Brownsea Training Camp - Guide & Syllabus

Purpose The Brownsea Training Camp serves a twofold purpose for adult attendees:

1. Introduce them to traditional and BPSA 2. Learn the Tenderfoot Pathfinder skills and become invested as a Rover Squire

The training is done in an outdoor environment, typically a weekend campout, to give the trainees a good Rovering and Scouting experience. Also, running the BTC as a campout emphasizes the outdoor nature of Scouting and attending shows a level of commitment expected of a Rover and BPSA Leader.

Furthermore, the training is conducted using the Patrol system, breaking up the trainees into patrols of 4-8 with a BTC staff person designated as their Patrol Leader (PL) throughout the weekend; and a lead trainer/staff designed as the Scoutmaster for the training Group - the 1st Brownsea Scout Group. This introduces the trainees to the small group method and patrol system used by through hands-on experience. The training is broken down into Troop wide activities and Patrol activities.

Materials Provided For training, activities and camp purposes: ● Rope (varying sizes), Spars/Poles, twine for knot yard and practice ● American Flags (1 per expected patrol if possible), poles for central flag pole ● Necker material - brown cloth for neckers, scissors, fabric glue, woggle material (turk’s head) ● Flag material - felt sticky material, scissors, fabric glue, stencils, animal pics, white cloth material ● Poster Board - marker, for Promise & Law ● Notebook (3-ring binder) with sign-off sheet for trainees - 1 per Patrol (PL’s use) ● Certificate, Tenderfoot/Assoc. badge, Squire Shoulder Knot - 1 per attendee ● Copy of , Wolf Cub Handbook, Rovering to Success ● Copy of BPSA Handbooks

Provided For Attendees: ● Copy of Training Presentation ● Tenderfoot Tests (Pathfinder Handbook) ● Code of Ethics & Youth Protection Policy

Provided by Attendees: ● Tent ● Sleeping Bag, Pillow, Ground pad ● Pack with clothes, toiletries, rain jacket ● Scout staff (5’ or 6’ study hiking/walking stick) ● Uniform - button up shirt, two front pockets, shoulder straps (if possible). (olive green shorts/ pants), good hiking shoes ● Pencil/Pen and Paper

Structure and Overview of Training

The trainers at the BTC will take on the roles within a BPSA Pathfinder Troop, and the entire set of attendees will operate as the 1st Brownsea Scout Group for training purposes. The lead instructor/trainer will act as the Troop Scoutmaster (SM). Other trainers will act as Patrol Leaders (PLs) for a group of 4-8 trainees, having on PL per training patrol in attendance. If there are more trainers than patrols, the other trainers may act as Assistant Scoutmasters.

Points to remember: ● Training is conducted as a Troop campout ● Focus on the patrol system, having PLs train and sign-off for the trainees in their Patrols ● Activities are divided into Troop activities and Patrol activities ● PLs keep a log book for all of their patrol members for tracking and sign-off ● When possible, keep to the B-P/Patrol System layout for Group camps, SM and assistants tents in a center area with flag pole and fire ring, each Patrol site is 100 yds. away from the center and 100 yds away from any other Patrol site (clearly this may not be feasible depending on the location).

Ideal Staff: ● 1 SM (Scoutmaster) - Lead Trainer / Coordinator ● 2-3 PLs (Patrol Leaders) - Primary Trainers working directly with trainee patrols

All staff SHOULD have previously completed a Brownsea Training; and it is preferable for the SM/Lead Trainer to have one or more Woodbeads training as well. Number of PLs should be determined by total number of attendees and possible patrol sizes.

Training Schedule Details Specific duties or responsibilities are given for (SM) - Scoutmaster, (PLs) - Patrol Leaders, (Staff) - any staff may take on.

Friday

Arrival Arrive at camp, meet and greet with informal introductions ?

Assign Patrols Trainees are divided into Patrols and handed over to PLs 10 min. (trainers).

Patrol Activity PLs lead their patrols in setting up their campsites and 30 min. (Hands On) setting up their patrol areas.

Patrol Meeting PLs hold patrol meeting, 20 min. (Instruction) ● patrol introductions ● enter patrol member names in log book ● assign cooking/kp tasks for weekend. ● determine patrol animal

Troop Campfire Patrols gather at council fire, campfire outline: ~ 1 hr. ● (SM) formal introductions and welcome ● (STAFF) history of scouting/traditional scouting/ BPSA/WFIS ● BPSA points: inclusiveness, coed, 4 sections, volunteer run ● (STAFF) BPSA program sections, Otters, Timberwolves, Pathfinders, Rovers ● (SM) Closing remarks ● Fellowship and Q&A

Turn In

Saturday

BREAKFAST Patrols cook and eat separately (as patrols!) and clean up ? afterwards

Patrol Meeting PLs hold patrol meeting, 20 min. (Instruction) ● PL shows and explains uniform for all sections (use examples if available) ● Promise, Law, Motto, Salute, Handshake and meanings ● discussion on Patrol Spirit and Patrol System and its benefits ● determine Patrol call

PLs SIGN OFF passed requirements in log book.

