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There is a wealth of training available for both Youth and Adult Leaders!
One of the ways the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) try's to provide adult leaders with at least a minimal set of tools to carry out the program are through a number of training course- both on line and in person. Being an adult leader, whether a member of the unit Committee, an Assistant Scoutmaster, a Merit Badge Counselor or any other role, is much more then just putting on a uniform and showing up at a Troop meeting. Scouting has a language all it's own, and a philosophy to achieve the goals of the program, a program that has remained much the same since it's founding almost a century ago. In fact a Scout from the earliest days of the BSA would quickly recognize a Boy Scout Troop today, with it's Patrols, junior leaders and so on. Adult leader training gives every adult a quick intro into what all of this is about.
Many of you already have at least the basic safety and program training for the positions you currently carry out within our troop. some of you are continuing to take additional courses, some of you may have to renew certain courses and some of you are just starting out.
The responsibility of our Troop Training Coordinator, Mike M., is make certain the Troop Committee Chairperson and Scoutmaster know the training and Scouting experience status of each adult involved with our troop so that they may determine the best way to staff each troop function. We do this by keeping a copy of all scout leader training of any type taken. Another responsibility is to make certain that anyone interested in taking any training, knows the what, why, where and when. By assisting the Troop Committee Chairperson with this the Trainiong Coordinator also has the pleasure of assisting the troop in obtaining adult leader training awards as a recognition of an adult's training achievements.
PLEASE NOTE -BEFORE TAKING ANY TRAINING LET AT LEAST THE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON AND THE TRAINING COORDINATOR KNOW - THIS ALLOWS US TO MAKE CERTAIN YOU ARE TAKING THE CORRECT COURSE FOR YOUR ROLE AND TO TRACK YOUR TRAINING STATUS
Training for adults in a Boy Scout Troop can be broken up into two broad categories: (note there are other specific training course for adults involved in other areas of Scouting besides a Troop)
1. Youth Protection (you must take this and have a card before you take part in any troop activity); Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Climb on Safely, Trek Safely, Blue Nose and CPR/AED Certification.
Youth Protection: YOU MUST HAVE A VALID YOUTH PROTECTION CARD BEFORE YOU TAKE PART IN ANY TROOP FUNCTION- good for 3 years in our Council and can be taken on line at www.trcbsa.org AND THEN FOLLOW THESE STEPS: You have to log onto www.trcbsa.org and click on the yellow banner on the left which says Training. Then click on on line training, then Youth Protection Training. You will need to create a user name and password. It will also ask you for your "membership" number. If you need your BSA Membership ID # let Mike know. Make certain you print out the card at the end or at least the final page that says you passed. The Council also offers a live session once or twice a year if you prefer. If you do, please let Mike know and he will get you the info.
SAFE SWIM DEFENSE/SAFETY AFLOAT: These are 2 different courses but they go together and in the live version available (often at summer camp) are usually taught together. More commonly you take these on line by following the same instructions above- except of course instead of clicking on the appropriate course. These certifications are good for 2 years. YOU MUST HAVE SAFE SWIM DEFENSE TO STAFF ANY TROOP SWIM EVENT. YOU MUST HAVE BOTH SAFE SWIM DEFENSE/SAFETY AFLOAT IN ORDER TO STAFF ANY TROOP EVENT THAT INVOLVES ANY TYPE OF AUTHORIZED WATER CRAFT (for example canoes, kayaks, rafts, sail boats, motor boats).
Climb on Safely, Trek Safely, Blue Nose - these courses are a combo of safety and specific programs. All 3 are only done live and at specific times. Climb on Safely is only good for 2 years. Steve will be organizing interested adults for the Blue Nose training. If you are interested in any of these please let us know.
CPR/AED Certification- given by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Last year the troop brought an instructor in and many of us took the course. The certifications are only good for a fixed amount of time. The BSA requires a certain amount of adult leaders with this training on certain aquatic and high adventure outings.
2. Fast Start, New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Specific-sessions 1,2,3; Outdoor Leader Skills, Troop Committee Challenge, Supplemental (various modules covering several topics), Religious Awards Coordinator Training, Wood badge.
Fast Start: Meant for any adult in the troop. Given on line, a quick overview of the program. Follow the on-line steps above. It is also incorporated into New Leader Essentials- see below.
New Leader Essentials - this is the first course for basic training for scout leaders. It incorporates Fast Start, and gives a more detailed overview of all the parts of the BSA. Our Pequott District Training team- will be doing it live on Sept. 29, 2007 (See below for details). They will offer it again live on Feb. 23, 2008.
Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Sessions 1,2,3: These are 3 indoor sections, each building on the other to provide basic knowledge about the troop program, and the basics about serving as a Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.
Outdoor Leader Skills: This is a one night overnight, which is the capstone to the above SM/ASM courses meant to give you an intro into Patrol and Troop operations in the outdoors. It will be conducted by the Theodore Roosevelt Council Training team out at Schiff Scout Reservation on October 27-28, 2007. (see below for details).
Troop Committee Challenge: this is offered both on line (follow the online instructions above) or live, presented by appointment to us by the
Supplemental: When you go to do any of the online training courses, Youth Protection, Safe Swim Defense, etc- you’re actually going from our Councils website to the National BSA website. On there you will see syllabus for several supplemental modules- they cover numerous safety and program topics from Outdoor safety to conducting Boards of Review. You can either read them on your own,or if there is enough interest we can conduct a live course.
Religious Awards Coordinator Training: One of the points of the Scout Law is a "Scout is Reverent". The Scouts offer award programs for every religion. There are often two or more types of awards in each specific religion for Boy Scouts. Carol Tallis has taken this training and currently holds this position,and you may want to ask her what the training involved. But If anyone is interested in taking this training to learn in more detail what the religious awards involve - it is being offered on January 6, 2008 on a Council level. Let us know and we can get the details. We would like to make Religious Awards a focus in 2007-2008.
Wood Badge: This is the top adult leader training offered. It requires that you complete your basic adult leader training for your position (see below), usually is given over several weekends at the end of summer or early fall. It involves both classroom and outdoor work, and only has a limited number of slots available. It is usually done at the Council level or even by several councils working together. Once you are done with the actual weekends, you have a year to complete your "ticket" (think Masters Thesis) in order to truly complete the course.
What does it mean to be "Basic Trained"?: In order to be considered "Basic Trained" (and be able to wear the "Trained patch" on your uniform) for your position in a Boy Scout Troop as an adult you need to do complete the following:
-for a Committee person- you need Youth Protection, Fast Start, New Leader Essentials and Troop Committee Challenge.
-for the Scoutmaster and/or any Assistant Scoutmaster- you need Youth Protection, Fast Start, New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Sessions 1,2,3, and the Outdoor Leader Skills overnight.
Once you have completed your "Basic" training, you are eligible to take Wood Badge and complete your advanced training.
The details for the upcoming live courses for Adult Leaders:
Sept. 29, 2007 8:45am-4:30pm at Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, 1845 Wantagh Ave. , Wantagh . - New Leader Essentials and SM/ASM Specific 1.
Oct. 6, 2007 8:45am-4:30pm at Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, 1845 Wantagh Ave. , Wantagh . - SM/ASM Specific 2 and 3.
Outdoor Leader Skills overnight- Oct. 27-28, 2007 Schiff Scout Reservation, Wading River .
You must register in advance to take any of these classes. Please contact Mike to pre-register!
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