Boy Scouts of America

Training Updates

The Training Times

A Publication of Volunteer Development, Scouting U, BSA – January 2024 Edition
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In this edition:

National Volunteer Training Conference

Philmont Training Center

Scouting U Week at Philmont

Scouting U Conferences at Philmont

Kodiak Challenge Discontinued

Upcoming Training & Events

National Volunteer Training Conference  Flyer

Scouting U Week at Philmont Flyers

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING CONFERENCE

The annual Scouting U Volunteer Training conference will be held on April 25th to 27th, 2024.  The Las Vegas Area Council, located at 7220 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada, will once again host this year’s conference.  The theme and focus of the conference will be “Building Relationships.”

The conference is intended to provide both information on the status of training in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and gather information from the field on training effectiveness and product need.  A number of critical training topics will be discussed.  Please join us to help us review and plan the future of training in the BSA.

Virtual sessions will be identified soon as the agenda is finalized.  A separate communication will be sent out with the various virtual meeting links.

Flyer for the Conference is below.

PHILMONT TRAINING CENTER IS YOUR PARTNER IN EQUIPPING VOLUNTEERS

The national volunteer training center at Philmont (PTC) serves to help grow Scouting. For almost 75 years, PTC has connected Scouters with subject matter experts to strengthen program delivery, enhance personal skills, and provide tools to help units, districts, and councils succeed.

No matter the conference, Scouters return home fired up for Scouting. Fully motivated, volunteers leave equipped, engaged and empowered to make a difference in their local communities. 

As the training volunteers for BSA, we ask that you do three things:

  1. Excite, encourage and invite leaders to attend one of the many amazing conferences scheduled for this summer. There are over 50 conferences to choose from. https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/ptc/ptc-conferences/
  2. Broadcast PTC in all communication channels (newsletters, social media, Roundtable and key leader meetings, etc.) and link PTC to your council webpage. Please help us reintroduce Philmont to volunteers and families.
  3. Let us know what topics, training needs, and conference ideas, we can develop to help you achieve your goals. Do you have faculty recommendations? Please share your thoughts with the PTC Director at Daniel.tucker@scouting.org.

PTC is your partner! We invite you to attend this summer and bring your family for an extraordinary experience. Check out our website at www.philmontscoutranch.org/PTC/. We look forward to seeing you this summer.

Thank you for what you do to help Scouting thrive and grow in 2024.

SCOUTING U WEEK AT PHILMONT

Scouting U is back at Philmont.  That’s right – come join us July 21 – 27, 2024 at the Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, New Mexico for a week of connecting and interacting with trainers and those interested in training from across the US.  See old friends and make new ones!  It is sure to be an amazing week in paradise.

Join us at Philmont and bring your family along with you.  Philmont offers FUN activities for the entire family.  You can attend conferences during the day while your family members participate in age-appropriate activities.  In the evening, you can enjoy   family fun participating in Western Night which offers a variety of activities including Western dancing, roping, branding, face painting and lawn games.  There is also cobbler and movie night and lots more. 

There is a great YOUTH Leadership opportunity for your older scout children during this week at Philmont.  NYLT Leadership Academy and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE), both youth leadership trainings, will be taking place during this week.

Requirements to attend NAYLE:

Requirements to attend NYLT Leadership Academy:

  • Completed your council’s National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). If your council does not have an NYLT program, you may still qualify by working with a council representative to become familiar with the NYLT Staff Guide and Syllabus.
  • First Class rank or above; or a Venturer.
  • Must be 13 years old and have completed 8th grade by the opening day of course, but not yet 18; or if a Venturer not yet 21.
  • Willingness to take back to your newly acquired knowledge and skills at the NYLT Leadership Academy back to your council, troop and community.
  • Scholarshipsare available to those who qualify. 

https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org/scholarships/

We encourage you to bring your son or daughter to Philmont with you – they can attend either the NYLT Leadership Academy or NAYLE while you attend a conference at the Training Center during the same week. 

During Scouting U Week, there will be two half week conferences available, July 21 – 24th and July 24 – 27th, so you are able to sign up and experience two conferences!  If you will be joining us for the week you will need to register for each half week session.

