Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader
Welcome to Scouting!
As an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), you have the privilege of making a positive difference in the lives of the youth members you serve. To serve effectively, you must be trained. The youth members of the BSA deserve a trained leader and there is no substitute for proper training. The programs of the BSA are exciting, challenging and often technical. The information needed to properly deliver these programs to our youth members is not intuitive. Instead, it requires proper training.
In the San Diego Imperial Council (SDIC), we expect every registered adult BSA volunteer to complete the training necessary for their BSA position. Our goal is to teach our youth members the values of BSA through exciting, often life changing programs. The key to accomplishing this goal is training. We invite you to complete the proper training. The youth depend on it and your experience will be enhanced by it. Remember EVERY SCOUT DESERVES A TRAINED LEADER!
To be a trained BSA adult leader, you must complete the following courses:
Youth Protection Training
Youth Protection Training (YPT) provides information to help prevent various forms of child abuse, protocols for reporting suspected child abuse and resources to assist adults in creating a safe environment for our youth members. YPT is mandatory for all registered BSA adult leaders, renewed every two years. Visit the YPT page for more information.
Leader Position Specific Training
Leader specific training is designed to give position-related information to adult leaders, including detailed information concerning the aims and methods of Scouting, program planning and BSA activities. Leaders working directly with youth, such as Cub Scout Leaders, Scouts BSA Leaders, Venture and Sea Scouts Leaders are expected to complete the basic leader training specific to their position.
Leader Position Specific training courses are held throughout the year at various locations within the SDIC. Some courses are also offered online. A detailed schedule for all training courses may be found on the Council Training Calendar and Training Schedules.
As BSA states: "The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders." (National BSA Training Home Page) Training is the key to maintaining the high quality of our leaders and insuring the delivery of the best program possible to our youth members. We anticipate you will honor the privilege of being a BSA adult leader and complete your training as soon as possible.
Refer to Trained Leader Requirements for a quick review of the courses you will need to take to be considered fully trained. Don't forget to include the Hazardous Weather course, now required of all direct contact leaders. Under the Council Training Schedules consult the schedule specific to the level of Scouting where you serve for information regarding currently scheduled training classes.