The Training Times
A Publication of Volunteer Development, Scouting U, Scouting America – Fall 2024 Edition
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In this edition:
- Updated Training Materials Now Available
- Powder Horn Course Will Be Retired Effective December 31, 2024
- Required Range Activity Safety Online Training for Unit Leaders
- Climb on Safely
- New Scouting U Course Director Conference (CDC) Liaison
- Scouting U Training Week at the Philmont Training Center
- New Member Ethics Training and Registration Guidebook
- Save the Date: Scouting U National Volunteer Training Conference
- National Advance Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and Leadership Challenge
Updated Training Materials Now Available
Scouting u is excited to announce the update and release of Fundamentals of Training, Trainers EDGE and the Strategic Training Plan. Last year two Task Force Teams were assembled and given the task of reviewing and updating the trainings.
FUNDAMENTALS OF TRAINING is designed to introduce teaching techniques and skills to Scouts and Scouters. The skills and strategies presented in the training have been shown to improve teaching and learning – and will be of value to you, not only in your role in Scouting, but also in the ways that you communicate with others.
A significant change for Fundamentals of Training is that the training may be delivered by three methods:
- Online (through scouting.org, at a time convenient to the learner) – Coming soon!
- Remotely (led by an instructor, using zoom or other online communication tool)
- In-person (this syllabus will provide the information to deliver the content through different methodologies).
TRAINERS EDGE is also for other trainers wishing to enhance their training and presentation skills.
The STRATEGIC TRAINING PLAN course is designed to support the council and district training programs. Trainers who are responsible for managing council and/or district training programs will learn how to develop a dynamic training plan that supports their council’s goals and objectives. The course provides guidelines for managing the implementation of a strategic training plan and participants also learn useful ways to gain buy-in from council and district leaders. The updated training has two parts: an online pre-course module (which can be found in the Learn Center on My.Scouting) and an in person training component.
The two teams worked diligently and after the updates were completed, all three were piloted during Scouting u Week at Philmont this past summer. Members of the Task Force Teams facilitated the courses and received a lot of good feedback. After the pilots, the teams reassembled and using the feedback received, took one last look, made a few changes and fine-tuned the training. These trainings can be found at https://www.scouting.org/training/supplemental-training-opportunities/
In addition, THE GUIDE TO LEADER TRAINING has also been updated. This guide outlines the basic council and district responsibilities for volunteer leader training and is meant to be used by district and council volunteer training committees and council staff. This guide matches the philosophies and updates found in other Scouting U training. It is posted at https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GLT_5.30.24_Final.pdf
POWDER HORN COURSE WILL BE RETIRED, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2024
Julie Dalton, National Venturing Chair, buffalogall@cox.net
Tom Giugni, ScoutingU Chair, tomgiugni@gmail.com
The decision has been made to retire the Powder Horn Training Course. We would like to thank all the volunteers and youth who helped create and carry out Powder Horn throughout its existence.
The decision to retire Powder Horn is based in part on recent survey results of Venturing youth from our national Venturing program survey, a need to stay compliant with Scouting America safety policies, as well as a renewed effort to help us focus on updating key elements of the Venturing Program. These resources will require our full attention, including the critical need to develop additional resources to encourage Venturing membership growth.
The National Venturing Committee is currently working with the Scouting America Outdoor
Program Committee to update the requirements of the Venturing Ranger Award. We have also begun the process of updating the Venturing Handbook and other important resources that directly impact our youth including Crew Officer Orientation. In addition, we are evaluating the need and potential impact of creating a monthly National Venturing Virtual Roundtable.
We are grateful to all the Powder Horn trained leaders and participants – your enthusiasm for the outdoor program and dedication to our program is one of the true strengths of Scouting America. Local councils are encouraged to continue providing unit leaders with opportunities to develop the skills needed for high adventure activities within their units.
REQUIRED RANGE ACTIVITY SAFETY ONLINE TRAINING FOR UNIT LEADERS
In collaboration with the National Range & Target Activities Subcommittee, Scouting U has launched the new Range Activity SAFEty online training in the Learn Center on My.Scouting. This new training equips adult leaders with the knowledge to help support SAFE range and target activities at the unit level for troops, crews, and ships. (It is important to remember Cub Scout packs are not permitted to lead unit-level range and target activities.) This training is not required for district or council led range and target activities. This training is also not a replacement for certified instructors who must be present to operate the ranges.
CLIMB ON SAFELY
In collaboration with the National COPE and Climbing Subcommittee, Scouting U has released an updated version of “Climb on Safely” online training that is also mobile-compatible. Climb on Safely online training ensures that adult leaders are prepared to plan for climbing events for their units. To access the updated training, log onto my.Scouting.org and search the catalog in the Learn Center of My.Scouting for “Climb on Safely.” For additional information regarding COPE and Climbing programs, please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting and the Belay on manual.
FAQs
Q. Does Climb on Safely training have to be renewed?
A. Yes, adults supervising a climbing activity must have completed Climb on Safely training within the previous two years.
Q. Do I need to take the new version of Climb on Safely training if my current training is not expired?
A. No, you can complete the updated version when your current certification expires.
Q. Is Climb on Safely training available to take in person?
A. No, currently, the training is only available online. It is also mobile-compatible. There may be an in-person syllabus in the future.
For additional questions, please get in touch with outdoor programs at outdoorprograms@scouting.org
NEW SCOUTING U COURSE DIRECTOR CONFERENCE (CDC) LIAISON
David Ehrlich, Vice-Chair of Leadership Development
We are pleased to welcome Mei Christine Stukes from Hampton, Virginia (Colonial Virginia Council and Tidewater Council) to the team as our new CDC Liaison. Mei has extensive experience in leading CDCs and staffing both NYLT and Wood Badge courses.
