The Ruckus Society provides environmental, human rights, and social justice organizers with the tools,
training, and support needed to achieve their goals, through the strategic use of creative nonviolent direct
action.
Visit www.ruckus.org for more online tools and resources, direct action community news, upcoming
training opportunities, or to request training or action support for your group.
A resource by The Ruckus Society, written by Matt Leonard, Jack Downey and BW.
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Put simply, scouting is the process of acquiring information
needed for an action to be successful. It is the gathering of
site-speciic information that enables the action coordinator
to evaluate a potential direct action. A scout is meant to
provide information that will help the action coordinator(s),
campaigner(s) and participants determine what their options
are for a given location or direct action tactic, and evaluate
the potential for success and safety. The more relevant
information the scout can provide, the better. Often, the
person doing the scout may be the only one who gets a good
in-person look at the site before the decision is made to
devote potentially substantial amounts of time and money
to an action, so it is important that the scouter gather
information not just for herself, but for others as well. Can
an action successfully take place safely, and how? Is the
“payoff ” of using a particular tactic worth the resources that it
would require? What is needed to make this work? How do
we take an action idea and make it a concrete reality?
Some of this information may be primarily physical and
logistical: “What is the best route for the march to take?,”
or “How will we get access to this company’s ofices?”
“Can people actually climb off that, while meeting safety
standards?” Some information may be more useful in
conceptualizing an effective action, such as “Does the
demonstration make more sense at company headquarters, or
at their factory?” Scouting generally involves getting up off
the couch and taking a trip into the physical world—though
there is plenty to be done with a computer and telephone as
well.
Like much of the action development process, scouting is
a combination of the technical and artistic/visual. With
practice, a scout will be able to pick up on the subtler
physical qualities of a potential action site. A scout should
provide information that will allow her (or the coordinator,
if different) to evaluate site access, security, the kind of image
the action will provide (especially relevant if visual messaging
is important), safety concerns, and probability of success.
Thinking about weather, lighting, inding useful symbols or
signage, and understanding trafic and security patterns are
all concerns that are critical for action planning. Experienced
scouts and action coordinators can look at the site and
visualize the action unfolding. They need to anticipate
the reactions of other participants in the action—which
might include curious bystanders, workers, police, and the
media. A primary purpose of a scout is to lesh out as much
information as possible, in order to minimize unknown
factors during preparation for an action.
to set-up and deployment. The artistic side of the scout
addresses the visual quality of the action and the action site
as a political performance space—what impact the action
can have and what stories it can tell. Most of what Ruckus
focuses on in this section is the practice of scouting. There
is a method to it which we can learn from each other.
Developing scouting abilities depends on a lively discussion of
techniques and experiences.
This manual is meant to be a basic overview of scouting
techniques. No two actions are the same, and there is no way
to comprehensively “teach” scouting in a manual. It takes
practice and creativity to become a good scout—but we hope
this manual will help get you started, and provide some tips
and ideas from the experiences of action coordinators across
the Ruckus Society network.
Depending on campaign priorities and concerns, a scout
may be asked to ind an appropriate location for a speciic
tactic, or she may be asked to focus on a speciic location, and
determine what tactics are feasible at that location. Different
tactics accomplish different objectives, and a scout may want
to catalogue the different options that a location provides.
This allows for some lexibility and alternate possibilities,
in case it turns out that the initial action idea won’t ly. A
good scout will give you a sense of what is possible, and allow
you (and those you work with) to make informed decisions
regarding how to maximize your probability of success in a
manner that is safe and controlled.
The technical side of the scout identiies the physical
constraints and possibilities for a direct action—
measurements, access points (if needed), information relevant
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Every action will have a different set of needs for scouting,
and some actions may require multiple scouting trips.
Sometimes you have a speciic location or tactic in mind that
might be fairly concrete—and your scouting trip is to igure
out how to make that speciic plan successful. Other times
you might be doing a general scout just to see what types of
actions are possible, or what locations might be strategic and
effective.
means lower costs—doing things last minute often means
paying full-price for materials, more expensive travel logistics,
or at least having a harder time utilizing free/community
resources if you are rushing to secure them. After you’ve done
an initial scout, maybe you can return to the rest of your
group, discuss what you’ve found, reine your plans, identify
further questions you need answered, and do a 2nd (or 3rd)
more detailed scout, where you really nail down the details
and nuances. It is ideal that your scout mimic as closely as
possible the conditions of the action itself—so if the action is
going to take place on a weekend, scout on a weekend. This
will give you the best sense possible of trafic conditions,
security, etc.
