Watch Spirit

A Watch is a sub division of the Troop and is made up of a group of boys and/or girls who work together as a team with the guidance of the WL and AWL. Most Activities in a troop should take place in Watches so as the younger scouts learn from the older scouts and the older scouts get a chance to plan and lead the watch. Working regularly together builds up a team spirit and loyalty essential to a happy watch.

A valuable reinforcement of watch consciousness is a definite Watch Comer. Just as a gang always has a special meeting place which it defends against all comers, the Scout Watch should have at least a corner of the Troop meeting place to call its own.

Occasionally, a Sea Scout Group is lucky enough to have a Scout Den of their own that has a number of small rooms and in that case each watch may be able to have its own den or cabin. The Watch Comers should be individualised as much as possible by decorations with flags, pictures, knotboards, trophies and the like, and by appropriate names, such as Port, Starboard, Quarter Deck, Anchor, Foc’sle etc.

The skipper can aid his scouts through his guidance and enthusiasm towards making these corners real homes to their respective watches. The cumulative effect of such items will eventually build that all desirable thing in every Watch - watch Spirit.

However, the WL and the AWL should make sure that the decoration of a Watch Corner pictures and notices are kept up to date and refurbished regularly.