Basic Leader Course Descriptions

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

The goal of BALOO is to provide the inexperienced leader with the skills and confidence necessary to venture into the great outdoors with his or her Cub Scouts and provide them with a great first-time experience. The course focuses on program planning and health and safety issues, and some basic outdoor skills. BALOO is required to take a Cub Scout Pack camping.

Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training

After the completion of This Is Scouting and FastStart, adult volunteers involved with the Boy Scout program as Assistant Scoutmasters or Scoutmasters should take this course. The course is the next phase of a new Scoutmaster's introduction to the Boy Scouts of America and to the responsibilities, opportunities, and resources that will ensure a successful troop experience.

Chartered Organization Representative (COR) Training

This can either be taught in a group setting or individually. It is usually taught by the District Executive or a commissioner. This course teaches a COR (and the charter organization head) the charter concept, the COR responsibilities and tasks, how Scouting works, how a district committee works, how unit committees work, council and charter organization responsibilities, and the relationship with the local council. The course includes a COR pamphlet and a video.

Cub Scout Leader Specific Training

After the completion of FastStart and NLE, adult volunteers involved with the Cub Scouting program should take the Cub Scout Leader Specific Training course. The course is the next phase of a new Cub Scout leader's introduction to the Boy Scouts of America and the responsibilities, opportunities, and resources that will ensure a successful pack experience. Topics include:

  • Pack Organization
  • The Role of the Leader
  • Advancement
  • Den and Pack Program Planning
  • Webelos-to-Scout Transition

NOTE:

This course also provides breakout sessions that are position specific.

If a Cub Scout leader changes positions (for example, if a Tiger Cub den leader becomes a Cubmaster), the leader would take the training related the new position. Cub Scout Leaders completing this training course are considered basic leader trained for their position in the pack.

Den Chief Training

This course is for Boy Scouts who want to fulfill their leadership requirements by acting as a n Chief to a Cub Scout den. Den Chief Training will give a Boy Scout the tools he needs to experience and create a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities as Den Chief.

Qualifications for a Den Chief are:

  • An older Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer who has been a Boy Scout. Preferably a former Cub Scout, ideally at least First Class rank.
  • Selected by the senior patrol leader and Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach or Venturing Advisor upon request by the Cubmaster.
  • Approved by e Cubmaster and pack committee for recommendation to the den leader.

This one day course will supply the Den Chief with the knowledge to assist Cub Scouts with the purposes of Cub Scouting, serve as the activities assistant at den meetings, set a good example through attitude and uniforming. Also, this Boy Scout will be a friend to the boys in the den, take part in weekly den meetings, assist the den in its part of the monthly pack meeting, and know the importance of the monthly theme and pack meeting plan. It’s a proven fact that trained Den Chiefs help transition Cub Scouts into Boy Scouting.

Fast Start

This is the first step in training. It covers the organization of a unit. Participants may choose to take the course as an interactive web based program or by video. Districts offer this as an evening training event at Roundtables. Many units provide this as part of recruiting a new leader. Upon completion, the participant needs to contact his or her district training chairman or district executive.

NOTE:

The preferred method for presenting Fast Start is for the unit leader and/or unit trainer to provide it. This allows an opportunity for the new leader to receive some unit-specific orientation and to ask unit-specific questions.

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) Training

After the completion of Basic Leader Training, adult volunteers involved with the Boy Scout program as Assistant Scoutmasters or Scoutmasters should take this course. The course familiarizes the leader with the skills that a Scout must learn from Tenderfoot through First Class, learn about health and safety procedures, and learn about nature. Upon completion of this course, Assistant Scoutmasters and Scoutmasters will be considered fully trained.

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

A week-long course designed to give youth leaders a meaningful experience in Scouting that will enhance their knowledge and create a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities as youth leaders. Three areas are stressed:

  1. Leadership skills to make the youth leader more effective in his Troop responsibilities;
  2. Being stronger leaders by using Be-Know-Do leadership and
  3. FUN!

Recognizing that the training of youth leaders is ultimately the responsibility of the Scoutmaster, this training is designed to support, not replace, the Scoutmaster's role in the training process. Each Scout who attends the conference will do so as a representative of his home Troop and will wear the uniform and insignia of his home Troop. By sharing ideas and experiences with Scouts from other Troops, each Scout will gain confidence and knowledge to run the Troop Program back at his home Troop.