In general—doing an initial scout far in advance is
preferable—it gives you the most time to truly think through
all the possibilities and issues, and having good preparation
usually means a better chance of success. It also usually
Essentially, scouting is research. Good background research
can reveal hidden possibilities. Often, your potential action
site is far away and you won’t be able to make repeated trips.
So if you haven’t been to the potential action site try to
visualize it, using any images you can acquire remotely. What
have you heard about it? What do you know about similar
sites or facilities? Do any of your colleagues have experience
or particular skills to offer that would be useful to your
project? Ask yourself what will enhance this creative process.
Scouting can be done solo, or in groups of various sizes—
depending on your resources and the site itself. Who should
be on the scouting team?
Before you can prepare for the scout it’s good to revisit some
of your assumptions regarding the action. What are the goals
of the action and the day—and do they effectively relate to
the goals of a campaign or movement? Is the potential action
appropriate to the campaign at this particular time? Is it
proportionate to the seriousness of the issue? Will the action
speak to the problem? Will it be visible and understandable
to its target audience? It is likely we will have to ask ourselves
these questions several times during the scouting process.
Having a clear sense of what the campaign goals and context
are is important. Are you scouting to look for any action
possibility? More likely there are some campaign parameters
to work with—whether that means a particular budget,
expected numbers of people who would be involved, or a tone
for what the action needs to convey.
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site? General searches related to your area can also provide
useful information—particularly if it’s a location that you
don’t have previous familiarity with. Companies, individuals,
and organizations post all sorts of things on the internet
these days, and someone’s travel blog can easily become your
scouting tool. It may be time consuming and frustrating, but
can also be extremely helpful.
Depending on your action ideas, a fair amount of your
research can be done remotely. This can help both your scout
and the actual action prep itself. The internet is your friend,
and can give you a head start on your scouting. Mainstream
online services like Google Maps, Google Earth, and
Microsoft’s Bing Maps 3D are user-friendly ways of assessing
access points, mapping out deployment, and searching for
potential attachment points (if the action involves climbing
and/or rigging). Topographical satellite images and “streetview” functions will help you get a sense of your target
location before you ever set foot on site. Among other things,
they may help you get a jumpstart on measurements: for
instance, if you’re planning a street intersection blockade,
knowing how many lanes a street has, and what (if any)
possible lockdown attachment points are available, are basic,
but critical, pieces of information that will get the ball rolling
in your action planning.
There is also a whole sub-culture of “urban explorers”—
people who like to get access to less-than-public places just
for the fun of it. There can be a wealth of information and
techniques found from these communities. Check out http://
www.iniltration.org/ or http://urbanexplorers.net/. Also,
there are a few good books on the subject too, such as “Access
All Areas”.
Also… ask around! It may turn out that you have allies with
local connections, who can give you information you hadn’t
previously considered, or who may even have scouted your
site already. It’s not unreasonable to consider that other
activists may have targeted (or at least considered targeting)
your target in the past, so you may save yourself time and
resources by checking around. Maybe you’ll even get some
new ideas.
If you’re looking to access a building for your action, internet
searches may help you get information about the structure’s
internal layout (loor plans, images, etc.). They will also
allow you do some research regarding the surrounding area,
and help you prep for otherwise unforeseen issues—e.g., is
there a federal building across the street from your action
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Õ What is the relevant measurement data for each potential
action tactic, at each potential target site (remember
that some locations will provide multiple target options
for the same tactic—e.g., many buildings have multiple
entrances that can be blockaded). Make sure to keep your
measurements in order, to avoid later confusion (don’t just
rely on your memory either; take notes).
While there are likely to be plenty of things that just “strike
you” about the site once you’re actually on the scout that
you haven’t foreseen, for the sake of being comprehensive
and eficient, it’s in your best interest to go into the scout
with a concrete list of questions you want answered. What
exactly are your objectives in the scout? These cover a broad
spectrum, from the very general to very speciic. Here are a
few examples:
Õ What kind of equipment will be required to accomplish
this action? What other resources would be needed to pull
this off?
