2013 COLLEGE OF BOY SCOUTING SCIENCE

COURSE LISTINGS

LEVEL 100 COURSES

BSC101 Boy Behavior: A discussion of the characteristics and needs of the different age groups of boys found in the normal troop. Understanding these elements will lead to better communication between boys and adults and more effectiveness in controlling the group.

BSC102 The New Scout: This session will show the need for better communications between parents, the boy and the unit. It will outline the materials to be covered in the initial meeting of the parent and boy with the Scoutmaster and a suggested program of events to encourage timely advancement in rank in the Scout’s first year.

BSC103 Planning the Troop Program: Describes the annual program plan and includes a five-step annual planning process along with best-practices and lessons learned. This session also covers long-term planning and short-term monthly planning of the troop.

BSC104 The Troop Committee: The committee may not seem to be as exciting as being in front with the scouts but without an effective committee scouting is no fun for the scouts, leaders, and parents. Beyond logistics, administration, and working boards, committee members mentor scouts in their leadership roles. The committee has a key role in keeping the fun and outing in scouting.

BSC105 Scout Gear: Come discuss the uniform and equipment needs of new and older scouts. This session will provide tips and suggested guidelines for selecting gear.

BSC106 ***New***How to deliver a snappy IOLS Course: We'll present best practices from folks who have delivered dozens of these courses and discuss alternative schedules: The standard overnight program, the Sunday friendly program, two Saturdays, no overnight. One more: How to conduct IOLS at Goshen during Summer Camp. We’ll cover tips on presenting the various segments in an engaging fashion. and how to recruit a staff. We'll want to hear yourbest practices and share ours.

BSC107***New*** Scoutmaster Minute: Learn what is a scoutmaster’s minute, what it is not, and how to develop or find inspiration to give one. We will discuss lessons learned and personal experiences. You should feel comfortable developing and giving a scoutmaster’s minute when this session is done.

BSC108 Troop Quartermaster System: This session will outline the needs and general requirements for a safe efficient system for a troop quartermaster to care for, repair, and keep track of the troop camping equipment.

BSC110 Home School Scouts and Your Troop Program: Do you want to attract Scouts from the home school community? Do you know how to find them? Home Schoolers represent a growing segment of our population, but troop leaders often find it difficult to reach them. Learn how to attract and engage home school scouts into your troop program.

BSC111 Recruiting from the Troop Perspective: Recruiting is a skill set that can be taught, both to scouts and to scouters and parents. This course will explore the planning and resources necessary for a successful recruiting effort. We will look at ten specific steps and the skills and techniques necessary to implement those steps.

BSC112 ***New*** Managing a Growing Troop: So your recruitment efforts were a success! Now what? The BSA provides myriad tools to help YOU deliver the Promise to Scouts of ALL ages in your growing troop. Learn strategies for managing a troop of epic proportions without quitting your day job. You will learn how to harness the economies of scale and adult leader diversity to foster a high quality unit.

LEVEL 200 COURSES

BSC201 The Patrol Method: A discussion on the patrol method showing how boy leaders can run their troop through the patrol leader’s council. Gain insight into how successful troops use the patrol
method to help each Scout and Scouter develop his leadership abilities.

BSC203 Advancement Program (requires 2 periods): The class will be based on the 2011 Advancement Guide as well as the latest updates from National. The focus will be the nuts and bolts of the Advancement process, from when a Scout joins a troop through when he earns Eagle Palms. Participants will leave as experts!!

BSC204 Games: Scouting is a game with a purpose. Games are important. This session will discuss the different kinds of games and how they can be used in developing Scoutcraft skills and leadership.

BSC205 Troop Boards of Review: There will be a discussion on the troop’s advancement committee responsibility in conducting quality rank advancement boards of review for all ranks, including the Eagle rank. Examples of kinds of questions that might be asked will be included.

BSC206 Merit Badge Counseling: There will be a discussion of the attributes of a quality merit badge counselor and then ways the counselor can provide quality merit badge counseling with a Scout.

BSC207 ***New*** Dealing with Loss as a Unit Leader: As a unit leader, you will be called to help your scouts deal with loss in their lives: death of a parent, another scout, or a scout leader or perhaps a change in living situation. Two ministers with substantial scouting backgrounds will discuss the stages of grief and how these could be impact both the scout and the unit. The class will focus on strategies to help you lead your unit, ideas to work with the scout or scouts, and identification of resources to support you. Time will be set aside for discussion and questions.

