions to the church from the scout hut.
“It is the Patrol System that makes the Troop, and all Scouting for that matter, a real co-operative matter.”
Sir Robert Baden-Powell
Aids to Scoutmastership (1920)
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At our regular Monday Night Meeting on February 23rd, we will be reorganizing the troop into similar-age patrols. This will allow each of the patrols to undertake the scouting method in a way that is appropriate and achievable by their age group.
Following the regular meeting opening, we will have announcements and then those scouts that wish to be a part of, and meet the Troop 108 minimum requirements for the Venture Patrol (age 13 and Star Rank), will move to the Buzzards Nest (the meeting room behind the main meeting room) to get organized, elect their youth leaders and to start planning their first outing as a Venture Patrol.
The remaining scouts will be given some time to organize themselves into two patrols on their own. If they fail to be able to do that within the allowed time, the adults will have to have them “draw a number out of the hat” and then put like-numbers together in patrols. Once these patrols are formed, they will select a mascot elect their patrol leaders, assistant patrol leaders and scribe/webmasters.
We will then bring the entire group back together to talk about patrol spirit and patrol competition and how we plan to kick it up a notch in the coming months.
It is human nature to want to keep things the way they are – even if it isn’t working as well as we would like for it to. But sometimes you just have to take that brave step forward to embrace change and to give it your best effort.
Who: Scouts, Leaders, and Family Members can take part in the fun at Winterplace on Sunday, March 1st.
How Much: For only $46 per person
What’s Included:
Full Day Lift Ticket – 8am – 10pm
Meal Voucher
Ski Equipment Rental
90-Minute Lesson Based on skiing level
Snow Sports Merit Badge Clinics
On-site registrations subject to additional $3 fee.
Check in at Winterplace (near Beckley, West Virginia) opens at 8am and tickets are good for skiing until 10pm. Boy Scouts can earn the Snow Sports merit badge for no additional cost as these clinics are included in the registration fee!
This year Troop 108 will be venturing 100 miles straight up I-77 and into the land of Opey and Aunt Bea for a week-long stay at Raven Knob Scout Camp from July 19th to July 25th. Situated just outside of Mount Airy, NC (Aunt Bea’s home town and model for the set of the Mayberry RFD and the Andy Griffith Shows from the 60’s) this beautiful camp has a lot to offer our scouts.
They even have a live webcam outside the dining hall that is enabled once camp is in session. Perhaps you’ll get a glimpse of your scout lining up for lunch or supper.
Here is some of the information that was sent home at a recent scout meeting regarding our 2009 summer camp plans. If you haven’t seen this information, it is probably still in your son’s red scout pouch. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jose Rivas, who is heading up this year’s summer camp plans, at “elkrivas at bellsouth dot net” or Scoutmaster David Harllee at “dharllee at gmail dot com”.
Camp Fees, Registrations & Refunds
The camp fees for this summer are $250 per Scout. The fee includes a camp patch and T-shirt for each Scout and has been broken up into seven parts to make it easier on our scouting families.
Summer Camp Fees Schedule
1st Payment of $50 – 2/23/09
2nd Payment of $25 – 3/09/09
3rd Payment of $25 – 3/23/09
4th Payment of $50 – 4/06/09 completed registration form due tonight
5th Payment of $25 – 4/27/09
6th Payment of $50 – 5/11/09
7th Payment of $25 – 5/18/09
The camp policy regarding Scout fee refunds is as follows:
Prior to June 1, all payments made are fully refundable or transferable to another participant. Cancellations made after June 1 are subject to a non-refundable fee of $50. The Camp Director reserves the right to make an exception for extreme or extenuating circumstances.
Scouts, not Troop 108, should cover all camp costs. This prevents the Troop from losing money if a Scout cannot attend camp and has not yet paid. Please note that we cannot offer refunds for Scouts who leave camp early and under no circumstances may any refunds be carried over to the following summer.
Here is a tribute video to Bill Kimbrell, who, according to a story he told as a part of this video, started his lifetime of fundraising for scouting and other worthy causes in 1948. Back then he called upon Col. Springs of Springs Industries for a donation of $5,000 to Troop 108 (that would be like going and asking for $50,000 in today’s money)….and he got it.
Thanks to Bill Kimbrell and the many men and women like him who work diligently to keep the fires of scouting burning to warm the hearts of boys who will one day lead this country.
Jed Cockerill needs some help with his Eagle Scout project on Sunday, February 22nd from 2PM until 5PM. Jed’s project involves making some of the existing bike bridges on the ASC Greenway safer for bycyclist.
If you’ll be able to assist Jed, give him a call at 802-2006 as soon as possible to let him know that you’ll be able to come.
Workers will meet on the side of the Springfield Parkway just below the entrance to the Elementary and Middle Schools. Workers should bring gloves to help protect their hands.
It is always a good idea to bring your daypack with all of the usual items plus a snack and extra drinking water.
Thanks in advance for stepping up to help Jed work toward his Eagle Scout award.
Some of the youth and leaders from Troop 108 gathered to worship with the congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill as we all observed “Scout Sunday” during the early service today. Unity Presbyterian is the sponsoring organization for both Troop 108 and Pack 108, and provides us with the Scout Hut as well as allowing us the use of other church facilities as needed.
The troop truly appreciates all that Unity provides us as we work to make the values of scouting real in the lives of young men in our community.
In the words of Bill Kimbrell, “It is better to build boys than the mend men”.
The Hawk Patrol did a good job demonstrating camping stoves and going over stove safety as the program for tonight’s meeting. They demonstrated how to use an older Coleman 2-burner camp stove that attaches to a propane bottle. ASM Britt Helms brought along three different types of lightweight stoves from his collection that were more suitable for backpacking.
Instructions for making the Penny Stove can be found HERE. Scouts should get the help of an adult to build and operate the stove.
Scouts are also required to hold a current BSA Fireman Chit card which certifies that they have the knowledge and training needed to work with campfires and stoves.
Our community has recently been reminded of the potential dangers that surround the use of fire when a young Tega Cay resident, Conner McKemey, was burned over 85% of his body in an indicent in December.
Patrol Spirit
A patrol flag is the patrol’s trademark, and it should be a good one. Have a competition to see who comes up with the best design and who is the best artist. Make the flag out of a heavy canvas and use permanent markers to decorate it. In addition to the patrol name, the patrol flag should have the troop number on it as well as the names of all the patrol members. Mount the flag on a pole, which also can be decorated. Remember, the patrol flag should go wherever the patrol goes. Also, as the patrol wins patrol competitions or is otherwise recognized with a ribbon or award, it should be hung from the patrol flag for all to see.
Chris Holder and his family invite members of Troop 108 and their families to attend the presentation of his Eagle Scout award on Saturday, March 14th, 2009 at 1PM.
