Organization
How our troop and patrols are organized
Many troops have New Scout Patrols, placing all the new scouts into a single patrol with an older scout as their guide. We have discovered that the “traditional” way of structuring the patrols works better for all the scouts. When new scouts join us they are placed into the existing patrols (along with a couple of their buddies from cub scouts). This provides the young scouts with role models and provides the older scouts with the opportunity to teach and guide the new scouts. It also helps to ensure that tasks get done.
Another advantage of the traditional system is that the patrols are more equal in skills and abilities, making competitions and games more fair and exciting. Having only a couple young scouts provides an incentive for the experienced scouts to share their knowledge, and support the advancement of their whole patrol. Each patrol has 7-9 members. The patrols change a couple times a year to ensure that the patrols have a balance of all ranks, participation and personality compatibility. The number of Patrols that the Troop has is based on current members and the leadership strength of our older scouts.
See the flow chart below to for the hierarchy of the troop structure.
