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“NEW” Youth Leadership Training Continuum   BSA has developed a common Youth Leadership Training Continuum for Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts. The continuum starts with the new Introduction to Leadership Skills (ILS) courses, one each for Troop, Team, Crew, and Ship (Varsity is still being developed). The ILS for Troops (ILST) replaces the Troop Leadership Training (TLT) course.

For Venturers, ILS for Crews (ILSC) replaces the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC). The continuum second and third levels, NYLT (council), and NAYLE (national), are the three levels of the Venturing youth leadership training continuum. Therefore, the continuum is ILSC, NYLT, and NAYLE. Read on for information on how the format for NYLT and NAYLE now include Venturers and Varsity Scouts.

Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)   ILSC is intended to help Venturers in leadership positions within their crew understand their responsibilities and equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. Leadership positions in a crew can be defined as all elected positions and any appointed positions at the discretion of the crew. In some crews, this might mean that this course is for every youth member. In fact, it is desired that every member of the crew have some kind of leadership responsibility every year, even if it is a minor responsibility. It can be conducted at the Crew or Ship level by the adult leaders or it can be conducted at a district or council level, but it is preferable for the course to be presented with the assistance of Venturers who have had ILSC, VLSC or other advanced leadership training. Venturers who have completed the ILSC will wear the Trained patch on their uniform. (Note: Venturing members who completed VLSC may continue to wear the trained emblem for that course).

ILSC is the first major course (after the Officers’ Briefing) in the series of leadership training offered to Venturers and consists of three 90-minute modules which can be taught separately or together.  Completion of this course is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership course National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) – called Impeesa in the NCAC. It is also required for Kodiak.

The reason this introductory level leadership course has been redesigned is to align the training platform for all BSA programs so that Scouts and Venturers may transition smoothly from one course to the next regardless of what type of unit they belong to. All but the intro is now "program neutral" and each course needs the same basic info and leadership vocabulary as a prerequisite.

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)   NYLT brings together Boy Scouts and Venturers from all over the Council for an action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. The Scouts learn and practice leadership skills and styles together in a program-neutral group concept. The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE what he/she must KNOW, and what he/she must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the team goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.

NYLT is a six-day course. Content is delivered in a group and team 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. All content presentations are made by inspiring NYLT-graduate Scouts and Venturers.

 National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE)  The National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) is offered by the Philmont Training Center and based at the Rocky Mountain Scout Camp. It will be offered in the Northeast Region during 2011. This camp is designed to provide Boy Scouts and Venturers with a Philmont-based wilderness encounter that will motivate him or her to follow a life of helping others succeed based on the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. The Philmont leadership is committed to making NAYLE a very special experience. Scouts and Venturers will live in a team setting at Rocky Mountain Scout Camp where they will use leadership skills to resolve exciting and challenging backcountry situations. This week will conclude with a closing challenge for each Scout to build upon the Legacy of Waite Phillips, the benefactor of the Philmont Scout Ranch. NAYLE will equip youth leaders to be better unit Leaders, NYLT staff members and/or superior camp staff.  It will help guide a Scouts’ journey in leadership service to others, able to develop all members of whichever team they lead. It provides life skills for now and the future.

 NYLT to NAYLE Bridge The purpose of this course is to provide a summary of National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) skills to those youth, who are interested to attend the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE), yet have been unable to attend a council NYLT course for reasons beyond their control. The Bridge course reviews all of the key leadership skills taught in NYLT, which are then reinforced by the experiential learning environment of the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE).

The intention of the NYLT to NAYLE Bridge syllabus is to be offered as a 5-hour course so that the exercises can be experienced. However this may not be possible therefore the course format can be shortened to be offered without the activities, and grant the permission for qualified youth who are able to easily grasp leadership concepts to read the syllabus (and watch the required video clips) as a substitute for the course. This latter option is only allowed IF an NYLT Course Director or other qualified adult with NYLT experience will ensure that the required learning has taken place. NCAC will offer this course in early 2011.

“NEW” Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS)  A new Sea Scout Quarterdeck youth leadership training course is being developed. It will be similar to the one for Crews, but will be Sea Scout specific. The Draft ILSS course will be offered at the Sea Scout Winter Training and at the University of Scouting in 2011.

Kodiak  Kodiak is a youth leadership development course that is presented as part of an outdoor program – six days or two three-day weekends. It is based on the servant-leader concept and teaches seven leadership skills called commissions using illustrations found in nature - effective teams, values/vision, communications, decision making, planning, inclusion and servant leadership. Kodiak can be used by Venturing Crews, Sea Scout Ships, Varsity Teams, and Scout Troops. Kodiak can be presented a crew, district or council in an outdoor setting in your local area or remote to the council. Draft syllabus.

All Kodiak treks must be approved by the Scout Executive. In the NCAC, the Leadership Development Committee has a Kodiak Trek Approval form to be completed by the lead contact for any group planning a Kodiak trek. This can be obtained from Catherine Pressler, Venturer Leadership Development representative on the Leadership Development Committee.

 As of 2011, Kodiak X will be discontinued. The significant features of Kodiak X will not be lost -- servant leadership was added to Kodiak and mentoring will now be a stand-alone program in BSA.

 Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders  The Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders workshop is a six-hour classroom seminar with a three-month follow-up monitored practicum. The experience will introduce participants to two distinct styles of mentoring – the sponsorship and the developmental model of mentoring -- as well as their benefits and when these models are appropriate.

This seminar is designed for youth leaders in Venturing or Boy Scouts that are at least 15years of age, but not yet 21. Because this course expects that participants are familiar with the concepts of planning, goal setting, communications, and teamwork, participants must have completed either National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) or Kodiak.

This syllabus may be presented to adult leaders in all Scouting programs. Because this course expects that participants are familiar with the concepts of planning, goal setting, communications, and teamwork, adult participants must have completed the course sessions of Wood Badge.

When the course is conducted, these two target audiences are not to be mixed. It must be either all youth leaders or all adult leaders. This is done to allow youth leaders to have the confidence to voice their concerns during the discussions of the session.

Venturers completing the course receive a Mentor patch to be worn on the sleeve of their uniform. Draft syllabus