April 2010

  • Information provided through the monthly training update is intended to inform the Scouting community of the latest training information. Council and district trainers should be encouraged to monitor this site regularly for up-to-date training information. We now archive previous monthly updates, which can be found in the upper left-hand corner of this page.
  • New Cub Scout leader materials will be available in May. To find out more about the new delivery changes, go to www.scouting.org/cubscouts and click on “New Delivery Methods” in the left-hand navigation panel. Den Leader Fast Start and Cubmaster Fast Start training courses are scheduled to go live on May 3, 2010, and Leader Specific Training will be available approximately July 1, 2010. All training courses will be online and will also be available on CD/DVD. The new Cub Scout Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide (No. 34409) and the 2010–2011 Cub Scout Roundtable Guide (No. 34410) will be available to order online or in Scout shops beginning in May. Other Cub Scout support material will have minor content changes and a new cover.
  • Crew Leader Training (CLT) will soon be available online as a download. It will mirror Troop Leadership Training (TLT), which is also being updated, and both will be more comprehensive in preparing youth members for NYLT. The Venturing Leadership Skills course will no longer be used, as most of its contents have been moved to other training courses.
  • The Varsity Leader Specific Training syllabus has recently been reprinted and is now available online as a download.
  • Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders is a new training course available as a download from the training page. It is a six-hour course and is intended for two separate target audiences: youth who are at least 15 years old and have completed either NYLT or Kodiak and the Trainer’s EDGE, and adults who have completed Wood Badge for the 21st Century and the Trainer’s EDGE. The course director must be approved by the council Scout executive, have completed Trainer’s EDGE, and have mentoring experience.
  • Philmont Training Center now offers a master’s track square knot. The requirements include attending a training course at Philmont and recruiting and giving leadership to ongoing training. Click here to see a copy of the application.
  • There is still time to register for conferences at the Philmont Training Center (PTC) this summer. Attendance is no longer limited to those who receive an invitation. While there is nothing like a national Scout jamboree, Philmont is the original “Scouting paradise.” Come enjoy the great summer climate of northern New Mexico.
  • In addition to the 20 councils who are piloting required training, there are at least 25 more councils who have begun to require training for their leaders. The plans for a national effort are still undetermined, as the outcomes of the pilots will greatly determine the direction we will take in 2011 and beyond. Plan to attend the elective at the National Annual Meeting titled “Come fly the friendly skies of required training.” It will bring you up-to-date on the status of required training and much, much more.
  • Most training courses do not require recertification. However, there are exceptions as follows: Trainer’s EDGE (3 years), Paddle Craft Safety (3 years), Swimming and Water Rescue (3 years), Climb On Safely (2 years), Trek Safely (2 years), Safe Swim Defense (2 years), Safety Afloat (2 years), Chain Saw Safety (2 years), and Youth Protection training (2 years). National Camping School certification is good for five camping seasons.

Every youth deserves a trained leader.