FYI. . .Training Updates

Training Updates
June 2009

Selected councils will pilot required training for direct-contact leaders in 2010. Plans are in development to require training for all direct-contact leaders in 2011. Councils should prepare to make training more readily available and to expand their training teams.

The national Web site, www.scouting.org, has been redesigned and will soon be much more user friendly. To get to training information, click on Volunteer, then Training, and you will see the new and improved training resource page.

This Is Scouting is now up and running. It is a six-module training course that can be completed in about an hour. It replaces New Leader Essentials. It is now available on DVD. The catalog number is 36118, and it retails for $9.99. The training code is WAO1. New Leader Essentials should now be discontinued.

The National Office had slightly over 50,000 completed training courses on the Online Training Center during the month of February and slightly over 80,000 completed training courses in March.

A new supplemental training courses now online include Interfaith Worship, Bullying, Leave No Trace, and Disc Golf. These courses can be downloaded to be used as a course outline or they can be a self-study. More new courses are in development.

The Trainer’s Edge course, which replaces Trainer Development is specifically intended for training Wood Badge and NYLT staff and is a daylong course that is focused on platform skills. The syllabus can be downloaded by going to www.scouting.org/boyscouts/adult/training.

The Philmont Training Center will offer a wide range of training courses in 2009. A complete list of the courses is on www.scouting.org. Registration can be completed on www.myscouting.org. The password is “waite.”

Hazardous Weather training is on the Online Learning Center. As of January 1, 2009, it became required to be completed by at least one person in a unit for the unit to receive a tour permit.
ScoutParent Unit Coordinator Fast Start is now on available online. For each unit to participate in the ScoutParents program, they must designate a ScoutParent unit coordinator who will coordinate parent involvement in unit activities.

As of January 1, 2009, the tour permit also requires at least one person to have completed Youth Protection Training within the past two years. BALOO does not have a two-year shelf life.
Two other new training courses are now available online. Both Trek Safely (S76) and Climb On Safely (S74) are available for Scouters to complete. Both of these courses have a two-year shelf life.

A Kodiak mountain trek for Venturing youth and older Boy Scouts will be offered this summer at Philmont Scout Ranch the week of July 26-Aug. 1. Registration is handled through www.myscouting.org. The password is “waite.” Family members can attend a training course at the training center while their youth are hiking the trek.

The centennial edition (12th) of the Boy Scout Handbook will be available in August 2009. It will feature a mixture of parts of many of the early handbooks with a 21st century flair. The handbook features chapters on Leadership and Leave No Trace, which both are firsts. There will be a supplemental 100-year timeline book with the first printing and a mini-book with the rank requirements that is pocket size. A Web site will provide in-depth information on many subjects.
Training courses that require people to be re certified include BSA Lifeguard (three years), Paddle Craft Safety (three years), Swimming & Water Rescue (three years), Climb On Safely (two years), Trek Safely (two years), Safe Swim Defense (two years), Safety Afloat (two years), Camp Visitation (two years), Chainsaw Safety (two years), and National Camp School (five camping seasons).

A new resource of information that you may not be aware of is now available on http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org.

COR fast start training is in development and will soon be available online.

The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base will be the site of a Volunteer Development Training Conference the week of Jan. 18-23, 2010. Courses to be offered will be Strictly for Scoutmasters, Strictly for Cubmasters, Advancement Policy and Procedures, Webelos to First Class, Geo cache and Scouting, and Administration of Venturing. Additional information and registration is available on www.scouting.org.