Õ What is the ideal time and day of the week for this action?
Õ What is the minimum number of people you will need to
pull the action off successfully and safely?
Õ What are concerns re: accidental property destruction,
trespassing, or other potential legal charges?
Õ How can the activists access the target location? What are
the different needs (cover stories, costumes, equipment,
etc.) for the different options? What are the potential
drawbacks/obstacles?
Õ If you’re planning a legally permitted action, what different
jurisdictions (city, state, federal) will need to be contacted
for permits?
Õ If one of your action objectives is to produce a quality
publicity image, is your action scenario suficient? From
a potential photographer’s perspective, is there good light?
Are there obstructions that would get in a photographer’s
way? For some actions, getting a good photograph is
a major concern, and the success of such an action will
depend on the ability not only for the activists to deploy,
but to deploy at a time and way that presents an enduring
photographic image.
Õ What kind of security does the target location have?
Cameras? Patrol cars passing my on rotation? Security
guards? Given these concerns, is your action plan realistic?
Õ What are the options re: attachment points (if you’re doing
a lockdown) or anchor points (if you’re doing a climb
action)? Keep safety standards in mind, and remember
that, in all likelihood, it will be someone else who’s
going to put their safety at risk according to your scout
assessment.
Õ What other tactical options does this site present?
Õ What is the probability of success for each possibility?
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Road blockade:
Õ So, you’ve decided that blockading a road (or a
driveway, or a doorway) is the action that makes
strategic sense for your group. Here are some tips and
a checklist of possible information you might need to
gather or questions you might need to answer:
Õ Is the goal to really bar any sort of trafic in and out, to
just be a disruption, or more symbolic? Do you need to
go for ALL entrances, or just a primary one?
Õ What makes the most compelling location for the
action goals? Front doors? Under their big sign? In the
driveway? Road in front of a driveway?
Õ Where can support people and media be? What are
the legal property lines, and where do you think police
would logically cordon off the area?
Õ Will the area be publicly viewable - or will activists be
“invisible” to the public and media? (both a concern
for safety and moral support, as well as for getting good
media coverage)
Õ What are the exact dimensions of the area you need
to blockade? Are you planning to just stop vehicles, or
foot-trafic as well?
Banner Hang
There are a million variables involved with hanging a
banner —whether it’s a highly technical action involving
trained and experienced climbers—or tossing a banner
over the edge of a parking garage. Either way—anything
done at height usually involves some bigger safety
concerns—for the participants, or for people who might
be underneath. Banner hangs involving climbers are
beyond the scope of this manual - so we’ll primarily focus
on scouting for less-technical (though still potentially
tricky or dangerous) banners that don’t involve people
hanging from ropes. PLEASE don’t go down this path
without proper training and expertise. And of course, if
you want to get that training and experience, Ruckus is
here to help.
Õ What is the best visual framing for your banner? Will it
look like a tiny postage stamp on a giant background?
Can you get an image that includes your background
for context? Is there a nearby location (Across the street
from your target? Along a trafic route?) that might be a
better visual?
Õ How will the activists get access to the site (car drop-off
point, parking for the car, route they will walk etc)?
Õ How will lighting (sun angle, front/back lighting etc)
affect the readability of your image? Most banner fabric
is fairly transparent, and front-lit is generally better
than back-lit.
Õ Can the blockade be moved easily? What if police push
you out of the way? Do you need to lock to a structure
to be unmovable? What structures are there, or what
could you bring (and how would you bring it)?
Õ What is the wind like at your site? Which way does
it blow? Look up historical wind patterns online, and
anticipate your banner will get blown around more
than you think.
Õ Is it likely you will run into security, workers, or
bystanders? Where would these people come from?
How can you mitigate these concerns?
Õ What are the dimensions for your banner? Try to get
detailed measurements—using a tape measure, or
marking a string etc.
Õ What are suitable points to rig the banner from? In
general—try not to rely on people to hold a banner—
safely anchor it off to a solid structure.
Õ In high wind - would the banner potentially damage
features of the structure it is on (like slapping metal
grommets against windows)?
