# Patrol Leader Guide: How to Run a Great Patrol

A practical guide for Patrol Leaders: how to build patrol spirit, make rotating duty rosters, plan campout meals, and keep your campsite organized.

The patrol is the heart of Scouting. A patrol is a team of six to eight Scouts who camp together, cook together, solve challenges together, and look out for one another in the outdoors.

As Patrol Leader, your job is not to do all the work yourself. Your job is to help everyone work together, learn new skills, stay safe, and have fun.

## Building Patrol Spirit

A great patrol has its own identity. When you form a patrol or start a new term as leader, establish these basics:

- **Patrol Name**: Pick a name you're proud of (like the *Flying Falcons*, *Timberwolves*, or *Iron Badgers*).
- **Patrol Flag**: Make a patrol flag to carry at meetings, campouts, and rallies. Put your patrol emblem and member names on it!
- **Patrol Yell**: Create a short, loud yell to give at roll call or during patrol challenges.
- **Patrol Call / Whistle**: Pick a fun bird call or whistle pattern to gather your patrol quickly.
- **Patrol Corner**: Find your regular spot at troop meetings to plan campouts and store your patrol gear box.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Lord Baden-Powell started the patrol method because small groups of 6 to 8 friends naturally work best together. Everyone has a role, and nobody gets left out.

## Making a Fair Duty Roster

Every great campout needs a clear **Duty Roster**. When everyone knows their job, meals are on time, dishes get done quickly, and nobody gets stuck doing all the work.

Switch jobs every meal so that everyone takes turns cooking, cleaning, and fetching water.

### The 5 Campout Jobs

| Job Title | Main Responsibilities | Safety & Cleanliness Tips | Gear You Need |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Head Cook (Chef)** | Leads meal prep, controls stove heat, seasons food, and serves on time | Wash hands first; check meat temperature with a thermometer | Camp stoves, chef knife, cutting board, spatula |
| **Assistant Cook & Fire Master** | Sets up stoves or builds cooking fire, chops veggies, boils water | Handles propane safely; watches fire safety circle | Heat gloves, charcoal chimney, matches, tongs |
| **Dishwasher 1 (Wash)** | Heats wash water, scrapes food scraps into trash, scrubs pots | Uses hot soapy water (Pot 1) to clean off grease | Scrub sponge, wash tub, camp soap, rubber scraper |
| **Dishwasher 2 (Sanitize)** | Rinses and sanitizes dishes, hangs them to dry in mesh bag | Dips dishes in sanitizer for 60 seconds; lets them air dry | Sanitizer tabs or bleach, dunk bag, tongs |
| **Water Master & Quartermaster** | Fetches clean water for drinking and washing; disposes gray water | Dumps gray water 200 feet from camp through a strainer | Water jugs, strainer mesh, trash bags |

### Duty Roster Campout Schedule

Copy this schedule for your patrol binder before each campout:

| Meal / Time | Head Cook | Assistant Cook & Fire | Dishwasher 1 (Wash) | Dishwasher 2 (Sanitize) | Water & Quartermaster |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Friday Night Setup** | Scout A | Scout B | Scout C | Scout D | Scout E & Scout F |
| **Saturday Breakfast** | Scout B | Scout C | Scout D | Scout E | Scout F & Scout A |
| **Saturday Lunch** | Scout C | Scout D | Scout E | Scout F | Scout A & Scout B |
| **Saturday Dinner** | Scout D | Scout E | Scout F | Scout A | Scout B & Scout C |
| **Sunday Breakfast** | Scout E | Scout F | Scout A | Scout B | Scout C & Scout D |
| **Sunday Camp Breakdown** | *All: Kitchen Box* | *All: Tents & Tarps* | *All: Trash & Sump* | *All: Site Sweep* | *Quartermaster: Trailer* |

> **Tip**
>
> **The "Cooks Don't Do Dishes" Rule**:
> Always make sure the Scouts who cooked the meal do not have to wash the pots. This keeps things fair and encourages cooks not to burn food onto pans!

## How to Plan Campout Meals

Planning meals is an important skill for First Class rank. Good food keeps your patrol energized and in great spirits.

### Campout Food Planning Timeline

| When | What You Do | Who Does It |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **3 Weeks Before** | Attend Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC) to get the campout theme and location | Patrol Leader |
| **2 Weeks Before** | Plan the 3-meal menu with your patrol, check allergies, and pick a Grubmaster | Patrol Leader & Patrol |
| **1 Week Before** | Collect food money ($12–$18 per Scout) and check stove propane and spices | Grubmaster & Scribe |
| **2 Days Before** | Buy groceries, pack dry food in bins, and freeze meats to keep cooler cold | Grubmaster & Parents |
| **Campout Weekend** | Cook meals, wash dishes with 3 pots, and clean up gear | Entire Patrol |

### Sample Campout Menu

| Meal | Menu Items | Ingredients | Cooking Gear | Prep Time |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Saturday Breakfast** | Breakfast Burritos + Oranges + Hot Cocoa | Eggs, sausage/beans, shredded cheese, salsa, tortillas, oranges, cocoa packets | 2-burner stove, skillet, spatula, pot for cocoa water | 30 mins |
| **Saturday Lunch** | Turkey & Cheese Wraps + Apples + Trail Mix | Tortillas, deli turkey, cheese slices, mustard/mayo, apples, trail mix packs | No stove needed; cutting board and knife | 15 mins |
| **Saturday Dinner** | Camp Tacos or Dutch Oven Hash + Peach Cobbler | Ground beef/turkey, onions, taco seasoning, shells, cheese, salsa. Cobbler: canned peaches, cake mix, butter | Dutch oven or skillet, charcoal chimney, tongs | 45 mins |
| **Sunday Breakfast** | Oatmeal Bar or Bagels with Cream Cheese + Bananas | Oatmeal packets, brown sugar, dried fruit, bagels, cream cheese, bananas | Pot to boil water | 15 mins |

