P.A.T.R.O.L. – a simple guide to leading a team Tuesday, Jan 4 2011

Within our Scout Troop, whilst training the Scouts in the skills of Scout craft and developing their potential within the Fundamental Aims of Scouting, we also try to get the Scouts to remember and work as a team, using the simple Scouting nmemonic PATROL.

To us, this is a simple Scouting-type word (thus making it easy to remember) but which has far-reaching potential to ensure that if any Scout remembers it they will become the one person in any management training course to be the one to have in the team!   I’ve added a few pictures to try and show what is meant.

P – Problem.  What is the problem, task or challenge that has been set.  In this case, the teams have to get from one side to the other and the middle is very deep and too wide to cross

A – Assess. What are we being asked to do, what can we do, what can’t we do.  What do we need to question?  Here, the BLUE patrol is looking at the items of kit that are available to them to solve the problem – but also at the ravine – it may be that there’s something that they could use to help them.  You’ll notice that the BLACK patrol are just playing – not a good way to work!

T – Tasks.  What will we need to do to achieve the tasks.  What steps do we have to do them.  So as a team they need to think about suggested solutions that they can feedback.  You may need to get some of the patrol to work with others to share the information.

R – Responsibilities.  Who is doing what – do they know? Who’s helping them?  Who’s not doing anything?  Just out of shot, you’ll notice that one of the BLACK patrol has just tried to jump across and has got stuck.  Also, with no direction and team involvement, one of the BLACK patrol has also got bored and is sitting alone.

(you don’t need a lectern to spread the information!)

O – OFF YOU GO!  Everyone knows what the plan is – and what they are doing.  In this case, with a decent plan, BLUE patrol has solved the problem and has got underway.  They’ve all had a go and can start to let BLACK patrol members play also!  The leaders are now having to use PATROL to rescue the one BLACK patrol member, whilst the others are just playing!

L – Lead.  For the patrol / team leader this one.  Are the people doing their jobs, is the task being done correctly? Although the Lectern is a bit of overkill, I’ve included it to show that as a PL you will need to refer back to make sure that everything is being completed successfully.

If you can remember all that – you encompass all the other great management words, tips and phrases that get brought up – and you will be a leader!!

 

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TLW Challenge – w/c 15 November Saturday, Nov 13 2010

This week’s TLW Challenge is in readiness for the Troop meeting – Origami.
Origami is the very old art of paper folding.

To that end, for our Troop meeting you must bring the largest square single sheet of paper you can find. Note – single sheet, not lots of pieces taped together!

You will get points for bringing the square paper with you. There will be additional points for the person with the largest sheet of paper. You will not get any TLW points for just bringing a regular A4 (that is, rectangular) sheet.

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TLW Challenge – w/c 25 October Friday, Oct 22 2010

Our next meeting will be for Fireworks (enjoy the half term break!) so the TLW challenge for next week is this:

EACH SCOUT MUST BRING / WEAR A HAT

More information about the evening (timings etc) will be sent to Scouts via email, but as it will be so shortly after Halloween, here’s the Bonus:

IT’S TRICK OR TREAT WEEK. By this if ALL Scouts in the Patrol are present WITH HATS, then it’s a TREAT; otherwise the Patrol is subject to TRICK. Spread the word!

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Pathfinder Weekend report Monday, Oct 18 2010

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frog101/sets/72157625189608810/

Ivor and David met the first group at the Church, before driving round to the 19^th and picking up the last Scouts and all the camping equipment.   We then drove up to Lees Wood with just about enough light to get the tents up.

With a little struggling by the Scouts – and leaders wondering why the tents weren’t reaching the ground all the way round – the site was prepared.  The other members of the District (Vince estimated that there was about 60 present at the weekend) were setting up the tents, or exploring the site – or having a go on the Radio (this was also a weekend for Jamboree on the Internet – JOTI – and Jamboree over the air – JOTA).  It was nice to meet up with the boys that we had taken to Kandersteg, Switzerland as part of the District Contingent – and really pleasing that we could remember their names too!

Once our site was ready, we drove to Sainsbury’s so that the Scouts could buy the food for their menus.  This was quickly sorted and we returned to base.  Surprisingly for a first night, we settled down quite quickly and early.

Saturday morning was cold but pleasant – the boys cooked their breakfasts, made their lunches and we were ready to go quite early.  David drove the groups to their drop points; Ash and Alan were dropped at Coleshill (SU948953) and Ivor and Nandesh at Black Park (TQ005832) with a final destination of the Aquadrome at Rickmansworth (TQ056937).  Once dropped, David then drove between the two groups making sure all was OK.