Õ What would happen if the banner broke loose? What is
below? Where would wind take it? TIP: to weight the
bottom of the banner—ill several hemmed pouches
across the bottom with something like rice that adds
weight, but if it falls or spills would be soft and not a
solid mass.
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On most scouts, it’s nice to at least have a partner. Beyond
having some company, the idea that “4 eyes are better
than 2” generally holds true. Also, having a partner can
create more potential for plausible cover stories (lovers, coworkers, conirming each other’s stories, or just being deep in
conversation with someone). And having two different minds
to interpret, remember, and report-back on what you scouted
is usually more accurate than a single person’s recollections.
minutes, or schedule a time you intend to return by. While
this might be someone back at home or at an ofice, it might
make more sense to have them close enough to the scouting
site to respond quickly if a problem arises, but far enough
away that if a problem arises, they are 100% certain to not be
caught up in it.
If you are doing a scout that involves greater legal risk, having
someone prepared with legal support might be a good idea
too. This could be an actual lawyer (who may be a good
resource to determine what legal issues you might want to
avoid), or possibly someone who has legal information ready
(such as a legal support form for the scouters), as well as bail
money.
On more complicated scouts, there may be several people
that are involved in the process, even if it’s only 1 or 2 people
actually on the scout site. Having someone off-site by a phone
can be valuable in case of emergencies and safety. Make a plan
to have regular check-ins to conirm that everything is going
as planned—maybe a phone call or text message every 30
When scouting, you may not want to interact with anyone
at all. Sometimes to get the information you need you are
going to have to interact with people. Either way—it’s
safe to assume that “Hi, I’m an activist who is planning a
demonstration here next month” won’t be your best opening
line. Having a well-thought out cover story can be great to
get you out of a potential jam, not arouse any suspicions, or
just help you get access to information that you might not get
otherwise.
information that isn’t typically public. Never underestimate
how boring some jobs can be—and having friendly
enthusiasm and interest in another person’s job can get him
or her talking - perhaps further than s/he should. Posing as
the head of security for a well-known actor might get a hotel
to show you their whole security policy—in hopes of gaining
some business. Being a movie location scout might get you a
full tour of a facility. And of course, a lirtatious smile can also
go miles (which leads us to.....)
Cover stories can be complicated or simple, depending on
how you intend to use it. Think about the kinds of people
that might be around your target location—people who
are supposed to be there, or that wouldn’t raise suspicions.
The important thing is to think through plausible roles
beforehand—so you pick a story that is appropriate for your
location and that is credible. Be comfortable enough in your
story to pass the “BS detector” if you are questioned. Have
the accessories that match your story - sometimes these
accessories are actually quite useful to your scout!
While we may want to ight against cultural stereotypes,
gender roles, race assumptions, or for the freedom to have
as many piercings and creative haircuts as we want - the
reality is that in scouting, these things need to be taken
into consideration. And sometimes, we can use them to
our advantage. Think about what you look like, what
you are wearing, and what your demeanor is—and what
assumptions about you people you might interact with on
your scout will make. If you have facial piercings, is posing
as a businessperson your best cover story? That doesn’t mean
you can’t scout—but posing as a bike messenger might be
more realistic, and might actually allow you further access to
an ofice building anyway! Will security respond differently
to a 6’6 man dressed in black, or a young woman in jeans?
Sometimes sneaking around is less effective than being
painfully obvious—“hiding in plain sight.”
Cover stories aren’t just good ideas in case you get caught—
they can also help you gain access to information or areas.
Maybe you need to see what is behind a locked door, or
you need access to shift schedules. Creative stories may get
someone to open that door for you voluntarily, or divulge
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Here are a few ideas for creative cover stories that can be used in a variety of situations.
IN OFFICE/URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Õ Job applicant (bring a fake resume, or ile folder)
OUTDOORS (INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES ETC)
Õ Hiker/jogger
Õ Bike messenger (have a messenger bag, or dress in bike
clothes)
Õ Bird watcher (bring some binoculars, notepad, bird
chart)
Õ Lost dog owner (you can wander all over, just have an
empty leash)
Õ New intern (maybe have a name of the ofice on the
next loor)
Õ Amateur photographer (justiies your fancy camera or
tripod)
Õ Maintenance technician (have a clipboard, tool box/belt,
invoice etc)
Õ Architecture student (camera? notepad? Tape measure?)
Õ Movie location scout
Õ Smoke breaks (“what are you doing on this roof?”)
Õ Lovers looking for privacy for a tryst (this can cause
embarrassment for the person who catches you, which
can work in your favor)
Õ Baby Wipes. Sometimes getting dirty is fun, but
sometimes it isn’t. And sometimes looking dirty can raise
eyebrows..
Ok, inally. You are on-site, doing a scout. You’ve done your
research, you’ve got a list of questions and ideas bouncing
around your head, you’ve got a cover story, and you’ve got
absolutely nothing in your pockets but lint and some holes.
Wait—what? How will lint help you scouting? It probably
won’t but—but there are plenty of toys that might make your
scouting more effective. Some of these might be tools (ways
to measure distance, or a notepad to take notes), and some
might be props (costumes, or distractions). It all depends on
what you are scouting of course—but here are some materials
that are often brought on scouting trips and some ideas on
how they can be useful. Many scouters agree that a cell phone
is indispensable—for cover stories, for safety, as a tool, and as
a prop.
Õ Baseball Cap. A baseball cap can be more useful than you
irst think. In brushy country it can help keep stuff out of
your eyes. They are also particularly useful at night when
you can use the brim of the cap to screen out unwanted
light allowing you to peer into those dark areas with more
effectiveness.
Õ Binoculars. Often very useful, Binoculars are described
by two numbers, 8 x 35, for example. The irst number is
the magniication and the second is the width of the ield
of view. For land-use, magniications of 8 to 10 times are
good. On the water, where it’s hard to keep the binoculars
stable, a seven power magniication is often used. Top
of the line binoculars may have a built-in compass and
reticule (an etched scale useful in estimating heights and
distances).
Õ Addresses. Maybe you memorized the location of where
you are scouting, but knowing what’s nearby might be
useful. Maybe having the address of a building next-door
can help explain while you are wandering around looking
suspicious (err, confused).
Õ Camera, with correct lenses. An essential tool for most
scouts. A picture can be worth a thousand words. In some
cases the camera catches detail that the eye misses. It helps
you remember detail. Take lots of photos. If necessary, do a
sketch map of the different shots and angles. A 50mm lens
together with a zoom is a good basic kit. Make sure you
have extra batteries for the camera.
Õ Aerial Photos. Knowing the layout of a location can be
really helpful. GoogleMaps (and GoogleEarth), as well as
Microsoft’s Maps (Bing / Live Local) are good, free sources
for these, but the resolution varies—check them all. You
can also try paid services like TerraServer, or EarthExplorer.
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Õ Cell Phone. Modern smartphones can provide a ton of
information on the ly - from a map, a quick photograph,
or a voice recorder to take notes on. Phones are also great
props - wandering aimless while on a phone doesn’t tend
to raise eyebrows. And talking on the phone can make
others less likely to approach you—if your call is clearly
more important than they are.
Õ Measuring tape. How big is the pipe? How wide is the
gate? The steel tape 25 foot model works well. Also, some
string to measure circumferences might be handy.
Õ Money. Each person in the scout team should carry a little
in case they get separated or picked up. A few bucks for a
cab fare should be the minimum.
Õ Notepad with pencils or pens. You can also purchase
waterproof paper and pens for inclement ield work.
Õ City Maps. Especially if you’re scouting in an unfamiliar
city. It will help you in planning the action. Look for a
map that allows you to take notes easily!
Õ Duct Tape. No explanation needed. Fixing things, keeping
doors from closing/locking, or marking things. I keep
some wrapped on my water bottle.
Õ Electronic measuring tapes. Sometimes it is just too
damn obvious when you pull out that honkin’ hundred
foot tape and begin measuring the senator’s ofice. The
solution is an infrared tape measure—they actually don’t
cost that much and are very unobtrusive. Point and push
the button. The more money you spend - the more precise
they are—but even a $20 unit is pretty reliable.
Õ Headlamp. Hand-held lashlights can be frustrating, even
dangerous, to use. A headlamp is a much better choice.
Some also have red lenses to save your night vision.
Õ Identiication. Whether to carry identiication on a
scout has been endlessly debated - but here’s some food
for thought. If you get caught and you probably can talk
your way out, you don’t need ID. If the cops or company
security become involved, you probably will need it. They
tend not to release you until they are satisied they know
who you are.
Õ Proper Clothing. Many a scout has been cut prematurely
short by wet or frozen activists. Conditions can change, be
ready.
Õ Raingear. Like we just said—proper clothing. The theory
goes that rain gear is actually rain prevention gear. If you
have it with you it keeps the rain away. If you don’t bring
raingear, expect it to rain.
Õ Tape Recorder. If quiet isn’t a requirement, speaking your
notes into a tape recorder is a good, fast way to get a lot of
data. The small Radio Shack models with voice-operated
(VOX) microphones are good. Again, modern cell phones
can often cover this.
Õ Video recorder. A picture can be worth a thousand words,
and video can be a thousand pictures. Even the small
FlipCams can be discrete, and offer great quality.
Õ Watch. Another part of the basic scouting tool kit. Time is
relative to your adrenaline level: measure, don’t estimate. If
it has a stopwatch, timer, and alarm all the better.
10
A big part of scouting is measuring things. How tall is the
building? How wide is the roadway? How big of a banner can
we it in there? How many people can sit inside that ofice?
How long will it take to walk from one place to the other?
Obviously, you can get the most precise measurements using
a tape measure. But sometimes this isn’t that feasible—maybe
you would draw too much attention to yourself, or the
distance is too great. What are your other options? Hardware
stores commonly sell digital measuring tapes—you just point
and aim at a distant object (a wall, the ground etc), and a
little laser tells you your distance. The more money you spend
—the higher the accuracy and greater the distance, but even
basic units (~$20) an be fairly accurate. These are great—if
there’s a solid object that you can use to bounce the laser.
Finding patterns in something can also be a fairly accurate
method. Look for patterns on sidewalk bricks, building
architecture, window patterns, bridge trusses etc. If you can
measure the measurement of one, you can then multiply
the rest. For instance, if you know a concrete pattern in
the sidewalk is 3 feet, you can easily walk by a building
and count the number of sidewalk blocks discretely. If you
know a window is 6 feet tall—you can fairly well estimate
the distance of several stories. Knowing the distance of your
walking pace is useful too. Most people average around 2.5
feet in a pace, but it varies. Use a measuring tape to mark out
100’, then walk that distance, counting your paces. Do it 2 or
3 times to get a solid average, divide 100 by your count and
voila—you know how much distance you cover with each
pace you take.
What about the diameter of a railing, pillar or trees? Take a
piece of string or tape and mark that. Then measure it when
you get home and can be more discrete. A sewer’s tape also
works if being discrete is less of a concern. How wide is your
armspan? (hint: for most people it’s pretty darn close to their
height!). Go hug a tree, and see where your arms end up.
How tall is a building? Well, count how many stories there
are. A story can be anywhere from 10-15 ft on average—so
this will only give you a very rough idea. But if you can get
into a stairwell, you can measure the exact height of 1 story,
and get a much better estimation that way. You can also try
taking a picture of a building with a person standing in front
of it. If you know the height of the person (let’s say 6’), you
can study your photo and see how many “persons” stack up.
Remember that the angle (pointing up) may skew the image a
bit, but this is usually a decent gauge.
Every successful scout should be documented in a scout
report. A scout report is a summary of all of the relevant
information gathered during the scout and has several
purposes. First and foremost, it is an easy point of
reference; as time passes, memory of speciic details (such as
measurements) fades and having a detailed report to refer
to helps ensure that future events are based on accurate
information. In some situations, events can be postponed
indeinitely and having a reliable source of information for
easy recall is important.
coordinator, but that is not always the way it works out.
Therefore, a detailed scout report can work wonders for an
incoming action coordinator who is not familiar with the
action site and target. A scout report also is extremely helpful
to others on the action team; speciically campaigners and
photo/video folks. A report can give them an idea of how
feasible a site is, what kind of messaging would be effective,
what the ideal photo would be and where the photographer
and/or videographer could place themselves to capture that
image. Finally, scout reports can help provide arrestable team
members with a sense of familiarity and conidence in a site.
Scout reports also serve the vital function of informing
others. In an ideal scenario, the scouter is also the action
The point here should be clear: the scout is not over until the
report has been written.
What and why?
11
the site was scouted (make sure to note the time and date
of the scout!) will help inform the coordinator of whether
the patterns are reliable (it is still the same at a later date)
or subject to change and, therefore, unreliable (a new
pattern has formed).
What to include?
Scout reports can be very simple (a diagram drawn on a
napkin) or very detailed (a 30 page manifesto). Sometimes
the former can be suficient, but in most cases, more
information is required than can be jotted on the back of a
napkin. Here are some things that could be included in a
report:
Õ Photos, photos, photos. Photos are necessary for every
one’s sake. They can be used later for measurements, they
can help the campaigner sort out what the banner should
say and where it should be placed, they can help media
folks igure out where they should be on the day of the
event and they can inform team members who have not
yet seen the action site.
Õ Basics about the site. This section can go into great
depth, depending on the target. Using an ofice building
as an example, it would be useful to note its street address,
the cross streets surrounding the building, the size of
the building, what kind of business is conducted there,
what times the doors are unlocked in the morning and
locked at night, whether the public has open access, what
kind of clientele frequent the building, whether there is
a convenient ‘hang out’ spot in the lobby, etc. Perhaps
your action site is outside the building, in which case you
might provide information about the surrounding foliage,
what buildings are next to and across the street, etc. Every
action site is different and providing a general introduction
to the basics of the speciic site can be invaluable.
Õ Measurements (if applicable). How big is the roadway
being blocked? How wide is the door that needs lock
down devices? How tall is the railing that will host a
banner in the near future? Measurements are often the
hardest piece of information to get and once you have it,
you do not want to lose it. Even though the campaign or
media folks may be less interested in this part of scouting,
you should include it for later reference.
Õ Security. Scouters often are not able to get much
information about security the irst time they visit a
site. But some key considerations for the report include:
whether there are security personnel on site; if so,
the number on site, whether they patrol regularly or
sporadically, and whether they are obviously dressed. A
scouter should also document the presence of security
cameras, alarms, and restricted elevator and stairwell
access, amongst other things. It is also helpful to note
the nearest police station and whether the site is private
or public, state or federal. Security patterns change over
time, but having a record of what it was like at the time
Õ Action ideas. This is where creativity becomes important.
Often a scout serves to generate action ideas about a
particular site. Even if the scouter is scouting for a
particular tactic, documenting other possible action ideas
that would be appropriate for the site ensures that the
site will be utilized in some way, although perhaps not in
the way it was intended (perhaps the site was originally
identiied as a potential blockade site but, due to security
concerns identiied by the scouter, it is more useful as a
projection site).
Õ Overall assessment. These sections are presented here in
no particular order and providing an overall assessment
at the beginning of the report may make more sense,
depending on the success of the scout. In general, the
scouter is scouting the site because she is the best one
equipped to do it. Therefore, she should include her
own impressions of the site, noting the strengths and
weaknesses of this particular site that could lead to success
or failure of the action. The scouter should practice some
diplomacy in this section (after all, it is possible that
many people will review what she has written), but still be
transparent about things that concern or encourage her.
Õ Budget. If the scouter is not well versed in the expense
of particular tactics, this section may not be appropriate.
However, if the scouter is experienced in the costs
associated with different tactics, it always helps to craft
a rough budget for the particular site and the particular
tactic.
Õ Logistics. This last section is often omitted for the sake of
expediency. However, some scouters include information
about transportation options, the location of hardware
stores, grocery stores, city maps, etc.
Perhaps you are beginning to see why a scout report can
become a 30 page manifesto. Once this life work has been
completed, it might need to get in to the hands of other
people in a safe and secure manner. The next section will
address a variety of methods of communication.
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Here are a couple of possible ways to relay information.
This is not an exhaustive list, by any means, but it should be
enough to get you started.
unprompted password login. As TrueCrypt is very proud
to note, even the FBI has been unsuccessful in breaking
their encryption codes. But a word to the wise: if you use
TrueCrypt, don’t try to just wing it—make use of the help
manual and volume-creation wizard. If you don’t set it up
properly (or lose your password), your iles will likely be
gone forever, as there is no retrieval program. So proceed
with caution.
Õ Hushmail. This is one possible way to communicate
with other team members with some degree of security.
Hushmail is a free email service (www.hushmail.com)
and user to user email is encrypted. Hushmail guarantees
privacy so long as the user does not facilitate illegal action
through the use of their email accounts (ie: conspiring
to commit a crime). If a scouter is careful about word
choice when writing the scout report, she will not violate
Hushmail user terms.
Õ Dead-drop addy. A quick and easy way to transfer a
scout report is to open up an email account through a free
service (gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc) and drop the report
in the drafts folder. The recipient of the scout report than
signs in to the account, retrieves the ile from the drafts
folder, and closes the account out.
Õ TrueCrypt. TrueCrypt is a free, open-source encryption
program that can be used to lock access to iles on a
hard drive or USB. It can also hide iles and folders, so
that they do not even show up on a ile scan without an
Õ Face-to-face. The old tried and true: get off the computer,
go outside, and give the person the scout report.
This section serves just to remind you that sometimes ethical
issues can arise while scouting. There is no way to prepare
for all of the possible obstacles that you might have to face,
but there are some general boundaries that you might want
to establish before engaging in the scout. This will save you
from having to make some tough decisions on the ly while in
the ield.
Experienced scouters tend to have formed irm opinions
about whether or not they are comfortable with lying,
trespassing, and damaging locks and other entrance points.
Other scouters are not opposed to developing relationships
under false pretenses in order to obtain information. Some
information can be more easily obtained if children are used
as props. Other sites require the scouter to present herself
in a less digniied manner, or one that runs counter to her
personal, political and social orientations.
Õ Befriending a security guard in order to get information,
knowing he might lose his job if the action is successful
Õ Getting children to open alarmed doors and enter into a
restricted area so that there is a reason to follow them there
Õ Eating meat at a social function, although the scouter was
a vegetarian
Õ Using disempowering language, in order to blend in
The point here is not for us to tell you what you should and
should not feel comfortable doing, but to remind you that
scouting can push your own personal ethical boundaries. Do
yourself a favor and establish, in advance, where you draw the
line. Scouting a target site should never diminish your sense
of self respect and personal integrity.
To give you a better sense of some issues that could arise, here
are a few examples of decisions made by other scouters in the
past. Please note, we are not advocating that you adopt this
same level of ethical lexibility.
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Like most things in life, getting better at scouting takes
practice. But sometimes screwing up a scout can mean
screwing up an action—getting caught or having wrong
information isn’t usually ideal. Here are some ideas for games
you can play to build scouting skills—that hopefully entail
a minimal amount of risk, have nothing to do with actual
campaign targets, and hopefully provide a bit of fun on a
Friday night (in that nerdy, 007 sort of way). Of course, all
these games can be modiied to your heart’s content!
Hotel Adventures (This is one my favorites, and can be
done by yourself, or better with a partner (or a bunch of
friends in teams)
Õ Pick out a semi-fancy hotel or two. Decide on some
information that each team must gather. This could be
anything, but some goals might include:
Õ Get a photo in the honeymoon suite
Õ Identify all the main entrances and exits, and get
dimensions on each.
Õ Identify all the stairwells, and which ones have roof access,
and which ones have access to the basement (or parking
garage)
Õ Learn the hotels basic security features (cameras? Security
staff? How many?)
Õ How to get this information is up to you—but creative
cover stories (Newlyweds? Executive assistant? Manager of
a VIP?) makes for good practice!
Urban Capture the Flag
Õ Not really Capture the Flag, but you can create some
games using industrial areas, parking lots, or even a
shopping mall. Keep running to a minimum, but create
some scenarios where some people are “security” and
others are “activists.” Decide on what information the
activists need to gather without getting caught, or a certain
place they need to access.
Õ Learn how to blend into your surroundings, move
discretely, gather information, or take measurements,
without getting caught by the “security” lashlights. NO
RUNNING!
Sneaking into events (concerts, movie theaters,
conferences etc)
Õ Spend the day at a sizable concert or event—watching
how the setup crews work, watch what they wear, what
types of vendors are common (sound engineers, catering
companies, electricians, etc.)
Õ Try to sneak into the concert—either during the setup,
or posing as a worker. Practice your cover stories, learn
how to act conidently in places you’re not supposed to
be in, and how to identify patterns in workers’ or security
behaviors.
Õ Bonus points if you get to enjoy the concert too!
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