We hope that you will join us to connect and interact with scouters from across the US who are interested in making sure our leaders are trained so that we can deliver a program that is fun, engaging and keeps our scouts coming back.  Take a look at the conferences that are being offered at Philmont during Scouting U week below and sign up to attend today.

Scouting U PTC Conference Registration Link

Reminder:  If you are attending the full week at Philmont, you will need to register for each half week session you would like to attend.

SCOUTING U CONFERENCES AT PHILMONT

AQUIRE THE FACILITATORS ADVANTAGE – If your role in Scouting involves training groups and teams, presiding over meetings, or leading Scouts & Scouters, then this conference is for you. If you’ve been elected, selected, or have volunteered to train others in Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO), Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), or other district / council training, serve on a Wood Badge or National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) staff or facilitate training at University of Scouting, or College of Commissioner Science, then this conference is definitely for you.

Attend this conference and you will learn how to use challenging games & team-building activities designed to strengthen Scout/Scouter leadership & facilitation skills, discover ways to maximize the involvement of all participants, and practice debriefing techniques that emphasizes individual reflection and enhances group learning…all while having fun as you add tools to your facilitators tool box.

Attend this conference and we guarantee you will take away numerous facilitation tips, tricks, and proven techniques. Learn at least three debriefing strategies that develop leadership skills while working with any group, and leave the Philmont Training Center with a pocket-sized deck of game cards designed to enhance your success with teaching leadership and team-building skills.  Course is offered Monday – Tuesday. 

STRATEGIC TRAINING PLAN PILOT – Success depends on trained leaders. Units, districts, and councils that meet and exceed their goals typically can attribute their success to having trained leaders. The Strategic Training Plan conference is designed for training coordinators who want to integrate and maximize their efforts to achieve program success. Be among the first to experience the 2024 newly updated Strategic Training Plan curriculum! You will leave this conference with a comprehensive plan to increase your trained leadership, including strategies for presenting your plan to council governance to ensure a successful implementation back home.  Course is offered Monday – Tuesday.

WOOD BADGE COURSE DIRECTORS CONFERENCE – The purpose of the Wood Badge CDC is to ensure consistency among all councils on the delivery of Wood Badge and support Course Directors as they recruit and train a high performing team to conduct their course. The Wood Badge CDC is required for all course directors and their backup course director within 24 months of the start of their course. This is an interactive experience and you will have the opportunity to engage with Wood Badge leaders from around the country. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the NYLT Leadership Academy and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) courses occurring simultaneously.  Course is offered Monday – Tuesday.

NYLT COURSE DIRECTORS CONFERENCE – The purpose of the NYLT CDC is to ensure consistency among all councils on the delivery of NYLT and support Course Directors as they recruit and train a high performing team to conduct their course. The NYLT CDC is required for all course directors and their backup course director within 24 months of the start of their course. This is an interactive experience and you will have the opportunity to engage with NYLT adult leaders from around the country. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the NYLT Leadership Academy and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) courses occurring simultaneously.  Course is offered Monday – Tuesday.

DELIVERING TRAINING TO UNIT LEADERS – The overall object of the Delivering Training to Unit Leaders Conference is to help our trainers learn how to train leaders, not just run training courses. Join us as we discover how understanding the importance of relationships, our volunteers today, how adults and youth learn, and having a fun, dynamic training program will help leaders deliver training to our youth and leaders today.  Course is offered twice –  Monday – Tuesday and Thursday – Friday. 

HELPING SCOUTING GROW WITH TRAINED LEADERS – Wrap up your week at Philmont by sharing ideas and best practices with trainers from across the US. Trained leaders bring the best scouting has to offer our youth, so let’s get our leaders trained! Topics and discussions will include building a strong training team, building partnerships to improve training and more! You will learn about advanced training including Leadership Challenge for adults and NYLT Leadership Academy and NAYLE for our youth.  Course is offered Thursday – Friday.