Scouts must be at least a First Class Scout, 13 years of age by January 1, 2006, and currently filling a leadership position in his Troop (preferably as a Senior Patrol Leader or Assistant).

Upon your recommendation, a Scout who is destined for one of these positions may attend, if he meets the age and rank requirements. The conference is conducted in a camp setting. Attending Scouts should have skills in hiking, camping and cooking.

This Is Scouting

This is the initial training for adult leaders serving youth in the Boy Scouts of America. The training presents an overview of the core elements of Scouting, including the organization's mission, aims, and methods. It also provides new leaders a look at the resources available to them through the Boy Scouts of America, and a clear understanding of Scouting's expectations of its adult leadership.

Outdoor Leader Skills For Webelos Leaders (OLSWL)

Webelos den campouts serve to move the Webelos Scout to the next level of the BSA's ever-increasing challenge in the outdoors. The boy and his parent will be introduced to the basics of Boy Scout camping.

A trained Webelos den leader who has completed position-specific training and Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders should conduct these events. Webelos dens are encouraged to participate in joint den-troop campouts, particularly in the fifth-grade year.

Designed specifically for Webelos den leaders and their assistants, the Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders course teaches outdoor-related skills 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. In addition to covering basic camping skills, this training features planning campouts and finding resources.

Powder Horn

After the completion of Basic Leader Training, adult volunteers involved with the Venturing or Boy Scout high adventure programs can take this course. Powder Horn is a new training opportunity designed as an action-packed, hands on outdoor course to expose the Venturing and other Scouting adult leaders to the resources necessary to operate a successful unit-level high adventure program and support Venturing's Ranger Award program.

Sea Badge

Seabadge is the official advanced training program of Sea Scouting in the BSA and is the next step following Venturing Leader Basic Training and Sea Scout Officers' Specialized Training. The course is designed to provide the program specific management techniques that can improve the quality of ship and/or squadron programming. It is an intensely participatory experience for the participants as they interact with one another and the faculty in seminars, workshops, role-playing and discussions.

Sea Scout

After the completion of Basic Leader Training, adult volunteers involved with the Sea Scouting can take this course. This training follows Venturing Leader Training and is required for all adult leaders in Sea Scouting. The course familiarizes officers with the values and methods of the Sea Scouting program as outlined in the Sea Scout Manual.

Troop Committee Challenge

After the completion of FastStart and NLE, adult volunteers involved with the Boy Scout program as troop committee members should take this course. The hands-on training program is designed to help Boy Scout troop committees understand their roles and responsibilities. It is for the whole committee, including the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, and through games, case studies and discussions will help the committee work as a team to better deliver the promise of Scouting.

Venturing Leader Specific Training

After the completion of FastStart and NLE, adult volunteers involved with the Venturing program should take this course. This training is designed to introduce Adult Venturing crew leaders to the basic information needed to operate a crew. The training is divided into five sessions:

  1. Here's Venturing
  2. Understanding and Protecting Youth
  3. Leadership and Organization
  4. Awards and Recognition
  5. Resources and Program Planning

Venturing volunteers not involved with Sea Scouting are considered trained after this course; Sea Scouting volunteers should complete the appropriate Part III course to be considered trained.

Wood Badge

Once considered 'fully trained' within a volunteers program, leaders may participate in the Wood Badge training program. Wood Badge Training offers a unique opportunity for learning and for leadership in what some will call a mountain topping Scouting experience.

Wood Badge is a comprehensive training course started by Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, to help leaders hone their skills, extend their understanding of boys and of other adults, and go on to new levels of personal growth and learning as Scouters. As Scouting has grown and evolved, so too has Wood Badge.

Today, Wood Badge provides advanced training in leadership teamwork for adult leaders in all Scouting programs including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity and Venturing, as well as district and council volunteers. Its focus is on leadership, not out-of-door skills. As the premier leadership-training course for Scouters, the course covers:

  • Contemporary leadership concepts utilized in corporate America and leading government organizations that are relevant to our values-based movement.
  • The skills Scouters will learn while participating as a member of a successful working team. The Wood Badge experience will help provide Scouting with the leadership it needs to accomplish its mission now and in the future. Course content is divided into five areas and includes:
    1. Living the Values
    2. Bringing the Vision to Life
    3. Models for success
    4. Tools of the Trade
    5. Leading to Make a Difference