I admit–when I first learned about the Patrol Method, “Scout led– adult run,” I felt a little nervous; a lot like the first time I let my son barbecue our family meal on his own.
The thought of allowing Boy Scouts to take the lead and make decisions is not always easy, especially when there are times when I think father knows best.
As my understanding of the Patrol Method deepened, I quickly discovered that at times, what looks like chaos is actually order.
During a recent Scout backpack, our patrol came to both a literal and figurative fork in the road. The boys had the choice of hiking an additional 1-1/2 miles to summit a peak, or continue on to our next camp. The additional 3 miles round trip would add yet another peak to the boys list, as well as increase the total miles and elevation gain. But the day was hot and we still had another six miles to go, not counting the summit.
One of the boys was not interested in doing the peak. He was tired and didn’t value the peak as others in the group did. The Scout approached us Assistant Scout Masters (ASM) and asked if we could continue on to camp without doing the extra miles. Rather than making a decision for the group, we suggested that the boys work it out together, alone, without our influence.
We three ASMs walked up trail, far enough to see but not hear. The boys circled and began passionately stating their cases to each other. We watched as they worked out their decision together. It was clear that one of the Scouts led the patrol through a democratic process of weighing the options and voting.
Within minutes, a decision was made–we were going to the top.
Although the one Scout was not happy about the decision, it was a decision the boys made and owned together. In the end, everyone was happy and the initially disgruntle Scout was glad to earn the bragging rights of bagging yet another peak.
If we ASMs made the decision for the Scouts, then the trip would have been owned by us Scout Masters. Yet the purpose of Scouting is to make leaders of the young men. Allowing the Scouts to lead and make their own decisions helped them work together and solve a problem within the group. The results proved that the Patrol Method can work if we adults allow the boys to work out most of their own challenges.