Boy Scout, Varsity and Venturing Training Summary

A guide to leadership training opportunities for Boy Scout, Varsity, and Venturing Leaders in San Diego - Imperial Council

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 role in Scouting. 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. To that end, training in Scouting is divided into four levels: Orientation/Fast Start Training, Basic Training, Supplemental Training, and Advanced Training. To help determine to how best to become a trained leader, below is a list of Boy Scout, Varsity, and Venturing Leader training opportunities available and a brief description of each.

Orientation/Fast Start Leader Training: Fast Start training is a video program that helps provide an immediate comfort level for new leaders and enables them to say, "I can do this!" Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer and is to be delivered immediately after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member.

Boy Scout Leader Fast Start (BSFS): Boy Scout Leader Fast Start is a three-part video. The Troop Meeting is the primer on how to run a troop meeting. Produced for new unit leaders and commissioners, the video covers planning, parts of the meeting, the patrol method, and resources; The Outdoor Program describes the planning, organization, ideals, and BSA policy for outdoor activities. It also touches on long-term and high-adventure activities; and The Troop Organization starts with the charter concept - the chartered organization, the district, and the council, and their relationship to the troop. Each leadership and committee position is described. This is an excellent program for commissioners, troop committees, troop leaders, and chartered organizations.

Varsity Leader Fast Start (VaFS): Varsity Leader Fast Start describes the basics of Varsity Scouting. It is used in conjunction with Varsity Scout Coach Start-Up that serves as a guide for the Coach's first few meetings with team members.

Venturing Leader Fast Start (VeFS): The Venturing Fast Start guide shows how using the program planning process can get Venturing programs off to a successful start. It also provides helpful information for the first meeting between Advisors and youth. Also available is the New Crew Fast Start video that explains the Venturing program and details the leadership roles of crew youth officers and the crew Advisor.

Basic Training: The number of components included in basic training depends on the specific leadership position held. All leaders take New Leader Essentials Training followed by a leader-specific training designed to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities related to their leadership position in the program.

New Leader Essentials Training (NLE): New Leader Essentials is the initial training for adult leaders. In this 90-minute training, leaders learn about the objectives of the Scouting program and the methods that are used to achieve these objectives. Leaders also gain a basic understanding of youth development, as well as how Scouting is organized and financed, policies related to the program, and resources to help leaders succeed. The training is for all new registered adult leaders of Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, or Venturers. A Scout leader needs to attend New Leader Essentials only once.

Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training (BSLS): This training has three sessions designed to provide leaders with a good working knowledge of troop operations. The three sessions are: Role of the Scoutmaster in a Boy-Led Troop; The Outdoor Program and the Advancement Program; and Program Planning and Troop Administration. The course may be held in one session or broken into three 3 hours sessions.

Varsity Leader Specific Training (VaLS): This training describes the purposes and methods of the Varsity Scouting program and review Varsity's five program fields of emphasis.

Venturing Leader Specific Training (VeLS): This training is designed to introduce adult Venturing leaders to the basic information needed for operating a crew. This includes (1) Here's Venturing, (2) Understanding and Protecting Youth, (3) Leadership and Organization, (4) Advancement, and (5) Resources and Program Planning. The course can be held in several different formats totaling approximately eight hours of instruction.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS): This course is a hands-on training program to give adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the Outdoors. Imagine having hands-on knowledge about setting up a campsite, pitching a tent, hiking, outdoor cooking - all the skills necessary to see the outdoor program of the Boy Scouts of America come to life. The course is a day and a half long.

Supplemental Training: Some of the methods touched upon in basic training are treated in greater depth in supplemental training courses. Some courses are held on a regular basis as a continuing source of information. Since supplemental training is intended to enrich the leaders' experience, there are no prerequisites although supplemental training is not a substitute for completing basic training.

Youth Protection Guidelines Training (YPG): The course is a ninety-minute tape and covers how to spot such things as child abuse and how to report it within the BSA organization. At least ONE leader who is listed on a tour permit must have this training. Youth protection guidelines training is recommended for every adult in Scouting. The training is good for two years.

Troop Committee Training (TCT): The Troop Committee Challenge - Boy Scout Troop Committee Training is a three-hour course for members of the troop committee. It is designed to help troop committee members better understand their roles and responsibilities through interactive learning. The training is best delivered to all members of a single troop committee to build a better committee team. It can also be delivered in a mixed-unit training course offered by the district.

Den Chief Training (DCT): A meeting with den chiefs and prospective den chiefs designed to combine a good time with training. Cubmasters, Webelos den leaders, den leaders, and other adult pack or troop leaders who register den chiefs in the training should arrange to participate with the den chiefs.

Merit Badge Counselor Orientation (MBCO): This training helps a merit badge counselor understand their job as a coach and counselor, who provides realistic learning experiences to a Scout in his study of a merit badge subject.

Roundtable (RT): Roundtable is monthly leaders' meeting held in each district. At this meeting, leaders can find information about upcoming district and council events and learn program ways to improve their program. The subject of each Roundtable is selected to emphasize important aspects of the Scouting program. Roundtables are the best source of continuing education that a leader has available.

Sea Badge (SB): An advanced weekend training conference for Sea Scout Leaders that is conducted on a regional basis or region approved council invitational basis.

Powder Horn (PH): Powder Horn Training is a training opportunity designed to expose the Venturing or Boy Scout leader to activities and resources necessary to operate a successful Venturing Ranger Award or Troop High Adventure program. This training includes six days of instruction.

Advancement Seminar (ADS): This course is conducted by the Council Advancement Committee. It offers an opportunity to exchange ideas on ways to implement the advancement program in Scouting. It also highlights any recent changes made to the advancement program that you need to know.

Advanced Training: Leaders desiring a deeper dedicated involvement in the program will find advanced training highly rewarding.

Wood Badge (WB): Wood Badge, the BSA's premier advanced training in leadership theory and team development, brings together Scouters from all walks of life and from all BSA programs - Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing, as well as district and council leaders. Wood Badge has evolved into the core leadership skills training course for the BSA. The new Wood Badge course focuses on strengthening every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults and is less focused on outdoor skills, which are more effectively addressed in other courses. By pooling their ideas, sharing meaningful experience, and learning from highly qualified instructors, participants will return to their home units with new skills and resources, greater confidence, and deeper dedication to deliver the values of Scouting. This training includes approximately six days of instruction that may be held as a weeklong session or in weekend sessions.

The table below lists the training described above. The matrix can help a Boy Scout Leader decide which training opportunities to attend. Fast Start, New Leader Essentials, and Youth Protection Guidelines are the first three training's that every Leader should complete. The table is only a guide and does not address the training requirements for Boy Scout Training Recognition Awards. Refer to the specific Leader Progress Record for specific training requirements. The training calendar is available at the Council Service Center, district Roundtables and the Council training web site. If you have questions about which training you should take please contact your district training committee chair. If you see a training you would like to take and do not see a date listed, let you district training committee chair know.

Table Key: T = Required for "Trained" recognition strip; R = Recommended general training; TP = Required for Tour Permit; P = Suggested for Program enhancement; PS = Suggested for Sea Scout Program enhancement. A blank box represents an additional training opportunity available to ANY Scout Leader. Do not let the lack of a recommendation keep you from additional training!

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