FUNDAMENTALS OF TRAINING & TRAINER’S EDGE PILOT – Fundamentals of Training is designed to help Scouters, regardless of their experience, present effective training by introducing teaching techniques and skills. Upon completion, trainers are coached and mentored by experienced trainers as they become comfortable with and confident in their training skills. As trainers develop their skills, Trainer’s EDGE provides an additional opportunity for trainers to enhance their abilities. It supplements the training development sessions offered during faculty development for advanced leadership courses and increased familiarity with the EDGE model that is used throughout the training. BOTH courses have been updated with the latest training methods and techniques.  Course is offered Thursday – Friday.

WOOD BADGE:  PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.  PREPARING SCOUTERS TO LEAD – Conference participants will review how Wood Badge has evolved over time to meet the needs of each generation of leaders, with a focus on the structure and operation of the current curriculum and exploring needs for the next wave of Scouters and the youth they serve. Desired audience: WB faculty, WB coordinators, council/district training chairs, Scouts interested in service as WB faculty members.  Course is offered Thursday – Friday.

DELIVERING NEXT LEVEL NYLT COURSES – The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines “next level” as surpassing others and uncommonly good or impressive. How do you take your NYLT course to the next level? This course led by national NYLT key volunteers will provide the participant with a toolbox full of ideas and best practices from courses around the country. Focus areas will include participant recruitment, staff recruitment and retention, communication, marketing, course culture, and making NYLT fun. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the NYLT Leadership Academy and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) courses occurring simultaneously.  Course is offered Thursday – Friday.

Other weeklong conferences available include: 

Advanced District Administration & District Operations 2.  Both trainings are BSA Professional Trainings.

KODIAK CHALLENGE DISCONTINUED

Julie Dalton, National Venturing Chair and Tom Giugni, Scouting U Chair recently made an announcement that Kodiak Challenge is being discontinued.  “It is being discontinued in favor of utilizing the primary leadership elements of the Venturing Program.”  Currently scheduled Kodiak courses for individual crews (through summer 2024) may continue as planned.  All other courses at other levels (multi-crew, district, council, etc.) should be cancelled.  New courses at all level should not be scheduled or held.

UPCOMING TRAINING AND EVENTS

Scouting U Volunteer Training Conference

April 25 – 27, 2024

 

Scouting U Week at Philmont – July 21 – 27, 2024   

NAYLE at Philmont

  • Session 1: June 16 – 22, 2024
  • Session 2: June 23 – June 29. 2024
  • Session 3: June 30 – July 6, 2024
  • Session 4: July 7 – 13, 2024
  • Session 5: July 14 – 20, 2024
  • Session 6: July 21 – 27, 2024

Register:  NAYLE – Philmont Scout Ranch

 

NAYLE at Summit

  • Session 1: June 23-June 29, 2024
  • Session 2: July 7- July 13, 2024

Register:  National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) – The Summit Bechtel Reserve (summitbsa.org)

 

NYLT Leadership Academy

  • Sacramento – June 23 – 29, 2024
  • West Virginia – June 30 – July 6, 2024
  • Washington, DC – July 7 – 13, 2024
  • Philmont Scout Ranch – July 21 – 27, 2024

Register:  https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org/

 

Leadership Challenge

  • Philmont Scout Ranch – August 18 – 24, 2024

Register:  Philmont Leadership Challenge – Philmont Scout Ranch

  • Summit – July 7 – 13, 2024

Register:  Leadership Challenge at the Summit – The Summit Bechtel Reserve (summitbsa.org)

 

The Training Times is a publication of Volunteer Development, Scouting University, Boy Scouts of America

Tom Giugni – Chair, Scouting U

tomgiugni@gmail.com

Jeff McKinney – Chair, Leadership Development

mckinney@pronetisp.net

David Ehrlich – National NYLT Coordinator

dehrlich2@gmail.com

Dave Savone – National WB Coordinator

redoakdave@sbcglobal.net

Toni Welch – Chair, Learning Delivery  

bufalost2@gmail.com

Kathy Craig – Volunteer Development Specialist

Kathy.Craig@scouting.org

Tim Rogers – Instructional Design Team Lead

Tim.Rogers@scouting.org

Tim Acree – Chair, Instructional Design Team

Tim.acree@comcast.net

Wendy Kurten – Director, Scouting U

 Wendy.kurten@scouting.org

Toni Welch – Editor

bufalost2@gmail.com

“There is no teaching to compare with example.” – Robert Baden-Powell

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.