Why Training?

Training for leaders is important. As a leader, training makes you knowledgeable and confident in the role you perform. The knowledge and confidence of a trained leader are quickly sensed by the youth you serve and are a positive influence on their lives.

The leadership training philosophy of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide adult leaders with fundamental information about the aims and purposes of the movement, as well as specifics about their particular roles in Scouting. A trained leader is knowledgeable and confident in the role being performed.

Adult leaders in Scouting need certain basic information in order to bring a quality program to Scouts. This information is needed as soon as possible after a leadership position is assumed. Leaders need to know the objectives and methods of Boy Scouting, and they need guidance on how to be effective leaders.

Basic Leader Training comprises two parts: New Leader Essentials for all unit-level leaders and Leader Specific training, which is based on the leader's unit-level position.

Return to Top

What Makes a Trained Leader? Requirements To Wear The Trained Patch (14 KB PDF file)

Cub Scout leaders are considered trained when they have completed New Leader Essentials and the Cub Scout Leader Specific training for their position.

Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters are considered trained when they have completed New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.

Troop committee members are considered trained when they have completed New Leader Essentials and the Troop Committee Challenge Leader Specific training.

Varsity Scout leaders and assistants are considered trained when they have completed New Leader Essentials, Varsity Scout Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.

Venturing crew Advisors, assistant Advisors, and crew committee members are considered trained when they have completed New Leader Essentials and Venturing Leader Specific Training.

Completion of New Leader Essentials and Leader Specific Training enables you to wear the “Trained” emblem on your uniform. It is worn immediately below and touching the badge of office for which it was earned.

Return to Top

Training Course Descriptions

Cub Scout

Fast Start

Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer. It should be taken as soon as possible after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member.

Fast Start training provides an immediate comfort level for the new leader and enables you to say, "I can do this !"

Cub Scout Fast Start training is available on videotape and it runs about 30 minutes. The tape may be borrowed from the district office. Cub Scout Fast Start training is also available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/csfs.html

New Leader Essentials

New Leader Essentials is an introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Videos, discussions, and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. New Leader Essentials training is the same for all program areas. It is designed for all new adult leaders entering the Scouting programs.

Cub Leader Specific Training

Once a volunteer has a solid overview of the BSA programs, he or she can begin training for a specific Scouting position through Leader Specific Training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Each course is designed for a specific leadership position. The training time is 2½ - 3 hours. Leader Specific Training has been developed for the following pack positions and their assistants.

∙Tiger Cub den leader

∙Cub Scout den leader

∙Webelos den leader

∙Cubmaster

∙Pack committee member

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

BALOO provides a hands-on learning experience designed to give Cub leaders the techniques they need to plan and conduct pack overnight camping.

Return to Top

Boy Scouts

Boy Scout Fast Start training

Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer. It should be taken as soon as possible after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member.

Fast Start training provides an immediate comfort level for the new leader and enables you to say, "I can do this !"

Boy Scout Fast Start training is available on videotape and runs about 30 minutes. The tape may be borrowed from the district office. Boy Scout Fast Start training is also available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/bsfs.html

New Leader Essentials

New Leader Essentials is an introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Videos, discussions, and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. New Leader Essentials training is the same for all program areas. It is designed for all new adult leaders entering the Scouting programs.

Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training

Once a volunteer has a solid overview of the BSA programs, he or she can begin training for a specific Scouting position through Leader Specific Training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. This is a training course for Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters. Topics covered include leadership styles, youth leadership development, patrol leaders' council, teaching Scouting skills, the Scoutmaster conference, and growing the troop. Leader Specific Training has been developed for the following troop positions:

∙Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster

∙Troop Committee Member

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills

Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start a program right. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook. These are the skills boys will learn as they advance from Tenderfoot to First Class.

Troop Committee Challenge

If you haven't been involved in Scouting, you may think that the whole organization is the Scoutmaster and the boys. The truth is, the success of the troop depends on a lot of adult volunteers who work behind the scenes to make it all happen. The troop committee is like a steering committee of volunteers who actually handle the business end of running the troop.

Troop Committee Challenge training is also available on-line at this link:  http://olc.scouting.org/info/tcc.html

Merit Badge Counselor Orientation

This training helps a merit badge counselor understand his job as a coach and counselor, who provides realistic learning experiences to a boy in his study of a merit badge subject.

Return to Top

Varsity

Varsity Scout Leader Fast Start Training

Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer. It should be taken as soon as possible after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member.

Fast Start training provides an immediate comfort level for the new leader and enables you to say, "I can do this !"

Fast Start training for Varsity leaders is available on videotape. The tape may be borrowed from the district office. It runs about 30 minutes.

New Leader Essentials

Varsity Scout leaders do not need to take New Leader Essentials training.

Varsity Scout Leader Fundamentals

This training discusses how a Varsity Scout team is organized and run by young men 14 through 17 years old, with guidance from the Varsity Scout Coach.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills

Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start a program right.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is the required outdoor training for Varsity Scout coaches. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook.

