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The Greatest Patrol Flag!
One of the things that drastically enhances the patrol method and motivates a patrol of scouts is a patrol flag. However, if you just tell the boys, “go make a patrol flag” you probably not going to get one, and if you do, its most likely not going to be the patrol's flag, but rather the creation of one boy that not all are going to rally around. What is needed is a team effort, A Patrol Effort! What I am going to describe here is a patrol meeting where the scout master can get in with the boys and mentor the patrol leader. The patrol will design and make their own flag, they'll bond together as a patrol, and through the scout master bond to the troop.
What is a patrol flag? A patrol flag is a totem. The emblem of this band of boys as they go adventuring. The patrol flag announces their presence and who they are to all the other guys. The patrol flag tells the world, “We're here and we're cool!” This is the banner of their conquests and accomplishments. Let the patrol make it however they design it, and be ready to support making it.
What does a patrol flag look like? The short answer is anything. The general rule of thumb is that it is smaller than the troop flag and the national flag. This is for two reasons; One, the patrol flag is subordinate to the troop flag which in turn is subordinate to the national flag. Two, the patrol flag is a working flag, a flag of adventure. This flag goes places, it goes with the boys. When the boys climb Mount Kilimanjaro, its there for the picture at the top. When the patrol hikes the Appalachian Trail, its leading their way. At camp the patrol flag marks their territory.
Task Zero: Read through to task two and Be Prepared. Start now to gather resources and helpers.
Task One: Prep your patrol leader the week before that you would like to join their patrol meeting next week and talk to them about patrol flags. Let him know that you will have a whole bunch of idea material with you that he can share with his patrol to design their flag with. Tell him that the patrol flag will mark their membership in the troop for all time, it will be a part of the troop history and treasured item when their grown up showing the younger boys they were there. The patrol flag will be displayed like the uniforms of great sports stars for the new team to look up too. His patrol should want to design a great flag when you done. Do this all in five minutes and leave him excited for next week. This will have him thinking on it all week and he'll be very creative. He will also tell the rest of the patrol and they will dreaming up ideas all week as well.
Task Two: Gather all the examples you can find of flags, totems, emblems, crests, logos, etc. Get pictures! Gather all the ideas for flag shapes. Gather all the methods of mounting and displaying the flag. Make blank paper flags for all the shapes. Add extra blank paper for new ideas the boys come up with. Get poles, staves, and tree branches for mounting the flag. Find cloth and wood for the flag. Gather paint, markers, and color pencils for construction. Recruit helpers for sewing and wood working. Have all these ready for the partol meeting so that the boys can pick through them for flag parts. Goto the ideas and resources page for help on this.
Task Three: Join the boys in their patrol meeting and show them all the stuff. Tell them how exciting this is to be starting a new piece of troop history and get then excited. Show the boys all the example material you have and talk about different design ideas, then pass out the blank paper flags and the blank paper and let the patrol leader take over. Be quiet and supportive. Let the patrol take the design they way but guide them in what is practicle and appropriate. Promise them help with the construction, that is what the helpers you recruited are for. We want this flag to be strong and usable.
Task Four: Come through on the help and help build the flag. Encourage the boys to dey all they can do themselves. But dodn't let the project stop because the boys are frustrated trying to do something. Get in and help.
Task Five: Give a grand introduction of the flag at the next troop meeting.
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