To view the some great information on the Patrol Method
from Boy Scouts of America.

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"Training boy leaders to run their troop is the Scoutmaster's most important job."

"Train Scouts to do a job, then let them do it."

"Never do anything a boy can do."

—Robert Baden-Powell

Leadership is a vital part of the Scouting program. Scouts in positions of leadership run their patrols and the troop. They take care of the many tasks necessary for troop meetings and activities to run smoothly and well. By accepting the responsibilities of troop and patrol leadership, they are preparing themselves to be leaders throughout their lives.

Scouting offers young people a rich and varied arena in which to learn and use leadership skills. Among the challenges encountered by a troop's youth leaders are:

• Organizing patrols
• Using duty rosters
• Planning menus and figuring out food costs
• Guiding a patrol's involvement in problem solving
• Teaching outdoor skills
• Ensuring patrol safety during outings
• Handling patrol finances
• Helping other Scouts make the most of their own leadership opportunities

The badge of office presented to a Scout who is accepting a position of troop leadership does not automatically make him a good leader.

Troop Leadership Training
Training youth to be leaders is an ongoing process that begins immediately when a Scout accepts a new position in the troop —even that of becoming a new member of a patrol —or when he is elected to a leadership position in his patrol or troop. Troop Leadership Training (TLT) is Scoutmaster - directed training, divided into three modules and designed to be used by the Scoutmaster in separate or back-to-back sessions.  The first module should be conducted within a week of a Scout's acceptance of his new leadership responsibilities and should always immediately follow patrol and troop elections. Each youth leader should have experienced all three modules before going to the council-sponored National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course. Completion of all three modules qualifies the Scout to wear the Trained patch. Scoutmasters should insist that a Scout participate in TLT each time he changes leadership roles within the troop or his patrol.

Like the National Youth Leadership Training, Troop Leadership Training sessions are organized into topics that explain

• What he must Know to successfully fill his leadership position
• What a youth leader must Be to be successful
• What he must Do to carry out his new responsibilities

Each module is designed to take no more than one hour. The material draws from and reinforces the elements of the Patrol Leader Handbook, the Scoutmaster Handbook, and NYLT.

Brownsea, National Youth Leadership Training
In 2003, a task force of leadership experts reviewed the previous Junior Leader Training, brought the latest ideas and recast the training to make it fresh, vital, and more meaningful for Scouts of today. The task force pilot tested their new ideas in councils throughout the nation and produced our new National Youth Leadership Training.

The old Golden Bear, Junior Leader Training (JLT) is now Brownsea, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Brownsea is an exciting, action packed program designed to provide youth members of the Boy Scouts of America with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops. The leadership skills taught can be used in any other situation demanding leadership of "self" and "others." This process begins with a "vision" of what success will look like in the future.

Scouting recognizes that Scoutmasters have the primary responsibility for training their youth leaders. The purpose of Brownsea is not to assume that role, but rather to support it. Brownsea features instruction in skills that can be used at home, at school, on the job, and, in particular, at the Scout unit level. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, along with audio-visual support, Brownsea participants will work hard and play hard together as they put into action the best Scouting has to offer.

More . . .

National Youth Leadership Instructor Camp
The NYLIC is the ultimate in training experiences for youth leaders. It is conducted for older Scouts who have the potential for being on the staff of the council youth leadership training conference. Qualifications are: First Class rank or higher, 14 years of age by opening day of course, but not yet 18, completion of Council JLT or YLT course, willingness to become a junior leader trainer for the local council, proficiency in Scouting skills, and meets Philmont's Level A physical requirements. Scouts who meet the qualifications receive an invitation from the Chief Scout Executive. If you feel that one of your junior leaders may qualify, you should contact your Scout executive for approval.

Den Chief Training
Den Chief training is a meeting of den chiefs and prospective den chiefs on a council, district or single-pack basis. It is planned and operated by council or district trainers or adult leaders who are familiar with Cub Scouting.

How long and how effectively a den chief will serve depends upon how seriously the position is valued; that opinion will be based largely on how the den chief is treated by the adults in the troop, team, crew and in the pack. If the adults rate the job highly, the den chief will take it more seriously. Den Chief training is intended to build more enthusiasm, to develop higher morale among den chiefs, and to provide the tools a new den chief will need to be successful.

The training agenda must be a combined good time and training experience. It is unlikely that den chiefs will participate in training unless it offers an atmosphere of fun and fellowship while teaching how to lead and get along with boys in Cub Scouting.