Every Scout Deserves Trained Leaders
Every Leader Deserves to be Trained
Updates
We had a great training meeting during the Merit Badge Extravaganza held in January. Questions were answered, and those attending agreed to join the council training team. Very impressive!
Training of the Month
Troop Committee In-Person Training – It was a pleasure to meet with some dedicated Scouters and learn about how to be a leader in the troop committee. Most of the training was watching the same videos that are part of the online training. In addition, great questions were asked and answered. The discussion extended the length of the training, but most found it to be the best part of the training.
The in-person training is quite similar to online training, except for the discussion. The disadvantages of the in-person training include the travel time, potential slippery roads, and the rigid schedule. Some were not able to attend because of being called into work at the last minute.
What would be the best of both worlds? What if scout leaders wrote down questions and concerns while completing the on-line training, then set up a Zoom or in-person discussion with the council training team as a follow-up? Or do any of you have a better idea? We are open to whatever works, so please provide feedback.
Council Training Calendar
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) – This training will be held from 6 pm on Friday, May 2 to 5 pm on Saturday, May 3 at Sacajawea State Historic Park. This training is primarily for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, but all Scouts BSA adult leaders are welcome to take the training. Anyone interested must sign up no later than sundown on Friday, April 25th. There is no charge for the course, but there will be a food assignment. See the flyer on the council calendar.
Basic Outdoor Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) – This training will be held from 6 pm on Friday, May 9 to 5 pm on Saturday, May 10 at Camp Kiwanis. The training is for any cub scout leader. Each pack needs at least one BALOO-trained leader in order to qualify to having outdoor activities. See the flyer on the council calendar.
Wood Badge Adult Leadership Training Out-of-Council
May 2 to 4 and May 17 to 18, 2025 at Cowles Scout Reservation at Diamond Lake, Washington (about 200 miles away, above Spokane). Hosted by Inland Northwest Council. More information is available at scoutingevent.com/611-2025woodbadge
Aug 15-17 and Aug 23-24, 2005 at Camp Morrison, McCall, Idaho (about 320 miles away, north of Boise, Idaho. Hosted by the Mountain West Council. $255 – More information is available at: https://www.mountainwestcouncil.org/WoodBadge
August 20-24, 2025 (7 am Wednesday through 5 pm Sunday) at Camp Thunderbird [11740 Summit Lake Rd NW, Olympia WA – about 260 miles away, west of Olympia]. Hosted by the Pacific Harbors Council over five consecutive days. The course director is Chris Panush – cpanush@gmail.com – 360.561.9302. The course fee is $315 if paid in full by July 25th. The theme is “Making Connections, Making a Difference”. Additional information is available at https://scoutingevent.com/612-WoodBadge2025 or at https://www.pacificharbors.org/resources/leader_tools/training/wood-badge
September 26-28 and October 11-12 at Camp Pigott in Monroe, WA (about 240 miles away, north of Seattle, Washington). $300 – More information is available at https://seattlebsa.org/training/wood-badge/
October 3-5 and 11-12, 2025 at Butte Creek Scout Rance in Scotts Mills, Oregon (about 260 miles away, east of Salem, Oregon. $325 – More information is available at https://cpcbsa.org/upcoming-events/wood-badge/
A list of all Wood Band and NYLT courses in our Territory 1 and nearby is available at:
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Out-of-Council
NYLT training will take place on June 23-28, 2025 at Camp Fife at Goose Prairie, Washington (about 125 miles away, east of Mount Ranier National Park). $300 – More information is available at:
https://seattlebsa.org/training/nylt/
A list of all Wood Band and NYLT courses in our Territory 1 and nearby is available at:
Help Wanted (It’s fun and rewarding to get involved with training!)
Trainers Needed for Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) and Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Training Teams – Only 1 trainer is required for the course, but it is way more fun if a team (3 to 5 Scouters) supports the course. Having a team also means that if a trainer has a conflict, the others can fill in. New trainers may only lead one session during the course, or more sessions if they feel up to it. The benefits of training are not only that you are helping other scouters, but you will also grow in your knowledge of the scouting program, plus you will have a lot of fun! Please let your council training chair know if you are interested. Being a trainer continues the learning experience in an accelerated way.
New trainers can be trained through the Fundamentals of Training and the Trainer’s EDGE courses.
Lies, Darn Lies, and Statistics (How are we doin’?)
One of the issues with trained leader reports is that merit badge counselors are considered to be direct contact leaders, but are not expected to take Hazardous Weather Training. However, the current report algorithms show merit badge counselors to not be trained if they haven’t taken Hazardous Weather training with the past two years. This will be corrected.
The other direct contact leaders do need to take the 30 -minute Hazardous Weather online training every two years. This training will help these leaders know what to do to keep our scouts as safe as possible.
Program Livecasts
Links can be found in Facebook (Scouting magazine | Facebook) and on YouTube (Scouting Magazine – YouTube). Recent topics include:
#CubChatLive! – Fridays at noon Pacific Time – Recent topics:
- Feb 21 – “Use Spring Recruiting to Prepare Your Pack for Success in the Fall”
- Feb 14 – “Paddling Adventures for Older Cub Scouts”
- Feb 7 – “Make Awards Ceremonies Fun, Exciting and Memorable for Cub Scouts”
- Jan 31 – “Ideas for celebrating Scout Sunday, Scout Sabbath and Scout Jumuah”
- Jan 24 – “Cold Weather Activities and Gear for Cub Scouts”
- Jan 17 – “Preparing for Arrow of Light Crossovers”
#TroopTalkLive – 2nd Wednesdays of the month, noon Pacific Time
- Feb 19 – “The New Scouts BSA Test Lab”
- Nov 13 – “Surveys and Research in Scouts BSA”
- Oct 9 – “Ideas for Your Troop to Observe Election Day and Veteran’s Day”
- Sept 11 – “Find Out About an Innovative Wood Badge Course at the Summit Bechtel Reserve”
Trek on Tuesdays – Tuesdays at noon Pacific Time
- Feb 18 – “All about the Scouting for Clean Waterways initiative”
- Feb 11 – “Let’s meet some of the members of the Scouts BSA National Youth Council”
- Feb 4 – “Play our Scouting America 115th birthday trivia game and win prizes!”
- Jan 28 – “Sparking curiosity and helping youth connect with manufacturing and STEM careers”
- Jan 21 – “Your Pinewood Derby car design could come to life on a REAL race car! Here’s how…”
Leading Our Adventures – A Venturing, BSA Podcast – Every other Friday at 3 pm Pacific Time
- Dec 20 – “Episode 23 – NYLT and Venturing”
May 1 is the Scouts Read Sacred Texts Event: The intent is to encourage scouts to read their religion’s sacred texts on a regular basis, but the event is only for 1 day. See the flyer on the council calendar, and register your interested scouts in advance.
Contact:
Council Training Chair: Brad Ross bluemttrain@gmail.com
Your Feedback:
Please submit your pithy comments to your council training chair (see email address above), either for his eyes only or for the readers of this column to see. If your comments are useful (and entertaining?), you’ll see them in a future Training Trails column. We welcome your ideas to help improve the training in our council. Many thanks!