Much of the success, safety, and happiness of six to ten other boys depends directly on him. Boy Scouting teaches leadership. And boys learn leadership by practicing it, not by watching adults lead. The underlying principle is never do anything for a boy that he can do himself . We allow boys to grow by practicing leadership and by learning from their mistakes .
Boys are in a patrol so they can learn leadership and teamwork without adult interference.
Twice each year, the Boy Scouts of America offers special training on how to do this, which we expect our uniformed adults to take. We are safely nearby, but not smotheringly close. But give the guys room to grow while you enjoy the view. Show a Scout how to do something, but don't do it for him. We all learn best from our mistakes.