Taughannock District
Baden-Powell Council, BSA
Training

Training Chairs: Mike Homrighaus and Jim Graney
Any questions on training? E-mail training@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org 

Are all of your unit's leaders trained?

For a list of what courses a leader needs to take to be considered "trained", see this document on the Council Website. 

Here are the currently scheduled upcoming training opportunities: 

• University of Scouting will be held at Chenango Forks Elementary School on March 27th. This Council program will offer:

  • Full Day Cub Leader Training - all three parts of the Cub Leader training program will be offered. This all-day session will cover This Is Scouting, YPT, Introduction to Cub Scouting, How We Have Fun, and position-specific training for Cubmaster and Assistant Cubmaster, Tiger, Wolf/Bear and Webelos Den Leader. 

  • BALOO - Basic Adult Leader Outdoor training, for all Cub Leaders who want to take their Cubs camping. 

  • Den Chief Training - a full-day program for Den Chiefs

  • Boy Scout Leader Basic Training - Sessions 1-3

  • Venture Leader Basic Training

  • Explorer Leader Basic Training

  • Commissioner Basic Training

  • Archery Range / Shooting Sports Range Director Certification

  • National Courses: Climb On Safely, Trek Safely, Hazardous Weather, Safe Swim/Safety Afloat, Leave No Trace

  • First Aid and CPR Certification Courses

  • Plus dozens of advanced courses for adult leaders at all levels.

  • Download a University Catalog and Registration Form from the Council Website. 

• OWLS - Webelos Leader Outdoor Skills - April 17th, 8:00AM at Dryden Fire Hall -  If you are involved in camping with either WEBELOS or Cub Scouts, you need to have a solid understanding of both the outdoor program and the skills required to pull off a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure! This training is open to ALL adults of any rank, whether they are Pack Staff or just interested and involved (registered) parents. This course satisfies the training requirement for the WEBELOS Leader knot. Download a flyer here. 

• BALOO - Basic Adult Leader Outdoor training, for all Cub Leaders who want to take their Cubs camping. BALOO dates in 2010 include: 

  • May 1st during the Cub Adventure Weekend at Camp Barton. Download a flyer here.

• Basic Training at Fall Roundtables: If you, or any of the leaders in your, unit have not completed basic training, including the position-specific training for the currently registered position, the District Training Committee will be offering training at Roundtables this fall. 

  • The general session at the September Roundtable will be Scouting 101 or "How to Speak Scouting" -  this will be a presentation on the organization and terminology of Scouting, from Cub Dens through National. Even if you've been a leader for a long time, you will get something out of a wash and brush-up of your Scout Speak. 

  • Position-specific training will be offered at the October Roundtable. Position-specific training will be offered for the following positions: Cubmaster and Assistant Cubmaster, Tiger, Wolf/Bear and Webelos Den Leader, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Leader and Associate Leader, Commissioner, Troop Committee member/Chartered Organization Representative. Note that anyone changing position (say, from Bear to Webelo Den Leader, or Den Leader to Cubmaster) must get the position-specific training for their new position in order to be considered "trained", unless the new position is covered by the same training as the old position (i.e. moving from ASM to SM, or Wolf to Bear Den Leader). 

  • Youth Protection Training (YPT) will be offered at the November Roundtable. All youth-contact leaders should take YPT at least once every two years - has your training passed its sell-by date? This course is also available online through http://www.myscouting.org 

  • This Is Scouting (formerly NLE) - the third part of basic leader training, formerly called "New Leader Essentials", now "This is Scouting", will be offered at the December roundtable. This course is also available online through http://www.myscouting.org 

• Train-o-Ree - while the boy leaders are enjoying a day of training, there will also be interesting courses offered for their Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and other troop-level adults. The Train-o-Ree will be held in November 2010 - details and location to be announced. 

• Friends of Scouting Presenters training will be held in January 2011 . Watch this site for details. 

If your pack or troop has a large number of people who need training, don't wait for a scheduled session - the Training Committee is also bringing the training to you! Contact them at training@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org and schedule a training session for your pack leaders. Packs should have a Pack Trainer if at all possible, so as to be able to present leader training to new leaders as needed. Also, anyone who has been through a given training module can train others, so last years' Bear leaders can train this year's leaders, and so on. 

Has your training passed its "shelf life"? 

Have you applied for recognition of your accomplishments?

The BSA has many "square knot" recognition awards for taking training and putting it into practice. See the Recognition section of the Advancement page for details.