Training Trails January 2025

Updates

No training updates over the last month.

Training of the Month

Nothing over the last month.

Council Training Calendar

Troop Committee Training – This training (the Troop Committee Challenge) for troop committee members will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 323 Catherine Street in Walla Walla on February 16th from 2:00 to 4:30 pm. If you would like to come and receive handouts, please sign up with Brad Ross, the Council Training Chair, at bluemttrain@gmail.com No charge for the training.

 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.

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 a location to be determined. The training is for any cub scout leader. Each pack needs at least one BALOO-trained leader. The cost of the training will be determined once the location is determined.

 Wood Badge Adult Leadership Training – Hosted by the Pacific Harbors Council over five consecutive days, August 20-24, 2025 (7 am Wednesday through 5 pm Sunday) at Camp Thunderbird [11740 Summit Lake Rd NW, Olympia WA].  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

 

In The Works (If you plan it, they will come)

Your council training chair is trying to understand how to motivate untrained scouters to take on-line training. Please submit any ideas of things we can do to motivate, besides providing donuts during the training.

 

Help Wanted (It’s fun and rewarding to get involved with training!)

Trainers Needed for Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) 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’?)

The percentage of trained leaders has dropped, since we have a number of new leaders, and some formerly trained leaders are not up to date on the Hazardous Weather training. The focus on Hazardous weather training will help us keep our scouts safe!

 

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:

  • Jan 10 – “Let’s Talk About Scouting for Clean Waterways”
  • Dec 20 – “Planning Your Pack’s Blue and Gold”
  • Dec 13 – “Your Pinewood Derby Car Design Could Come to Life on a REAL Race Car!”

#TroopTalkLive – 2nd Wednesdays of the month, noon Pacific Time

  • 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”
  • Aug 28 – “What is the Scouts BSA Youth Council and How Does It Work?”

Trek on Tuesdays – Tuesdays at noon Pacific Time

  • Jan 7 – “A Snowshoeing Trek in the Colorado Rockies is the Perfect Blend of Challenge and Fun”
  • Dec 10 – “Win during the #TrekOnTuesday high-adventure base registration kickoff party!”

Leading Our Adventures – A Venturing, BSA Podcast – Every other Friday at 3 pm Pacific Time

  • Dec 20 – “Episode 23 – NYLT and Venturing”

 

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!