BSC208 The Scoutmaster Conference: This course reviews the requirements and purpose of Scoutmaster’s conferences and explores ways to make the conferences valuable to both the Scout and the Scoutmaster. Ideas for and approaches to Scoutmaster’s conferences for Scouts all the way through Eagle will be presented.

BSC209 Troop Leadership and the Unit Commissioner: This course will focus on the relationship between the Scoutmaster, the Committee Chairman, and the Unit Commissioner and on ways in which to improve the troop's overall health in terms of strengthening the troop. Participants will discuss ways on how to improve the troop's overall performance, including membership, program, and the troop’s long-term future.

BSC211 No Batteries Required: Just Basic Compass and Map skills: The BSA outdoor program has taught scouts that old scout skills are still relevant today. This class will discuss the importance of basic Compass and Map skills. They can be a key to patrol method teaching and provide additional outdoor fun. Be Prepared - Scouts should have a contingency plan when on a trek. A compass and map are light and fit easily in a backpack or scout pants.

BSC212 How to Plan and Execute District Camporees: This seminar will focus on how to throw a successful Camporee party for hundreds of scouts and leaders. We will explore program and organizational challenges: developing a compelling, fun, program for the scouts while raising their subject matter knowledge (“game with a purpose”), providing necessary organizational structure, promoting the patrol method, staffing the Camporee from the units attending, successfully executing on teamwork and group vision, and other key issues. Experienced Camporee planners: come share your success stories and wisdom. Never led a Camporee before? All questions will be answered.

BSC213 ***New*** Exciting Campfires: Scouts look forward to the time around the campfire as much as almost anything in Scouting, yet we often pay little attention to making the time memorable. Learn how to make your unit campfires ones the Scouts will be telling their grandchildren about. Learn what special things need to be done when you have Webelos or new Scouts or new Scouters at your campfire, and what needs to happen at a Camporee campfire. When do you have a relaxed singing time, and when do you have a formal program? What is the difference between a campfire that is intimate and one that is exciting, and why are both important? What do you do, if no one wants to (or admits they can) sing? How big should the fire be, and should you prepare it ahead of time? Who should be the MC, and do you need an MC? Does it really matter whether campfire programs are led by Scouts or adults? Make your next campfire one your Scouts will remember forever.

LEVEL 300 COURSES

BSC300 Camping: The need for regular varied camping trips and the requirements for Scout planning and evaluation of the event is the topic. Equipment, clothing, tour permits, food, transportation, health requirements and places to try will be discussed.

BSC301 Hiking and Backpacking: The need for regular hiking trips will be discussed as well as the requirements for Scout planning and evaluation of the event. This is an advanced session on the requirements for a successful backpacking trip. Discussions will focus on equipment, clothing, tour permits, physical requirements, planning/evaluating the event, special foods, foot care and shoes, and special places to hike.

BSC302 Service Projects: Service to others and project suggestions! Rank advancement and helping other Scouts, parents, unit, sponsor and the community. Discussion includes Eagle Rank service project requirements; also shows how helping others improves self-esteem and results in respect of others.

BSC305 Retaining Older Scouts: Once scouts reach mid-teens many lose interest, miss meetings and outings, and too often drop out. This class will explore why this is the case and ways to keep the older scouts engaged and wanting to continue to come to meetings and attend troop activities.

BSC306 Why Troops Need a Troop Trainer: The National Council’s requirement that ALL adults need to be trained is being phased in. This course will address a way to use a Troop Committee person as the go to person on what training is required and by who, identify training opportunities; track progress; and assist with adult awards (knots, etc.). This person will also maintain troop records of the trained status of all leaders and submit training updates to the District Training Chair who submits the updates to (NCAC) Council.

BSC308 Developing Leaders Through Pioneering: The class will review basic pioneering skills (knots, lashings, construction techniques, etc.) and then show how they can be applied to group team building challenges to help develop leadership skills. Sample problems will be introduced along with a recommended procedure for conducting the challenges as part of leadership training.

BSC309 First Aid Can Be Fun (requires 2 periods): First aid can be very complicated and requires the Scout to remember details. This session will show techniques and methods to help the Scout remember the required details and procedures, and have fun practicing first aid.

BSC310 Crows do Soar with Eagles: How to cope with “difficult” scouts: Every troop has those scouts who are challenges to both peers and adult leaders. He comes in all ages, shapes, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds. He may be labeled ADHD, at times not a team player, or not be advancing. He can aggravate his peers and frustrate adult leaders. Secretly, in the back of our mind, if we’re honest with ourselves, part of us says, “Our troop would be better if he didn’t come.” But he keeps coming. We’ll discuss divorce, health issues, school and church partnership, and techniques for coming alongside the most troubled scouts and how to integrate them into our overall program giving them a sense of purpose and belonging.

BSC311 Don't Get All Tied Up about Knots: An introduction or refresher for those who need it. Learn or relearn the seven basic knots a scout needs to know by First Class (and a few more besides). Learn not only how to tie them, but the purposes for which they are used. Follow ME, boys... I'LL teach you how to tie a sheepshank!

BSC312 Effective Communications: Communicating effectively with our scouts, adult leaders, and parents can be challenging at times however, it is a necessity in order to ensure the right information gets to the right people at the right time. This class will explore communication techniques that will help improve the flow of information at the Troop level and higher.

BSC313 ***New*** Skiing / Snow Sports: Does your troop and/or crew want to plan a winter sport outing? Come hear ideas and tips for group and individual fun and safety, with an emphasis on skiing. Learn about where to go, what to do, and how to do it."

LEVEL 400 COURSES

BSC401 Venture Patrol: Discussion by experienced troop and district leaders! Provide a challenging outdoor unit high adventure program that keeps the older and experienced Scouts interested and active in the troop, and also helping in the advancement/leadership of the younger Scouts. BSC402 Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST): As the replacement for Troop Youth Leadership Training, ILST offers a new program for Scout success in leadership roles. Through hands-on simulations and exercises, interactive lecture, and other leadership learning tools, adult leaders in this session will participate in various ILST teaching and coaching methods. This session also discusses the Youth Leadership Training continuum and highlights connections to other quality youth courses (NYLT, NAYLE, and Venturing's Kodiak Challenge).

BSC402  Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST): As the replacement for Troop Youth Leadership Training, ILST offers a new program for Scout success in leadership roles. Through hands-on simulations and exercises, interactive lecture, and other leadership learning tools, adult leaders in this session will participate in various ILST teaching and coaching methods. This session also discusses the Youth Leadership Training continuum and highlights connections to other quality youth courses (NYLT, NAYLE, and Venturing's Kodiak Challenge).

BSC403 Troop Record Keeping: This session will discuss the need for keeping timely and accurate records of the unit’s finances and the attendance and advancement of each Scout. The different forms of records – paper/computer – will be reviewed. Council requirements for tour permits, advancement reports and re-chartering will be reviewed.

BSC404 Order of the Arrow in Your Team or Troop: Learn about the purposes and principles of the Order of the Arrow (OA). Learn about advanced leadership opportunities for Scouts in the OA and how the fellowship of older Scouts from many units increases a Scout's interest in Scouting. The class will cover basic information about the OA with primary emphasis on how the election and adult recommendation process works. The new adult recommendation procedures have been incorporated already. The TOAR program is referenced but not discussed in any detail. The target audience is adults who are not familiar with the OA.

BSC405 NYLT Scoutmaster Orientation: This orientation is required for Scoutmasters to receive the Scoutmaster Key. The course will build on and supplement material presented in Troop Youth Leadership Training (BSC402). The course will review the Youth Training Continuum, from troop level to Philmont advanced youth leadership training opportunities. The course will present the EDGE concept of leadership and training and conclude with a roundtable discussion examining effective ways to supplement the ILST program in your unit.

BSC406 Trail Cooking: This session will explore the value of quality foods on the trail. Discussions will cover the selection of foods, the care and packaging for the trail, gear to be used in the preparation and the cleanup procedures.

BSC408 How to Get and Keep Volunteers: All units depend on adult volunteers. Where do they come from? How can we get more? How can we keep them? This course will give tips on how to charm even the busiest parents into volunteering in their units.

BSC409 Webelos to Boy Scouts: It is a big jump from being a Webelos Scout and joining a Troop and becoming a Boy Scout. The session will discuss ways to prepare the Webelos Scout and his parent so the transition can be fun and meaningful.

BSC410 ***New*** Patrol Camping and Outings: This session will help you rediscover Patrol Camping as Baden-Powell envisioned through the use and reinforcement of the Patrol Method. We will explain and demonstrate how this can provide additional leadership opportunities, encourage advancement and keep older scouts interested and involved. The rules and requirements for patrol campouts and outings will be covered as well as strategies for introducing them to your troop. When you complete this course you will have all of the materials required to guide your Youth Leaders to enable them to successfully conduct a Patrol Campout.

NOTE: Courses designated with “(requires 2 periods)” count as two course credits.