Volunteer Training
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What Makes a Trained Leader?
Fast Start Training
- Take immediately after registering as a leader and before meeting with youth members
- Course is specific to the program (Cub Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, Varsity Coach, or Venturing crew leader).
- Offered through MyScouting.org, or available on DVD
Youth Protection Training
- Required for all leaders who have direct contact with youth
- Recommended for parents of all youth
- Teaches do’s and don’ts of working with youth
- Offered through MyScouting.org, or your district/council
This Is Scouting
- New online training session that replaced New Leader Essentials
- Offered through through MyScouting.org
- DVD (No. 36118) available for areas with limited Web access
Position-Specific Training
- Hands-on training in how to run meetings and work with youth
- Based on leader’s position
- Cub Scout leaders, assistants, pack committee, and pack trainers
- Boy Scout leaders and assistants
- Varsity Coaches and assistants
- Venturing crew leaders and assistants
- Offered by the district or council as group training, small group training, or personal coaching
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
- Teaches Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, and Varsity Coaches basic outdoor leader skills
- Offered by the district or council as hands-on training
A direct-contact Scout leader is considered fully trained and entitled to wear the Trained leader emblem when he or she has completed the above-mentioned training courses.
Supplemental Adult Training
Cub Scout Leaders
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
- A one-day training event, presented by the council, that introduces Cub Scout leaders and parents to the skills needed to plan and conduct pack outdoor activities, particularly pack camping
- A monthly audio podcast featuring a variety of how-to information for Cub Scouting leaders and parents
Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders
- Designed specifically for Webelos den leaders and their assistants
- Teaches outdoor-related skills and activity badge instruction through demonstration and hands-on practice
- Webelos den leaders should attend this training before conducting Webelos overnight camping with the boys and parents of the den.
- Offered through the council
Pow Wows/University of Scouting
- An annual training conference for Cub Scout leaders by a council or district
- Generally includes sections on games, crafts, skits and puppets, ceremonies, administration, and Webelos activity badge skills
Boy Scout Leaders
- High-adventure resource training provided by the council
- Designed to expose older Scouts and adult unit leaders to the activities and resources necessary to operate a successful outdoor/high-adventure unit-level program
- The required train-the-trainer course for Wood Badge and NYLT staffs
- Supplements the practice offered through Wood Badge and NYLT staff development
- Offered through the council
- Required for every troop committee member
- Committee members learn and identify their roles and responsibilities
- Available through MyScouting.org
Venturing Leaders
- High-adventure resource training provided by the council
- Designed to introduce and expose Venturing and Boy Scout adult unit leaders to the activities and resources necessary to operate a successful outdoor/high-adventure unit-level program
Training for All Volunteers
- Must be completed prior to submitting a tour permit application to the local council
- Presents safety precautions for weather, as well as planning, preparation, and traditional weather signs
- Offered through the Online Learning Center and on DVD (No. 19-700)
- Adult leaders live in the Philmont backcountry and practice leadership skills learned in Wood Badge for the 21st Century.
- The Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, New Mexico, provides a unique environment for the training of volunteer and professional leaders.
Roundtables/Program Forums
- Provide quality resources, knowledge, and skills to unit leaders
- Roundtables are usually conducted monthly in every district. Contact your district for more information.
- Assists the coordinators in understanding their specific roles
- Gives tips on how to effectively use the ScoutParents program to involve more parents in all of our Scouting programs
- Each unit is required to have at least one ScoutParents unit coordinator to implement the ScoutParents program.
- Available online through MyScouting.org
- Provide orientation beyond the basic training offered in This Is Scouting and leader position-specific training
- Download subjects that are of interest for personal or unit use. There are no training credits associated with the completion of these units of study.
- Additional training units are being developed and will be continually added.
Wood Badge
- Advanced training in leadership skills
- Available to all leaders in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturing, as well as council and district Scouters
- Offered through the council
For more information on training opportunities, go to www.scouting.org/Training/Adult.