Training

"Be Prepared… the meaning of the motto is that a Scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.”

– Lord Robert Baden-Powell

Youth Training

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 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 Scouts and is a replacement for Troop Leadership Training. Completion of ILST is a prerequisite for 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.  The training is offered on a Troop level.  

Troop Position Descriptions


National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) 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 and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

Next NYLT in TAC: 


NYLT Leadership Academy

Leadership Academy I and II are now available as college credit courses.

The NYLT Leadership Academy is the premier BSA youth leadership course teaching youth to teach leadership to other youth.  Participants may earn one West Virginia University college credit for attending Leadership Academy I and two credit college credits for Leadership Academy II which delves deeper into leadership and builds on the foundations of the 1 credit college level prerequisite course.   Scouts that have completed NYLT Leadership Academy with WVU one credit course are eligible to complete another week at the NYLT Leadership Academy and earn 2 additional college credits.  In July of 2022, Leadership Academy II was offered at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.


1️⃣ Attend NYLT in your home council.

2️⃣ Then attend the NYLT Leadership Academy and optionally include 1 college credit. 

3️⃣ Finally attend Leadership Academy II for 2 additional college credits.

🔗 For more information, please visit:  http://nylt-leadershipacademy.org/wvu/ 

✏️ To register for NYLT Leadership Academy visit: https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org

National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE)

The mission of NAYLE is to provide Scouts with a wilderness experience that exemplifies the potential of servant leadership through challenging and engaging activities.

Scouts will learn: (1) Motivation to become a dynamic and effective leader, (2) Innovative techniques, (3) Nationwide resources, (4) A personal written commitment designed to apply fresh skills back home, (5) Life skills for now and the future

https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/ptc/nayle/ 

https://www.facebook.com/BSANAYLE 


Adult Training

Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader

If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?

Well, such a magic wand does exist—in the form of the learning programs for leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.

Common sense tells us that training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. A trained leader is knowledgeable and more confident in the role being performed. Trained leaders exhibit knowledge and confidence that is picked up by people around them. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be!

IOLS - Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills 

This in-person training for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters is required to be position-trained. 

Materials covered can be found here. 


Online Training - Position Specific

Leaders can begin their training today.  Leader position-specific courses are available in the e-Learning section of my.scouting.org. A login is required, but 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. These include: