Leader Training

Training is important because every youth deserves a trained leader. The Boy Scouts of America provide a seamless training program that helps leaders graduate through their courses quickly, easily, and with little duplication, and provides the district training committee with tools to achieve 100 percent trained unit volunteers. This program begins with Fast Start training, continues through This Is Scouting, then follows up with leader-specific training for each adult's role in the unit.

(Note: As of March 17, 2009, New Leader Essentials has been replaced with This Is Scouting. See "Online Resources" near the bottom of this page.)

Training sessions held at a monthly Roundtable meeting are open to all attendees.

For other sessions, first look for a flyer in the list below. If you have questions not covered there, please contact:

Tanadet Itsarapakdetam (Mr. T)
(818) 671-7673
webadmin@wrventuring.org
 

National Youth Leadership Training

June 27 - July 2, 2010 at Camp Josepho

Flyers

May 19 and 26, 2009 (Tuesday) - register by May 17

High Adventure

Schedule

Detailed Overview

Fast Start Training

This is the first step for any new volunteer, and should be taken immediately after a new leader registers and before he/she meets with any youth.

Basic Leader Training

Basic Leader Training is comprised of two parts:

Basic Leader Training is designed for maximum flexibility. The sessions can be delivered over time - training on one or more evenings a week or month - or in a one-day training event that incorporates all program areas. It is suitable for large or small groups, and may be presented to leaders of one or more units each time. Each district may decide the appropriate delivery method, keeping in mind that the focus is to remove roadblocks and achieve 100 percent trained leaders.

Benefits of This Is Scouting

New Leader Specific Training

Once a volunteer has a solid overview of the Boy Scouts of America's values-based program, they can then begin training for their specific Scouting position through Leader Specific Training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Because each course is designed for a specific leadership position, the training time varies. Leader Specific Training has been developed for the following positions and their assistants:

Cub Scout Leader Specific Training

For Tiger Cub den leaders, Cub Scout den leaders, Webelos den leaders, Cubmasters, and pack committee members: Training can be completed in one day or 2-3 evenings. The leader is considered trained when he/she has completed This Is Scouting and Leader Specific Training.

Boy Scout Leader Specific Training

For Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters: The training is divided into four parts. The first three parts concentrate on troop operation and can be completed in one full day or three evenings. The final part, which focuses on outdoor skills, lasts approximately a day and a half, depending on the skill level of the new leader. The leader is considered trained when he/she has completed This Is Scouting, Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.

For troop committee members: Troop committee training consists of the Troop Committee Challenge, which can be completed in three hours. A troop committee member is considered trained when he/she has completed This Is Scouting and the Troop Committee Challenge.

Venturing Leader Specific Training

For Venturing Advisors, assistant Advisors, and crew committee members: Training incorporates Venturing's current adult leader training. It can be completed in approximately one day, along with This Is Scouting. A Venturing leader is considered trained upon the completion of This Is Scouting and Venture Leader training.

Sea Scout Specialized Training

This training is for adult Sea Scout officers only. Skippers, mates, ship committee members, and related district and council Scouters should be encouraged to participate.

  1. All Venturing adult leaders, including Sea Scout officers, are expected to take the standard Venturing training course. All Sea Scout officers are required to take the Adult Venturing Leader Basic Training before participating in this specialized training. Sea Scout officers should understand that standard Venturing training and national program supports apply to all kinds of Venturing units. It is just as important that Sea Scout officers understand the high-school-age youth and the basic purposes of the program as any other leader in Venturing.
  2. When the Sea Scout officer has taken Adult Venturing Leader Basic Training, he becomes eligible to take part in this specialized course. It is composed of two 2 ½ hour sessions that introduce adults to the Sea Scout Manual and other program reference materials. Without a thorough understanding of these resources, the leader is seriously disadvantaged. Sea Scouts should not expect their leaders to know all the answers, but they can expect their leaders to know where to find them. This course serves that end.

Wood Badge

Wood Badge will evolve to be the core leadership skills training course for the Boy Scouts of America. The new Wood Badge course is less focused on outdoor skills - which are addressed in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills and Powder Horn training - but will instead strengthen every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults.

Seabadge

The purposes of the Seabadge experience are:

Powder Horn

Powder Horn is a training opportunity designed to expose the Venturing or Boy Scout leader to activities and resources necessary to operate a successful Venturing Ranger Award or Troop High Adventure program in several ways:

Kodiak and Kodiak X

The Kodiak Venturing leadership course is unique in that it is offered in an exciting and challenging atmosphere using whatever high-adventure resources you have available. Your crew or council could offer a course backpacking or rafting down a river away from your council or in your local area. Kodiak teaches leadership skills in a fun way that is internalized by the Venturers who take the course. In other words, it is a challenging high-adventure trek with a simple and fun leadership course included. Kodiak is not taught indoors or in a classroom; it is done completely outdoors using nature’s examples of leadership.

Kodiak X is a weekend leadership challenge course that builds on the leadership commissions learned in Kodiak. The exercises in this program are also designed for 5-8 participants. During the weekend, participants will review what they learned at Kodiak, and learn two additional commissions. These commissions are:

  1. Evaluating Performance
  2. Mentoring

They will also have an opportunity to practice their leadership skills while serving as a leader of their team as they face challenging scenarios.

Online Resources

Youth Protection Online Training

While Youth Protection Online Training is a valuable resource, our Council recommends training in person with a trained District Facilitator as a first option.