## Kitchen Safety & 3-Pot Dishwashing

Keeping food cold and washing dishes properly keeps your whole patrol healthy on the trail:

> **Safety First!**
>
> **Camp Food Safety Rules**:
> - **Keep Cold Food Cold**: Store perishables below 40°F in a cooler with ice. Keep raw meat double-bagged at the very bottom so juices cannot drip onto other food.
> - **Separate Raw Meat**: Never use the same knife or cutting board for raw meat and fresh veggies without washing it first.
> - **Cook Meat Fully**: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F and ground beef reaches 160°F.

### The 3-Pot Dishwashing System

Wash dishes right after every meal using three pots:

![The 3-Pot Dishwashing Sanitation System](https://scouting.university/img/diagrams/three-pot-sanitation.png)

1. **Scrape Dishes First**: Scrape every bit of leftover food into the trash before dishes go into the water.
2. **Pot 1 (Hot Wash)**: Warm soapy water. Scrub grease and food off dishes with a sponge.
3. **Pot 2 (Hot Rinse)**: Clean hot water. Rinse off all soap bubbles.
4. **Pot 3 (Sanitize)**: Hot water with a sanitizer tablet (or 2 drops of bleach per gallon). Soak dishes for 60 seconds.
5. **Air Dry**: Place dishes in a clean mesh bag to dry in the breeze. Never dry with a dirty dish towel.

## Running a Patrol Meeting

Use your 30-minute patrol time at weekly troop meetings to get organized:

| Time | What to Do | Who Leads |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **0:00 – 0:05** | Check attendance, collect permission slips, inspect uniform | Patrol Scribe |
| **0:05 – 0:15** | Fill out campout duty roster, check menu, verify who needs a tent | Patrol Leader |
| **0:15 – 0:25** | Teach or practice a rank skill (like knots, lashings, or first aid) using EDGE | Assistant PL or Senior Scout |
| **0:25 – 0:30** | Practice patrol yell, work on patrol flag, or prep for the troop game | Patrol Leader |

> **Be Prepared! What to Do in Bad Weather**
>
> If bad weather hits your campout:
> - **No Trenching**: Do not dig ditches around tents. Instead, pitch tents on high, well-drained ground.
> - **Put Up a Dining Tarp**: Set up a sturdy rain fly over your kitchen area using taut-line hitches.
> - **Keep Tents Dry**: Leave muddy boots and wet rain gear outside under the tent vestibule.
> - **Stay Warm**: Drink warm liquids and eat trail snacks. Watch out for the "Umbles" (Stumbling, Mumbling, Fumbling, and Grumbling) which can mean hypothermia.

## Setting Up Your Campsite

A clean campsite keeps everyone safe, keeps animals away, and makes packing up easy:

![Patrol Campsite Layout and Safety Zoning Masterplan](https://scouting.university/img/diagrams/campsite-zoning-masterplan.png)

| Campsite Area | Distance | How to Set It Up | Safety Rules |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Tents & Sleeping** | Upwind from kitchen | Pitch tents in clean rows with doorways facing away from wind | **Zero Food Rule**: No snacks, candy, gum, or scented items in tents! |
| **Patrol Kitchen** | 100–200 ft downwind | Set up prep table, camp stoves, 3-pot wash line, and chuck box | Keep food off the ground; wash hands before handling food. |
| **Food Storage & Sump** | 200 ft away from tents | Bear canisters or hang food 12ft high in trees | Strain gray water before dumping it 200ft away from water sources. |
| **Ax Yard** | Roped-off area | Chopping block and tool rack | Only one Scout inside at a time; wear boots and eye protection. |

## Patrol Leader Checklist

**Patrol Leader Campout Checklist** — Check these off before your patrol heads out

- [ ] Patrol attendance headcount given to Senior Patrol Leader.
- [ ] 3-Meal Menu Plan approved by your Scoutmaster or Patrol Advisor.
- [ ] Food allergies and dietary needs checked for all patrol members.
- [ ] Food money collected and given to the Grubmaster.
- [ ] Duty Roster filled out and taped inside your patrol chuck box.
- [ ] Patrol chuck box checked: full propane, soap, sponges, sanitizer tabs, matches, utensils.
- [ ] Tents, rainflys, and ground cloths checked out from Troop Quartermaster.
- [ ] Patrol flag packed for opening formation.
- [ ] Patrol first aid kit packed in daypack.
- [ ] Post-campout: all patrol gear cleaned, dried, and returned to Quartermaster.

## Related Guides & Merit Badges

Merit Badge Guide: [Communication Merit Badge](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/communication/guide/): Master meeting leadership, speech presentations, and patrol communication skills.

- [Eagle Scout Service Project Guide: How to Plan and Lead Your Project](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/leadership/eagle-project-workbook/)
- [How to Plan Your Eagle Merit Badges](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/leadership/merit-badge-strategy/)
- [Camp Kitchen & Cooking Field Guide](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/field-guides/camp-cooking/)
- [Youth Leadership & Patrol Toolkit Hub](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/leadership/)