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Training - Adults and Scouts

All scouts who are elected or appointed to a leadership position are expected to attend troop junior leadership training (JLT), which is scheduled on a Friday night/Saturday morning. The JLT should take precedence over any other conflicting activity in which the scout may be involved.

 

Those scouts who show very good leadership abilities can be nominated by the Scoutmaster to attend SHAC junior leader training held each year during the Christmas break and early June. If the scout shows exceptional leadership ability at the council level, he will be invited to National Junior Leader Training held each summer at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

 

No one in Boy Scouting is asked to do something without first being offered the proper training. Training courses offered at the troop level for adults include; Fast Start, Troop Committee Training, Youth Protection Training, Health and Safety, Safe Swim Defense, CPR, Safety Afloat, and Merit Badge instructor training.

 

All of these courses, plus many more, are also offered at the district and council level with listings found in the Scouter Magazine, plus online at shac.org and mustangdistrict.org.

 

It is against Boy Scout policy to have outings and campouts without adults being currently trained in CPR, first aid, lifesaving, canoeing, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, etc., as the campout may dictate. Scouts may not rock climb, rappel, shoot rifles or shotguns without a certified instructor in attendance. Again, this is Boy Scout policy and is done for the safety and protection of the scouts.

 

If there are adults that have a particular expertise and are willing to devote time to train and instruct the scouts, they are urged to take the necessary courses to become certified.

 

Once a year all training courses available from BSA are offered by SHAC on one Saturday in January at the University of Scouting held at MacArthur High School in the Aldine School District. It is possible to take as many as four training courses on one day.

 

For those adults who have a higher level of interest in the scouting program, advanced training is available at the district and council level. Scoutmaster Fundamentals is taught at the district level twice a year and requires a commitment of one Tuesday night, one Saturday of classroom instruction, and one weekend of camping.

 

This course is available to all registered adult leaders and is highly recommended for new Assistant Scoutmasters and those holding key committee positions. The course will review all the policies and procedures of the BSA at the troop level, plus train the adults in the patrol method.

 

If you found that you really liked Scoutmaster Fundamentals, the next level is Wood Badge, considered the PhD of Scouting and is taught at the Council level.

 

The course curriculum has recently been changed and now requires only two 2-day weekends.

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