Senior Patrol Leaders and Scoutmasters

 I have returned to this blog. 

With Timothy now the Senior Patrol Leader for his Troop, it has caused me to reflect on my own experience with the position.

As a Scout, I attended my first Camp-o-ree with Troop 919. I had only been with the Troop for a short time, as I had just bridged over from Webelos. I was the only Scout to come to Troop 919, so I didn't have any friends from the Pack with me. When we arrived at the Camp-o-ree and began to set up camp the Scouts began to pair up into tent groups. At the time, it was practice in the Troop to pair off with a Scout partner for the weekend, who would be your tent partner and partner for the weekend, when you weren't doing patrol activities. Being new to the Troop, I found myself without a partner and wasn't sure what to do. For a new Scout, this is an awkward and nervous moment. At that time, a Scout named Bill Dalke was the Senior Patrol Leader. Clearly the SPL was tuned into my situation as from across the camp, he shouted and pointed to me, "Louis! You're with me, come help me set up this tent". Bill must have been 16 or 17 years old, but to me, he was a much bigger, older, and a more confident Scout. I felt lucky that he picked me to partner with him for the weekend. From time to time, I'd get to sit in while he gathered with the other Patrol Leaders and planned and organized the weekend for the Troop. I was new, but I felt a bit like a leadership insider. The weekend turned out great and I always appreciated that Bill picked me to partner with him at the Camp-o-ree.

But little did Bill know was that when we were organizing partners at the camp set up, I overheard the Scoutmaster, Jack Dalke who was Bill's older brother, speak to Bill. He said, "Do you have a partner yet?" Bill said, "No". "Louis doesn't have a partner yet", said Jack and he gave Bill a knowing look. About a minute later was when Bill called me to partner with him.

Such a small moment that has stayed with me and it illustrates how a Senior Patrol Leader can make a difference to the Scouts, and how a Scoutmaster can guide but not tell the Scouts what to do. As Timothy begins his new position and as I will be taking the Scoutmaster position later this year, this story feels relevant to me, as if this moment could happen again with a new set of Scouts.