The leaders walking with the groups hung back about 30 metres so the Scouts had to do all the work!

Fortunately, all was running to time and Alan and Ash’s group got to the Aquadrome for about 3:45pm; Ivor and Nandesh was about 30 minutes later.

Arriving back on site, the Scouts cooked their evening meals and washed up; they then listened in as contact was made with Scouts from aboard (Anand managed to make contact with a number of groups, including a group from Malta!)

 

Sunday morning quickly came round; the boys had to be pushed a little to make their breakfasts and cook all they had bought, but breakfast was sorted and with lunches packed both groups were dropped at the Aquadrome ready to walk back to Lees Wood.  Ash and Alan would use some of the Ebury Way before heading North to Croxley Green; Ivor and Nandesh headed through Rickmansworth to pick up the Chess Valley Walk.

Ash and Alan’s group had no problems on their walk and all went to plan.  Ivor however had a small challenge as for a short while the Scouts managed to evade them! Fortunately they were re-united and after a very brief lunch were able to walk onto site – although they still managed to take an unusual route to get to the base.

Back on site, the tents were dropped and the trailer was packed.  Because we were the only ones with a full programme on Sunday when we arrived back on site we were the only Scouts still there; it was a little surreal being the only Scouts on a huge field.  We drove back to the Cabin and after the tents had been hung to dry we let the Scouts go home.

 

It had been an interesting weekend, allowing the Scouts to demonstrate their map reading skills.  My thanks go to:

Ivor, Alan, Ash, Nandesh as Leaders

Anand, Aaron, Alec, Charlie, Frazer, James R., James Z., Nathan, Oskar and Steven

 

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Weekly TLW Challenge – 10 September Friday, Sep 10 2010

In addition to the September Global Challenge – which is still running – this is the weekly challenge. 

As part of the uniform, we check that Scouts have their Record books on their uniforms within the inspection.  These record books are the Scouts own record that they were awarded badges, and when they were awarded.  The books should also have the emergency contact number of the Scout Leader.

For the Troop meeting next week, we will be checking that the Record Books presented contain information on the badges that have been awarded and the Leader’s contact details!

Additional note:  3 Scouts have advised me that they do not possess pocket books which can be written in.  I have made a note of their names.  For those affected by this – or unable to locate the pocket book for inspection next week – you are required to produce a piece of paper which has on it:

Your Name

Leaders emergency contact details

The badges which you have been awarded.

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TLW Challenge – w/c 14 June Friday, Jun 11 2010

To set the scene:

We will be going to camp later this year – and the leaders already know that over the course of the camp at least one boy will be naughty and challenge the leaders.  Your TLW challenge this week is to suggest punishments that we (as Leaders) could give to the naughty Scouts.

For those who came to the last camp will know, we already make use of the “staring at the tree” punishment.

There are a couple of rules here… and a warning.

The first rule is that the punishment cannot be too extreme (or draw blood ).  The second rule is (of course) be careful what you suggest – it could be you that the punishment is given to.

The warning is that I will be reviewing all comments you post – anything I feel is too extreme will be removed.

Other than that… have fun.

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Oxford Cycle Weekend Tuesday, Mar 30 2010

We all met at the church and loaded the bikes into our trailer… the leaders bikes being strapped to the back of Ash’s car. The drive to Oxford was pleasant and almost without a hitch… until one Scout decided that he needed to go to the loo, so we pulled into the Oxford services. Surprisingly for one so desperate, the bright lights and shops seemed to offer a small distraction and we needed to remind them why we had stopped!

Once back on board, we set off again – because the headquarters we were staying at was being used for a Guide company meeting, we deliberately made sure that we didn’t arrive too early; for us that meant stopping off at a chippy for an early tea!

The headquarters of the 40th Oxford Sea Scouts was big enough for our needs, with several smaller side rooms that the leaders could command as their own leaving the Scouts to sleep in the main hall. Unfortunately, keeping all the Scouts in one communal hall meant that no-one got any sleep until after 1am… and a few were still awake at 3am…

Saturday morning quickly came (no surprise there!) and we were up and had our cooked breakfast, with some of the Scouts cooking, the others on washing up duties. Lunch made and we were ready to go… we stopped to quickly check the bikes over – good thing as Oskar’s front wheel had a puncture, so we had to sort that out. But we were off. There were 8 Scouts – Jamie, Mason, Rory, Frazer, Oskar, James, Nathan and Anand – and five leaders – Ivor, Ash, Alan, Bruce and myself – making quite a good group.

