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How Scouting Began
(includes little known history)

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I was assigned to the Flaming Arrow patrol upon joining. It was my permanent patrol. Years later, I was elected patrol leader.

We camped by patrol. When there was room, each patrol site was separate from the others. We cooked all our meals by patrol. On a patrol campfire built on the ground. Not a stove. Not a charcoal grill. Using wood we scrounged locally.

I worked my way toward First Class Scout in our patrol. Most of the requirements were signed off by my patrol leader or some other First Class Scout in our patrol. Rarely at summer camp or by an adult. And when I became Patrol Leader, I taught and signed off on most of the Second and First Class requirements for my patrol.

I was mentored by my Scoutmasters and assistants. They were there for me. As I was there for my patrol members.

Each of the patrols in my troop (Troop 330, Indialantic, Florida) were the same general size. Each elected their patrol leader. Each had a mix of Scouts from Tenderfoot (then the lowest rank) to First Class and often Star or Life. Patrol competition was a part of nearly every troop meeting. Typically, contests were in Scout skills related to the requirements for Second Class or First Class. The competition pressured the older Scouts in each patrol to pass skills to the younger so that they could win.

In general, the other troops in the Boy Scouts of America were similar.

The program has been deeply revised by a desire to speed up advancement to First Class and then Eagle. Patrols are no longer the core of the program. Instruction has moved indoors to make it faster.

Rules meant to deal with mixed gender and sexual abuse have hobbled the program, not addressed the issues, and even created an environment for perpetrators.

This site documents the drift, honors what remains, and invites a return to Scouting as it was meant to be. As it was when I was a Scout in the 60’s.

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