Youth

This section provides a variety of materials, from quick references to complete courses, all designed to help our members improve leadership skills and deliver a quality program. Many of the courses can be taken online. A log-in is required; however, anyone may create a user account and view the courses. Registered members of the BSA may provide their member numbers (as part of the user profile) to receive credit.

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST)

The purpose of the ILST course is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Boy Scouts in leadership positions within their troop understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILST is the first course in the series of leadership training offered to Boy Scouts and is a replacement for Troop Leadership Training. Completion of ILST is a prerequisite for Boy Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). It is also required to participate in a Kodiak Challenge Trek.

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)

The purpose of the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews course is to teach crew members with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Venturers in leadership positions within their crew understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews is the first course in the series of leadership training offered to Venturers and is a replacement for the Venturing Leadership Skills Course. Completion of Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership courses National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). It is also required for Kodiak.

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS)

ILSS is intended to help Sea Scouts in leadership positions within their ship understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILSS replaces the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) and is a prerequisite for Sea Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses (i.e., National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and the Kodiak Challenge).

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Welcome to Den Chief Training!

Boy Scouts wishing to become den chiefs will take this online course as part of their training to become a den chief. The module identifies den chief responsibilities and tasks, and describes the den chief's relationship to the adult den leaders and how that relates to the den chief's activities with the den. After finishing the online training, den chief candidates print their certificate of completion and undergo further training with their adult den leaders. Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes.

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Venturing Crew Officers Orientation

This training module is geared primarily to Venturing youth that are elected into positions as officers within their Venturing crew, but it can also be used by adult leaders to learn the duties of the officers in the crew. This course is very useful for youth officers to fully understand their roles and responsibilities as it relates to Crew Officers Briefings and Seminars. This course will help the youth develop an annual plan of activities for the crew, as well as acquiring leadership and team-building skills. Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes.

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Crew Officer Orientation

Providing support to new Venturing crew leaders, this self-paced course covers crew officers' roles and responsibilities, resources crew officers need and use, working with Advisors and older adults, and how to plan your crew's annual program, along with other planning resources.

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST)

The ILST course is intended to help Boy Scouts in leadership positions within their troops understand their responsiblities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILST replaces Troop Leadership Training and is a prerequisite for Boy Scouts to participate in more advanced leadership courses (i.e., National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE)).

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)

ILSC is intended to help Venturers in leadership positions within their crew understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILSC replaces the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) and is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership courses (i.e., National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and the Kodiak Challenge).

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Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS)

ILSS is intended to help Sea Scouts in leadership positions within their ship understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILSS replaces the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) and is a prerequisite for Sea Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses (i.e., National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and the Kodiak Challenge).

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National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience

National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) offers participants an unforgettable Philmont backcountry wilderness experience that develops leadership and teamwork skills, using the core elements of NYLT to make these skills intuitive.

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Youth Leadership Training Continuum

The Boy Scouts of America continues to provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their leadership skills beyond the experiences in their local units. Click here to find out more about what courses may be of the most benefit to you.

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The NYLT to NAYLE Bridge?

The purpose of this course is to provide a summary of National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) skills to those youth who have been unable to attend a council NYLT course for reasons beyond their control. The Bridge course reviews all of the key leadership skills taught in NYLT, which are then reinforced by the experiential learning environment of the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE).

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Mentoring

This mentoring workshop will introduce participants to the two different styles of mentoring, as well as their benefits and when these models are appropriate. Using the mentoring framework, the participants will enter into a mentoring relationship using learned conversations to demonstrate mentoring in action.

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Kodiak Challenge

The Kodiak Challenge is designed to be an adventure that pushes the boundaries of every participant - one that will encourage you to try new things that may be out of your comfort zone. It is an experience—but one that has its underpinnings in the application of the leadership skills they learned in the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops or Crews, NYLT, and/or NAYLE. It is, as is all of Scouting, an adventure with a purpose

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National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience

The National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) is an exciting program where young men enhance their leadership skills in the Philmont backcountry. Scouts will expand upon team-building and ethical decision-making skills learned in National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).

More information | View promo video | Scholarship Application
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National Youth Leadership Training

National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops.

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Powder Horn

Open to both registered adults and youth who are at least 13 and have completed the 8th grade, Powder Horn is a hands-on resource management course designed to give you the contacts and tools necessary to conduct an awesome high-adventure program in your troop, team, crew, or ship. Contact your council training chair for information about upcoming courses in your area.

Early Rank Requirement Videos

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class rank requirement videos.

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Hazardous Weather

Hazardous Weather training must be completed prior to requesting a tour permit from the BSA. The module presents safety precautions for eight different types of weather, as well as planning, preparation, and traditional weather signs. You will answer questions about the topics after each section. Completion is noted automatically in the BSA training records database if the module is experienced online. Estimated time to complete: 40 minutes.

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Physical Wellness

Physical Wellness Training was developed to help prepare attendees for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. It is appropriate for leadership in all program areas and for Boy Scout and Venturing youth. The module focuses on Mind, Body and Spirit. Learning objectives include the ability to define physical wellness; identify ways to improve the wellness of the mind, body, and spirit; describe the role self-responsibility plays in wellness; and answer questions about nutrition. Completion is noted automatically in the BSA training records database if the module is experienced online. Estimated time to complete: 40 minutes.

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