Scout Leadership Course Session Activity Notes

Session activity

Patrol Activties: Introduction & Conclusion

Time to allocate for this activity

10 minutes at the start and end of the session

Resources required

None

Activity Notes

Introduction

This session is designed to show how simple and effective a Patrol activity can be to plan, participate in and have fun with as a Patrol.

Start by asking the course to entertain themselves in the room for the next few minutes until you have the next session ready. Appear a bit disorganised and haphazard. Busy yourself with paper shuffling and mindless tasks whilst observing what happens for four minutes.

The object of the exercise is to see if the Scouts find it easy or difficult to entertain themselves without adult controls. Whether it works or not, you have a result for starting your session! If the group (or one or more of the Patrols) found something constructive to do (play a game, etc.), then they have just demonstrated how easy it is to plan a Patrol activity. If they sat and did nothing or got up to no good, then they have shown that a lack of planning can create boredom and trouble. Either way, an excellent spring-board to the session.

Briefly talk about the Patrol Activity Badge - if you have samples to show, that would be great. Talk about the requirements being an 8 hour Patrol activity. Have the course decide what a "Patrol Activity" is - both one that could last 8 hours to qualify for this badge, or shorter activities. Try to resist making a long list of activities - we are more interested in the overall idea of a Patrol Activity.

• Thought-up, planned and implemented by the Patrol.
• Involves members of the Patrol taking part together - not as a Troop or as individuals.
• Is led by the Patrol Leader, not an adult.
• Involves everyone.
• Is purposeful - e.g. for award scheme progress, community service, challenge, adventure, etc..

Announce that the Patrol's will now plan and take part in a 1 hour Patrol Activity of their choice. Outline that this will involve them proving they have planned appropriately and then implementing the activity.

Advise the Patrol they will be expected to talk about their activity at the end. When everyone is clear on the objectives of the tasks, organise the Patrols to get started.