Return to Top

Venturing

Venturing Fast Start training

Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer. It should be taken as soon as possible after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member.

Fast Start training provides an immediate comfort level for the new leader and enables you to say, "I can do this !"

Venturing Fast Start training is available on videotape. The tape may be borrowed from the district office. It runs about 30 minutes. Venturing Fast Start training is also available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/vfs.html

New Leader Essentials

New Leader Essentials is an introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Videos, discussions, and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. New Leader Essentials training is the same for all program areas. It is designed for all new adult leaders entering the Scouting programs.

Venturing Leader Specific Training

This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. It is designed to introduce adult Venturing leaders to the basic information needed for operating a crew.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills

Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start a program right. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook. The course is ideal for Venturing leaders because it focuses on skills that build confidence and competence in leaders conducting outdoor camping experiences.

Return to Top

Training for all Adult Leaders

Youth Protection Training

The Boy Scouts of America has adopted a number of policies aimed at eliminating opportunities for abuse within the Scouting program. The training is required before any tour permit will be issued. Our district offers this training several times a year. It is also available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/ypt.html

Safe Swim Defense

Before a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training, and agree to use the eight defenses in this plan. All swimming activity must be supervised by a adult who understands and accepts responsibility for the well-being and safety of youth members in his or her care and who is confident of his or her ability to respond in the event of an emergency. Safe Swim Defense training is available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/ssd.html

Safety Afloat

Learn to organize and conduct a safe unit activity afloat observing the nine points of the Safety Afloat program. Safety Afloat training is available on-line at this link: http://olc.scouting.org/info/saf.html

Wood Badge

This training program focuses on teaching adult Scouting volunteers leadership skills and communications skills to help them serve in their various roles in the Scouting organization.

Return to Top

High Adventure

Outing Leader

This course provides participants with the basic information necessary to lead safe and enjoyable outings. The course also provides an overview of the High Adventure Awards program.

Basic Backpacking

This training provides a look at the backpack planning process. An overnight weekend experience allows participants to practice what they have learned. Planning, equipment, food, trail safety, maps, compass, profiling are, but a few of the many exciting areas that are waiting to be discovered.

Desert Awareness

Hot weather and desert camping is the focus of this awareness course. Participants will be made aware of the techniques of leading outings in hot weather and desert environments. Acquiring water, caching and proper planning are among the topics included in this course.

Winter Awareness

Cold weather and winter camping is the focus of this awareness course. Participants will be made aware of the techniques of leading outings in cold weather and snow environments. Proper equipment, safety, and planning are among the topics included in this course.

For more information, visit our council HAT web site at this link: http://hat.bsa-la.org/

Return to Top

Training for Youth Leaders

Troop Jr. Leader Training

This one-day workshop is conducted by the Scoutmaster for his junior leaders. It uses the Scoutmaster’s Junior Leader Training Kit, which includes a videotape and workbook.

Den Chief training

This is an all-day training event for Boy Scouts that have been selected to serve as a Den Chief. The den leader and Cubmaster are encouraged to attend with the boy.

Junior Leader Training Conference

This 7-day course is intended for senior patrol leaders, patrol leaders, and other youth leaders. It is conducted by the council in a camping situation. The course is an intensive experience in Scoutcraft and leadership skills.

Return to Top

Leadership Training Recognition Awards

Just as recognition of boys is important when they earn merit badges, belt loops, or advance in rank, so it is important to recognize our volunteer adult leaders who achieve goals of training, tenure, and performance. An awards program has been established to recognize these dedicated volunteers. Awards may be earned in all of scouting program areas. The recipient may wear either a pin-on medal or the associated embroidered square knot for the award that has been earned.

Cub Scout Leader Recognition

Cub Scout leader awards are provided for various leadership positions in the pack. The awards include:

∙Cubmaster Award

∙Tiger Cub Den Leader Award

∙Cub Scout Den Leader Award

∙Webelos Den Leader Award

∙Cub Scouter Award

∙Pack Trainer Award

Training Keys

Training Key awards recognize Scoutmasters, Varsity Coaches, Venturing Advisors, Skippers, commissioners, and district committee members.

Scouter's Training Award

Training awards available include:

∙Boy Scout Leader

∙Varsity Scout Leader

∙Roundtable Staff

∙Sea Scouting Leader

∙Venturing Leader

Award Requirements

The awards are available to leaders that have completed the required training, tenure, and performance requirements. The training and tenure requirements are verified by the training committee. The performance requirements are certified by the commissioner staff.

A pocket Progress Record card is available for each award. It is used to record your progress, and also serves as the award application. When completed, give your record card to the district training chair, or submit it at the district office.

Trained Leader Emblem

Completion of New Leader Essentials and Leader Specific Training enables you to wear the "Trained" emblem on your uniform. It is worn immediately below and touching the badge of office for which it was earned.

Youth leaders earn the emblem when they have completed Troop Jr. Leader Training for their position, or Den Chief training.

Return to Top