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Hi folks!
Many of you have asked questions similar to the one below:
"I am a relatively new Scoutmaster and want to get my Senior Patrol Leader and other youth trained -- but the cost of sending them is as much or more than sending them to a week at our summer camp. I would much rather he go and lead the Troop at the summer camp than to spend a week at a "leadership camp". Are there reasons why the "leadership camp" is more expensive than regular summer camp? What is he getting from attending that I can justify to the Troop's committee, let alone his parents, about the value of the additional week at camp? Are there any short courses or other things I can do with him to get him trained for his role? There used to be a weekend training course that Scoutmasters can put on to train all of the officers -- is that still valid or do we have to send our senior Scouts?"
Let's start at the bottom and work our way upward.
Background on youth leadership development courses:
Since the start of the BSA, the program has emphasized the ability for youth to lead various Scouting units -- not the Scoutmaster or other adults. The Scoutmaster's role has always been to advise, be a consultant and assistor to the young man who leads the Troop.
The training of youth leaders to take charge start with the Scoutmaster. As mentioned, there is a Troop Operations Workshop (the name keeps changing as the BSA keeps moving forward) which is a one-weekend training and coordination course with the goal of developing the Troop's calendar for the next six-nine months. This training is JOINTLY LED by the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster.
So how does the Senior Patrol Leader (and his appointed Assistants as well as others with potential to serve as Senior Patrol Leader in the future) get the knowledge and information needed to successfully conduct the Troop Operations Workshop as well as working and coaching other youth leaders?
They attend a "Junior Leader Training" (JLT) Course. It is NOW called "National Youth Leadership Training" or NYLT. Here is what the BSA says about this great course:
National Youth Leadership Training 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.
For many years, junior leader training (JLT) was an important part of the leadership training continuum of BSA local councils throughout America. In 2003 and 2004, a task force of leadership experts and hundreds of Scouts in pilot courses across the nation reviewed and tested every aspect of the new NYLT syllabus, which incorporates the latest leadership ideas and presents fresh, vital and meaningful training for today's Scouts.
The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. (sounds a lot like the BE, KNOW, DO concept found in America's military leadership training courses.) The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.
NYLT is a six-day course. Content is delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon, and aided by the use of memory aids, which allows participants to understand and employ the leadership skills much faster.
Built on the legacy of past JLT successes, the new NYLT integrates the best of modern leadership theory with the traditional strengths of the Scouting experience. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skill and confidence to lead well. Through a wide range of activities, games, and adventures, participants will work and play together as they put into action the best Scouting has to offer.
The importance of sending two of your leaders to NYLT:
No, you don't HAVE TO send your Senior Patrol Leader and one other Troop or Team leader to NYLT. But if you're wanting a more successful youth-ran and led Troop operation, you SHOULD STRONGLY recommend that the parents approve and the Troop sends the Senior Patrol Leader (and one other Scout) to NYLT.
Wait a minute -- I was talking the Senior Patrol Leader. You're adding ONE MORE PERSON? What's the deal here?
My personal experience -- as well as those of hundreds of other Scouters who served as key leaders -- tells me that Troops need to send TWO Scouts to the Council's youth leadership training course (called by different names in different localities). Why?
Why is this course so expensive?
The course is expensive because of three key factors: the need for a larger location and duration for this course (it is conducted over a week so this requires more money for food, housing, staffing); the materials which must be paid for, printed and distributed during the course; and the insignia, tee-shirts and other items which participants are encourged to purchase and use back home.
How do we pay for this? We're talking between $150 - 200 per Scout!
"Each Scout pays his way". I would propose that the SCOUT AND HIS PARENTS pay for a quarter of the cost of the training course (+/- $50), This insures that the Scout leader and his parents are fully engaged in what should be a great experience for the Scout and insures that this experience is NOT a "free ride" just because the youth of the Troop elected him Senior Patrol Leader (or was appointed to a Troop office).
The CHARTERED PARTNER ORGANIZATION should pay 50 percent. It is an investment into the future of the Troop, and the chartered partner organization should take an active interest in how the Troop is ran, managed, and operated. Some chartered partners cannot or will not pay this small fee (about $200/yr for the two Scouts). A "Plan B" approach (see below) should take place but most chartered partners would understand that leadership development is worth paying for.
The TROOP or TEAM should pay the remaining 25 percent. This can be budgeted from the monthly/weekly dues, from fund raising campaigns, from the "Plan B" assets.
In NO CASE, however, should Scouts or their families have to pay the TOTAL FEE for attending the course. The majority of the costs should be paid by the UNIT and the CHARTERED PARTNER ORGANIZATION. Remember that this is a TROOP training event, not an individual training event!
The costs of the course include food, patrol camping equipment and training materials, T-shirts, neckerchief, insignia and other typically "extra" items is also built into the course fee.
What's the Plan when we CAN'T get the chartered partner organization and/or the Troop to pay for the Scouts' attendance?
One cannot "make" the chartered partner organization nor the Troop "pay". Your District's Executive, Unit Commissioner, or other Scouters can help your Troop's Committee with understanding the importance of this leadership training experience -- and therefore to work with the unit's chartered partner to provide the resources to get your Scouts to attend the course.
And you talked about a "Plan B"? What's that?
So you can't get the Troop nor the chartered partner organization to help out. Check out the "Plan B" portion below.
The question was posed to me:
"I've got a GREAT 16 year old young man. He's served as our Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) for two years and is well-liked by our youth membership. We've sent him last summer to NAYLE (the National Youth Leadership Experience -- the present version of the "National Junior Leader Training Course" offered through Philmont's Natonal Volunteer Training Center) and he is currently serving as the Senior Patrol Leader of our Council's NYLT course.
With all of that, is there any other courses we can recommend he attend or send him to? In our Troop, we view youth leadership development as a reason why we manage to attract and retain young men...but at the same time, we don't want to "burn out" our great leaders like this young man by sending him to BSA stuff, OA staff, Jamboree staff, etc. etc. Do you know of other good youth leadership courses we can send him to?"
Sure!! Check out this website -- it has links to all kinds of great national and regional leadership development and community activitsm conferences and courses:
A HREF="http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=1752">Youth Leadership Development Programs and Workshops
It sounds like you've got a GEM there...do share him with your community and local Council while you can!!
If the plan to get your unit and chartered partner to send your youth to training falls through, here's some ideas and resources to consider:
(If you have additional resources for financial support to youth leadership training events, please post me and let me know. This resource will not be of maximum assistance without your assistance! Thanks!)
Although I'm not really up on the scolarships, any Eagle attending college should speak to their counsellor about credits for earning Eagle. Friends have gotten anywhere from one to three college credits for being an Eagle Scout. Along with these, bring First Aid/CPR certifications. Many colleges offer these courses as health credits and are willing to give credit when a valid certificate is presented