New Patrol Ceremony
| Category: | Scout Ceremonies |
|---|---|
| Props: | The new patrol's flag (made by the patrol beforehand) |
| Props: | Patrol patches for every member |
| Props: | Fabric marker, if members will sign the flag |
| Notes: | For the night a new patrol becomes official, usually a new-Scout patrol formed from Scouts who just crossed over, or a patrol split off when one gets too big. The patrol should choose its name, design its flag, and write its yell before the ceremony; the ceremony is where the troop hears them for the first time. Replace [TROOP NUMBER], [PATROL NAME], and [PATROL LEADER NAME]. Pairs with the patrol-spirit minute. |
Setup
The troop stands in patrols in a horseshoe, with a gap left open for the new patrol. The new patrol waits outside the horseshoe with its flag rolled up.
Participants
- Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) - runs the ceremony
- New patrol - all members, with their patrol leader carrying the flag
- The whole troop
The Ceremony
SPL: 'Troop, attention. In Troop [TROOP NUMBER], everything starts with the patrol. We camp as patrols, cook as patrols, and win or lose as patrols. Tonight there is a new one. Let them in.'
(The new patrol enters the horseshoe and stands in the gap left for them, facing the SPL.)SPL: 'Patrol leader, what is your patrol's name?'
Patrol Leader: 'We are the [PATROL NAME] Patrol.'
SPL: 'Show the troop your flag.'
(The patrol leader unrolls the flag and holds it up so the troop can see it.)SPL: 'A patrol flag means every member made a promise to the others. [PATROL NAME] Patrol, put your hand on the flag.'
(Every member touches the flag. If the patrol is signing it, each member signs it now.)SPL: 'Do you promise to look out for each other, carry your share, and never leave a patrol member behind?'
New Patrol: 'We do.'
SPL: '[PATROL LEADER NAME], here are your patrol patches.'
(The SPL gives the patches to the patrol leader, who hands one to each member with a handshake.)SPL: 'One more thing makes a patrol a patrol. Troop, every patrol has a yell. Let us hear the new one. [PATROL NAME] Patrol - your yell!'
(The new patrol gives its yell, as loud as they can.)SPL: 'Troop, answer them.'
(Each existing patrol gives its own yell in turn, as a welcome.)SPL: 'Welcome to Troop [TROOP NUMBER], [PATROL NAME] Patrol. Dismissed.'
Tip: Patrol names and yells stick for years, so give a new patrol a meeting to argue it out. If they get stuck, the Cheers section has plenty of yells to borrow from - but a yell the patrol wrote itself, however silly, will be shouted louder.