Scout Leader Training Opportunities

One of the most under-appreciated aspects of working in Scouting is the training that is available. Local Councils offer excellent training at reasonable pricing that applies to much more than just working with boys.  Leadership skills like those taught in these training opportunities apply in professional settings and in the home.

Beside the basic training, BSA offers other training that arm people with other broadly applicable skills.  For example, these titles show the breadth of training available:  Preparing for Hazardous Weather, Climb on Safely, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, and Wilderness First Aid.  In the latter, CPR/AED certification and First Aid Certification is accomplished-- training that many managers take in business settings.  Registered parents are able to sign up for this training-- and then they can be the 'go-to' parent when the Troop goes on an applicable camp out!  Applications to the troop?  If you like rappelling and want to be included in all the rappelling trips, take 'Climb on Safely' and you're the man!  If you like to waterski and want to be included in all the boating trips, take 'Safety Afloat' and expect the phone call.  If you just want to invited to go to all the campouts, take CPR/AED and you'll be a great resource.  (You may get CPR/AED and/or First Aid Certification training at your employment-- tell your Troop leaders for the same effect.  They need the date of certification and the training agency name.)

For Scout leaders, the first training is Youth Protection, which can be taken online.  One must have a certificate stapled to his/her Adult application in order apply to serve as a leader.  That should be followed with Fast Start, which can also be taken online.  After that, one is able to get started but this leader is not considered 'trained.'  He's just basically bare-bones trained.  A wise leader will set his sights on Adult Leader Training, the appropriate training for his position.

Adult Leader Training (ALT) is 8 hours of class work provided by the District.  It can be 4 weeks of 2 hour instruction with an extra make-up night, or one full 8 hour day of instruction.  It is followed up with a weekend of camping-- Individual Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS).  This combination of ALT and IOLS qualifies the leader to be considered 'Trained' and wear a trained patch and knot on his/her uniform.  This is offered in this combination once yearly, although if you can find a nearby district with dates that work, take that and credit will be noted.

Being 'Trained' is a big deal.  You will know how to magnify your calling as a Scout leader and really make the Scouting program beneficial to the boys in the troop.  Without this essential training, you will be left to your own devices, on your own to stumble through the motions of creating a good program for the boys.  Eventually you may learn the 'hard way' through your experiences in trial and error how to create that excellent program for your boys.  Buy why do that when you can get up to speed quicker by availing yourself to the excellent training available?

Once trained, you qualify for the icing on the cake as far as training is considered-- Woodbadge.  One recent attendee called it 'the best leadership training available for the price.'  He said, "It's fun!  And it can be applied to all other aspects of life-- business, church, etc."  And if you are a member chartered through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (like our Troop) the Church may help pay for it.  This is a wonderful training goal for leaders-- to get to Woodbadge and complete it. 

The opportunities for training available to Scout leaders and parents are amazing.  Hopefully we aren't missing them but are making good use of these opportunities for the good of the Troop.

Important links:
Youth Protection Training
Fast Start Orientation Training
Adult Leader Training ALT + IOLS