In her new role, Mei will be providing support to the Learning Delivery and Leadership Development teams in addition to the individuals who are leading CDCs. Over the next few months, Mei will introduce herself to those she will be supporting, solicit feedback on how she can best support our CDC coordinators, update the CDC tracking spreadsheet, and begin to develop a guide on how to effectively run a CDC.
She can be reached at: mstukes89@gmail.com Please feel free to welcome her to the team!
NEW MEMBERSHIP ETHICS TRAINING AND REGISTRATION GUIDEBOOK
The Membership Ethics training is an online training that must be completed annually by specified council employees and key council and district volunteers with membership responsibilities. Volunteers must be currently registered in their assigned position and have their member ID listed in their my.Scouting profile.
If you have recently completed Membership Ethics training, you will be required to retake it due to updated content. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The training will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and is available 24×7 and volunteers can access the training through my.Scouting in the Volunteer Learn Center.
Training Chairs and Councils can view which required volunteers have completed the training through Training Manager in my.Scouting.
To do this:
- Select Trained Leaders Report, click the filter button and enter SCO_l264
- Click the Submit button
- The report will generate showing anyone who has completed the course – SCO_l264, Membership
The Council and District Key 3 are the only volunteers that will be required to complete the training. If a council would like to have additional volunteers take the training, you can guide them to the Volunteer Learn Center and the volunteer can search for ‘Key 3 Membership Ethics’ learning plan.
The Registration Guidebook can be found on MyBSA under Resources, BSA Resources, and then Registration Resources OR in my.Scouting, Registrar Tools, User Guide. The Registration Guidebook was developed to set forth the rules and requirements for registration and identify any exceptions to the outlined rules and requirements.
WOOD BADGE AND NYLT COURSE DIRECTOR CONFERENCES
Visit https://www.scouting.org /training/conferences
This site is kept updated as new CDCs have been scheduled.
SAVE THE DATE: SCOUTING U NATIONAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING CONFERENCE
NATIONAL ADVANCED YOUTH LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (NAYLE) AND LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
David Ehrlich, Vice-Chair of Leadership Development
Are you serving in one of these roles?
- Scouting Trainers
- District Training Chairs
- Council Training Chairs
- Council Training Committee Staff Advisors
- Territory Training Coordinators
- Scouting u Committee Volunteers
If so, please plan to join us at the 2025 Scouting u National Volunteer Training Conference. The conference theme will be “Trained Leaders make a Difference” and has been designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of volunteers involved in training at the district, council, or territory level through networking, empowering, addressing challenges, sharing of best practices, and providing resources to strengthen the effectiveness of training offerings within Scouting America.
Date: April 24-26, 2025
(conference will begin at 1:00 p.m. on April 24th and conclude at 1:00 p.m. on April 26th)
Location: Longhorn Council Hurst Service Center (Hurst, Texas)
**Note the new location for 2025**
The agenda is being developed and will be shared in a future update. Registration coming soon!
Reach out with any questions: dehrlich2@gmail.com
Look forward to seeing you next April in Texas!
David Ehrlich, Vice-Chair of Leadership Development
The Leadership Development team is pleased to announce the dates for our NAYLE and Leadership Challenge courses being offered in 2025 at Philmont Scout Ranch and the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Flyers for each program are included at the end of this issue of Training Times.
Philmont Scout Ranch (Coordinator Sherri Moravec – sherri.l.moravec@gmail.com)
NAYLE
- Session 1: June 15-21, 2025
- Session 2: June 22-June 28, 2025
- Session 3: June 29-July 5, 2025
- Session 4: July 6-12, 2025
- Session 5: July 13-19, 2025
- Session 6: July 20- 26, 2025
LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
- Session 1: August 17-23, 2025
Summit Bechtel Reserve (Coordinator Jay Herbrand – jay.herbrand@gmail.com)
NAYLE
- Session 1: July 6-12, 2025
- Session 2: July 13-19, 2025
LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
- Session 1: July 20-26, 2025
Please help spread the word about these course offerings! We will feature the NYLT Leadership Academy in the next issue of Training Times. For more information on the course and 2025 course offerings visit https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org/.
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YOU ASKED .. WE LISTENED
CST | Training Coordinator | Home Council | |
l | Kevin Baker | Chief Seattle | |
3 | Lisa Scott | Greater Los Angeles Area | |
4 | Loren Meinke | Central Minnesota | |
5 | Mike Doyel | Greater St. Louis Area | |
6 | John Gunyon | Glaciers Edge | |
7 | Ajey Chandra | Sam Houston | |
8 | Tony Sitz | Quapaw | |
9 | Vacant | Please contact Toni Welch | |
10 | David Sullivan | Five Rivers | |
12 | Bonnie Hubauer | French Creek | |
13 | Jay Lubin | New Birth of Freedom | |
14 | Randy Nelson | Chickasaw | |
15 | Kevin Sloop | Occoneechee Council | |
16 | Bill Howell | Andrew Jackson |
The Training Times is a publication of Volunteer Development, Scouting University, Scouting America
Tom Giugni – Chair, Scouting U
David Ehrlich – Chair, Leadership Development
Cullen Bengtson – National NYLT Coordinator
Dave Savone – National WB Coordinator
Mei Stukes – CDC Liaison
mstukes89@gmail.com
Toni Welch – Chair, Learning Delivery
Kathy Craig – Volunteer Development Specialist
Tim Rogers – Instructional Design Team Lead
Tim Acree – Chair, Instructional Design Team
Wendy Kurten – Director, Scouting U
Danielle Ballantine – Training TimesEditor
“There is no teaching to compare with example.” – Robert Baden-Powell
