Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills  (BCOLS)

This course is aimed at all adults working with older youth regardless of program (Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturer, or Explorer).  This training IS NOT recommended for Cub Scout leaders.  All participants must have completed Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, as well as the position-specific training for their program area (Venturing or, Varsity or, Boy Scout) prior to attending this course and be able to meet physical requirements of the BSA Annual Health & Medical Record.

The target audience are leaders planning High Adventure treks at backcountry venues not supported by BSA infrastructure; however, units planning to attend High Adventure bases supported by BSA will find this course useful, inasmuch as unit shakedowns will, most likely, take place in venues not supported by BSA infrastructure.

Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills is offered by the NCAC Training Committee as an optional follow-on to the basic course, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.  Its goal is to provide adult leaders with an overview of such topics as:

• Working With Older Youth
• Risk Management
• Leave No Trace
• Crew Equipment Needs
• Wilderness First Aid** & Personal Hygiene
• Terrain Awareness & Land Navigation
• Leadership Teambuilding & Development
• Equipment Maintenance
• On the Trail Tips
• Cooking & Clean-up
• Resources
• Personal Equipment Needs

Part 1 — Addresses ways to effectively work with older youth and covers the detailed preparation and planning that must be done before you go out including risk management.  Summarizes the personal and crew equipment used for lightweight camping. Plans are also made for the weekend overnight session.  

Part 2 — Participants will practice core leader skills for the outdoor program — Leave No Trace, navigation (map & compass plus GPS), terrain awareness, expedition menu planning and food preparation, stove and stove maintenance, wilderness first aid issues, expedition health and hygiene, team building.

**BCOLS’ Wilderness First Aid instruction is merely an overview; we support the BSA Wilderness First Aid requirement. For information on Wilderness and Remote First Aid visit http://w3bsa.org.