Patrols Take Note: Service Patrols Now Responsible For Entire Meeting
At the monthly PLC meeting last night, it was decided that whichever patrol is 
service patrol for a particular meeting is not only responsible for setting up the room and conducting the openings and closings, but starting with the November 24th meeting, will also be responsible for the meeting’s program and inter-patrol activity.
This will put the responsibility for providing content and skills instruction back on the boys in the patrols rather than always being shouldered by the troop’s youth leadership. In scouting, we often learn by teaching. So having our various patrols prepare and conduct instruction on various topics will help us all learn the information better.
Patrols should used the Teaching EDGE (TM) process when teaching their program topic:
- Explain—The trainer explains how something is done.
- Demonstrate—The trainer demonstrates while explaining again.
- Guide—The learner tries the skill while the trainer guides him through it.
- Enable—The learner works on his own under the eye of the trainer.
It is important for our patrols to remember that just because they are responsible for a certain meeting’s program doesn’t mean that they have to be the ones that conduct the program. Patrols are encouraged to utilize their resources when it comes to meeting programs. Would an older scout in the troop or adult leader be willing to help? Is there someone in the community that has knowledge of the subject matter that might be willing to come and make a presentation at our troop meeting?
The troop also has a couple of copies of Woods Wisdom, an excellent resource for information on scouting divided up into specific areas of interest (winter camping, hiking, etc.) The internet can also be an excellent resource for information, but be sure to abide by any rules your family has established for internet use.
We look forward to seeing what our patrols have in store for us at upcoming meeting nights.