Star Patrol

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The Star Award Recognition Programme is a Patrol management and self-assessment tool that is also used to recognise Patrols who are meeting the Aims of SCOUTS South Africa. The Scout methods used, in particular the Patrol System, are the tools that differentiate Scouting from any other youth organization.

The Star Awards also serve as an essential tool for Troop Scouters, District Commissioners (DCs) and Support Team Members (STMs) to identify areas where support is needed in the various disciplines of the Patrol.

"The Patrol System is not one method in which Scouting can be carried out. It is the only method." -- Robert Baden-Powell

Successful teams are based on several essential group member behaviours. One of the keys to a group's success is its size. A Scout Troop is made up of Patrols, each consisting of six to eight Scouts, including the Patrol Leader (PL) and Assistant Patrol Leader (APL).

The Patrol is the unit in all Troop activities.

In Scouting, we learned much from the founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, who wrote:

"The formation of the *boys into Patrols of from six to eight and training them as separate units each under its own responsible leader is the key to a good Troop."
"The Patrol System leads each boy to see that he has some individual responsibility for the good of his Patrol."

*Please take the reference to ‘boys’ in this quote in the context when this was written by Baden Powell – prior to girls being members of the Scout Movement; nowadays the word ‘boys’ refers to girls as well.

The object of the Patrol System is mainly to give real responsibility to as many of the Scouts as possible with a view to developing their character. If the Troop Scouter gives the Patrol Leader real power, expects a great deal from him or her, and leaves them a free hand in carrying out their work, the TS will have done more for that Scout's character expansion than any amount of school-training could ever do.

The Star Patrol Award is one of the requirements for the Patrol Leadership badge; so in addition to assisting the Patrol Leader in assessing the standards of his or her Patrol, it is also an opportunity to earn the interest badge

Award levels

  • Participation Award: 1-7 Aspects achieved
  • Bronze Award: 8-10 Aspects achieved
  • Silver Award: 11-12 Aspects achieved
  • Gold Award: 13-15 Aspects achieved

The Star Patrol assessment expects Patrols to achieve at least a Silver Award, signifying a solid performance in meeting basic standards. Bronze indicates room for improvement, while the Gold Award signifies exceeding expectations, reflecting a comprehensive commitment to Scouting principles, outdoor exploration, and active participation in the broader Scouting community. We encourage all Patrols to GO for Gold!!

Requirements

  1. Patrol Jobs: Every Patrol member has a specific job. (Yes/No)
  2. Patrol Corners: There is a properly maintained Patrol corner, display, den, Patrol box. (Yes/No)
  3. Attendance: Average % attendance at Patrol and Troop meetings & activities for the period – attendance register kept up to date in Patrol Logbook. (65%+)
  4. Patrol Leader Advancement: The PL has a total of 9 or more theme badges.: (9+)
  5. PL Training: PL has completed a Leadership Training Course (LDC, PLTC, PLTU) or completed Leadership advancement requirements. (Yes/No)
  6. Assistant Patrol Leader Advancement: The APL has a total of 6 or more theme badges.: (6+)
  7. APL Training: APL has completed a Leadership Training Course (LDC, PLTC) or completed Leadership advancement requirements. (Yes/No)
  8. Numbers 3 & 4: No's 3 & 4 have both got a total of 3 or more theme badges. (3+)
  9. National Challenge: Total number of SDG badges or Tide Turners badges completed by the Patrol members. (5+)
  10. Number of scouts: There are at least five scouts in the Patrol. (5+)
  11. Patrol in Council: The Patrol has held at least 4 Patrol in Council meetings this year - recorded in Patrol Logbook: (4+)
  12. Patrol Activities: Number of Patrol activities held during this year (not Hikes or camps or during a Troop meeting) - recorded in Patrol Logbook: (2+)
  13. Patrol Hikes: Number of Patrol day (or longer) hikes - recorded in Patrol Logbook: (1+)
  14. Patrol Camping: Number of Patrol camps (or overnight hikes) this year - recorded in Patrol Logbook: (1+)
  15. Patrol Community Service: Scout hours involved in a Community Service Project - recorded in Patrol Logbook: (25+)

Guide to completing the Star Patrol form

  1. Patrol Jobs: – Jobs must be realistic, understood and functional and carried out during the year. These can include Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Scribe, Den keeper, Log book keeper, Patrol Quartermaster, etc.
  2. Patrol Corners: – Where permanent dens or corners not possible, a portable display is satisfactory.
  3. Attendance: – Must be recorded in the patrol register.
  4. PL Advancement: The number of Theme badges the PL has earned to date.
  5. PL training: The PL must have attended either a recognised Leadership Training Course, (i.e. LDC, PLTC or PLTU) or complete the Leadership requirements in the Personal Development Theme in their current advancement level.
  6. APL Advancement: The number of Theme badges the APL has earned to date.
  7. APL training: The APL must have attended either a recognised Leadership Training Course, (ie. LDC or PLTC) or complete the Leadership requirements in the Personal Development Theme in their current advancement level.
  8. No.'s 3 and 4: The number of Theme badges earned to date.
  9. National Challenge: Total number of SDG badges earned by the Patrol members in the evaluation year – this is to encourage participation in the National challenge and build awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  10. Number of Scouts: Total number of Scouts in the Patrol – this needs to be reflected in the attendance register.
  11. Patrol in Council: Minutes of the meeting to be kept in a Patrol Logbook.
  12. Patrol Activities: Must be recorded in the Patrol Logbook. PL was in charge. Defined as a gathering of a Patrol to carry out an activity as a patrol.
  13. Patrol Hikes: Must be recorded in the Patrol Logbook. PL was in charge. Not necessarily overnight but at least 2 hours on the actual hike. Be defined as a gathering of a Patrol.
  14. Patrol Camps or overnight hikes: Must be recorded in the Patrol Logbook. PL was in charge. At least overnight. If patrol exceeds 2 overnight hikes, then the extra ones may be credited to outdoor activities or Patrol Activities. Be defined as a gathering of a Patrol.
  15. Patrol Community Service: – Must be recorded in the Patrol Logbook. Although the period is defined by number of months, the service should be carried out at regular intervals and be meaningful to the community. A Springbok service project may be counted.

Minimum patrol attendance at activities to qualify, must be either 4 Scouts out of a Patrol of 6, 5 Scouts out of a Patrol of 7, or 6 Scouts out of a Patrol of 8 Scouts.

See also

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