Patrol Activity PLs lead their patrols in the following: 30 min. (Hands On) ● making the Patrol flag (assign someone to carry on staff) ● making St. George’s flag ● make brown BTC neckers and woggle (turks head)

BREAK 15 min.

Patrol Meeting PLs hold patrol meeting, 20 min. (Instruction) ● Uses of the Scout Staff (include sign & salute w/ staff) ● learn basic Patrol hand signals, formations, etc. ● Knots - square, sheet bend, clove hitch, bowline, round turn two-half hitches, sheep shank

Patrol Activity PLs help patrol practice their: 30 min. (Hands On) ● Knots ● Promise and Law ● Salute ● Handshake

PLs SIGN OFF passed requirements in log book.

LUNCH/BREAK Cleanup afterwards 45 min.

Troop Activity SM calls Troop to council ring, PLs bring their patrols over 30 min. and line up in horse-shoe fashion. PLs direct patrols using hand signals. Once arrived, SM asks PLs to give report for their patrols. Patrols should be in formation, at attention.

SM directs PLs to bring patrols to group meeting location (if no seating available around campfire).

Presentation/Discussion by SM: ● BPSA organization (HQ, Districts, Scout Groups) ● Scout Group organization (Group Council, Auxiliary, Sections, Leaders) ● Traditional Scouting advancement - proficiency, retesting, rank vs advancement, differences w/ BSA Scout/Cub program. ● Q&A

Patrol Meeting PLs instruct on the Woodcraft trail signs. 15 min. (Instruction)

Patrol Activity PLs allow patrol members to practice trail signs by 30 min. following the course laid out by the staff. Let them go one by one, with PL moving back and forth to guide and watch.

PLs SIGN OFF passed requirements in log book.

BREAK 15 min.

Patrol Meeting PLs cover the following topics/skills: 20 min. (Instruction) ● US Flag composition, history and how to fly ● Whipping a rope (2 methods)

Patrol Activity ● PL quizzes patrol on US Flag materials 30 min. (Hands On) ● Patrol practices whipping a rope

PLs SIGN OFF passed requirements in log book

Troop Activity Inter-Patrol competition: 40 min. ● Knot Yard Relay

Instruction on fire-starting, kindling, fuel, prevent smoke, types of fires

Inter-Patrol competition: ● Fire Building - two matches, burn string 2’ to 3’ off ground. Patrols must make kindling, gather wood, etc.

Patrol Activity Patrols now break to their Patrol sites and work on any 1 hr. (Hands On) needed skills or remaining items that need signed off on.

PLs make sure log books are completed and ready to turn in.

Troop Meeting Conduct a Troop meeting around the council ring. Assign a 40 min. Patrol to perform the opening. ● Opening ● SM covers instruction on: ● Important documents: by-laws, PO&R, Child Protection Policy, Safe Swim Defense ● Running meetings for younger sections: Otters, Timberwolf ● Group Activity (any short game or activity) ● Closing

Note that this meeting does not have Patrol Corners; but they usually should.

DINNER / BREAK Cleanup afterwards 40 min.

Troop Campfire Troop gathers for campfire at council ring. 40 min. ● Have a campfire welcome, ● incorporate a campfire game or activity, ● present the awards by Patrol, ● and closing (have a song).

Fellowship and Q&A - w/ smores! (or something)

TURN IN

Sunday

BREAKFAST Patrols cook and eat separately (as patrols!) and clean up ? afterwards

Patrol Meeting PLs meet with their Patrols and do any follow up, brush up 30 min. (Instruction) work on skills, answer questions, etc.

Troop Activity SM or STAFF cover the following: 45 min. ● Becoming a (Knight) ● Starting a Group - recruiting, training, program ● Resources to use in program planning

Troop Activity Scout’s Own - Provide a reflective time for patrols together. 45 min.

SM or PLs can cover ● keeping Scout’s Owns secular, inclusive and still meaningful and inspiring ● big ideas, points in promise or law

Provide a round-robin and allow each Trainee to ● express what they’ve learned, ● what was the most important thing they took away from training, ● what their plans are for after training.

BREAK CAMP Clean-up area, include discussion on 15 min. ● low impact camping ● leave no trace

GO HOME Happy Scouting!