Saturday’s route was about 40km – there were a few hills but mostly it was a mixture of road and sustrans paths. We had thought that Mason might have a problem as he only had a BMX with a single gear – but before lunch it was Anand that was struggling; even after we had stopped to sort out a puncture that had developed on Oskar’s back wheel. The weather had been a little breezy, but we were cycling with some mean clouds overhead – luckily, we only suffered a light shower. After lunch, we dealt with a second back wheel puncture (yup, Oskar again!) as we cycled back to the headquarters. On the way back, we made a left turn from one road to see a Red Kite flying back up to it’s nest – and with the noise that we were made it dropped the rabbit that it was carrying. A rare and fascinating sight!

Back in the headquarters and it was obvious that the previous night and the cycle had taken it out of the Scouts (and the Leaders!). However, after a shower and dinner we were able to spend some time working with those who didn’t have the cyclist badge going through the theory bits – and map reading for those who had. Finally, after a game of Bop-it, we called it quits for the night. Although the Scouts were still not quick at going to sleep, they were all out well before midnight.

Sunday was a more relaxed start (good thing, as we had lost an hour’s sleep with the clocks going forward!) and after breakfast we loaded up and got ready to head off. With grumbles and complaints from many of the Scouts (finding some soreness after yesterdays cycle) we set off again. This time we cycled along the Thames into Oxford for a shorter, but equally challenging cycle. Just before lunch, we had a large hill to climb… most of the Scouts ended up walking up to the top as it got progressively steeper.

After lunch we followed a track road and got quite close to Yulebury campsite. We stopped by the side of a field as we checked the map – the corner of the field had become very waterlogged and a small lake / huge puddle had been formed. One Scout – Jamie – said “should I cycle through it” – stupidly, we said “yes, go on then”… and so he headed off! On the way out the water was almost up to the wheel hubs. Someone commented that he hadn’t cycled through the centre, so he turned and came back. The water went just over the wheel hubs before Jamie tried to change gear – bad move as he stopped – and gravity took over. He finally came out of the water very bedraggled… and it was all captured on video!

We finished the cycle and got back to the headquarters where the building was tidied up and the bikes loaded once more into the trailer. Whilst loading the trailer, one Scout noticed a piece of white board lying flat on the ground – lifted it up and said “Why is there a hole there?” At that point, Ivor took one step back… and fell down the hole. It was quite hard for anyone to keep a straight face!

Finally, we headed back to the church. The Scouts thought they’d try the “need to go to the loo” trick again… but we found a layby with a brick loo… the Scouts were not impressed! The rest of the trip was quite uneventful and we managed to get back on time (that must be a first for us!)

My thanks go to:
Alan for organising the routes and the weekend
Ash for the catering
Bruce for encouraging the Scouts
Ivor for driving the minibus
and the 40th Oxford for letting us stay at their headquarters

Here’s the video of the camp:

And for those who just want to see the funny bit… here it is:

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TLW Challenge w/c 15 March Friday, Mar 12 2010

Okay, this will be a two-week challenge again as we will shortly be heading off for the cycle weekend.

As this is the one before we end the term, I thought we could have a little fun here.  We’ll play Word Association – you need to reply with the word that relates to the previous comment.  So, if I was to start with “Scout”, Oskar could reply “Law”.  James would then add a word that would link to “Law”, such as “Order”.  Jordy could then respond to “Order” with “dinner” and so on.

Just so I don’t get confused with which word you are linking to, I’d like you to reply by using the word that you are linking to first… so using the example above, Oskar would enter:

“Scout    Law”

James would reply

“Law   Order”

Jordy would enter

“Order Dinner”  … and so on!

So, let’s play – I’ll start:

Start   engine

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TLW Challenge w/c 1st March Friday, Feb 26 2010

Okay, I really enjoyed seeing the cheapest scramble over sleeping bags and tents – so let’s have another go.

I would like you to find the costs for:

• The cheapest bicycle pump
• The cheapest bicycle crash hat appropriate for a 10-year old.

As before, I’d like to know costs – and where you found it.  No sale items and if it’s found on Ebay (or an auction site) it MUST be a “Buy now” price.

have fun!

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TLW Challenge for week start 25.01.10 Saturday, Jan 23 2010

All instructions are contained.

Whisky hotel alpha tango tango india mike echo delta india delta yankee oskar uniform sierra oskar lima victor echo tango hotel india sierra papa uniform zulu zulu lima echo? oskar november lima yankee romeo echo papa lima yankee whisky india tango hotel tango hotel echo tango india mike echo india november two-fower (24) hotel oskar uniform romeo foxtrot oskar romeo mike alpha tango.

Simples?

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