What makes a good senior patrol leader

He is the recipient of a number of awards recognizing his service to Scouting, including the B. He is author of the blog and podcast at Scoutmastercg. An avid outdoorsman and amateur actor, he lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with his wife Teddi. This article got me to thinking. I can for all but one and that one is bugging me. Interesting thought! Kind of like the measure of the emergence of the seventeen year cicadas used by some Native Americans as their age I have seen three emergences so far.

As for senior patrol leaders it must be around since I became a Scoutmaster in Can I name them all? I suppose most of them. I had one who was reelected to a second term, and one who served less than a full year so it confuses things a bit. What I can say is that they all follow almost identical developmental milestones; so much so that it is almost uncanny.

There are also about four general types — Fearless Leaders — a more or less rare breed who are generally capable, full of initiative and drive.

Reluctant Leaders — They do what they can but would really rather not. Heave a big sigh of relief when they are done. Popular Leaders — Universally well-liked and respected; hero to their fellow Scouts.

All of them are an amalgam of these types in one measure or another. Some folks cannot be a Scoutmaster. They may have the patch on their sleeve but they will never really be a SM.

There is certainly a continuum and some are better than others, but there are some who will never get it. A trial and frustrating sometimes, but good. Keep reminding him that he is part of something new. A years from now Scouts may still be joining this new Troop that your son is helping put together. This past weekend my kindergarten granddaughter had her first soccer game.

There are no goalies and it appears that there are fewer players on the field than a standard soccer team. Both coaches are on the field and serve are coaches and referees. It was wonderful watching these two coaches guide these very young children through their first game. Everyone on the field and off the field enjoyed it. There were smiles all around. Life, competition, standings, leagues and heartbreak will come soon enough.

Those young people were given an appropriate start into this new world of growing up. Your son is now helping provide the same kind of experience for those 15 eleven year olds. I applaud you for taking the initiative to learn this yourself instead of waiting for others to tell you what to do. Although you likely have school and other commitments, your troop is depending on your leadership!

Before any PLC meeting, you should set a clear agenda that your Scribe can follow along with. In my experience, the best PLC meetings are short and to the point. Make sure to periodically ask for updates from your PLC members to ensure that everything gets taken care of. For more info on running a successful PLC meeting and an agenda check out my article here.

If there are any scouts you think would be great up-and-coming leaders in your troop, you can ask that they take on more responsibility as a Junior Leader.

At patrol meetings, record who agrees to do each task, and fill out the duty roster before going camping. Some leaders assume that the job will not get done unless they do it themselves.

Most people like to be challenged with a task. Empower your patrol members to do things they have never tried. The most important thing you can do is lead by example. Whatever you do, your patrol members are likely to do the same. Nothing is more confusing than a leader who is one way one moment and another way a short time later. If your patrol knows what to expect from you, they will more likely respond positively to your leadership.

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By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: March 17, Part 1. Be a good scout. Participate in all troop meetings, events, and activities and follow the Scout Oath and Law. Show leadership qualities. The SPL is the leader of the troop, and your fellow scouts should see you as a leader.

Volunteer often, especially for things no one else want to do. Your troop should be able to count on you to get things done.