Golden Arrow District

Training for Boy Scout Leaders

	For a Boy Scout leader to be considered "trained" and to wear the Trained badge on his/her uniform, the leader must complete the following training:
	Fast Start New Leader Essentials Position specific training and for Scoutmasters & ASMs, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills

Steps for Training

Fast Start	Watch the Fast Start video. The video is about 30 minutes long and is available from the Scout Office and most Troops have copies.
New Leader Essentials	This course highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style with Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Venturing. Videos, discussion and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. Since this is a cross-program session, each leader completes New Leader Essentials training only once.
Position Specific Training	This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Each course is designed for a specific leader position, and, if your scouting position changes, you should take the next appropriate course. These courses are are as follows: Scoutmaster Specific: for scoutmasters, asst scoutmasters, and others interested Troop Committee Specific: for committee chairs and members, and parents MB Counselor Specific: for anyone who is a merit badge counselor The Scoutmaster Specific course is in three sessions of approx. 2.5 hrs each. The Troop Committee Specific course is in a single session of approx. 3.0 hrs. The Merit Badge Counselor course is in a single session of approx. 1.5 hrs. (see schedule below)
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills	Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and this course provides leaders with the basic outdoor skills needed to start a program right. The skills taught are based on the those found in The Boy Scout Handbook. The course has an initial orientation session which is held in Houston, and then a weekend campout held a week or two later at a location approximately one hour northwest of Houston. Click here for details.
Roundtable Meetings	Meet with leaders of other troops at the GAD Roundtable, which is held on the first Thursday of most months. Click here for details on Boy Scout Roundtable.
University of Scouting	A major one-day training fair held for Boy Scout and Venturing leaders from all over the Sam Houston Area Council. University of Scouting is usually held in early February. Click here for details.
Advanced Training	Consider taking the Wood Badge or Powder Horn courses, or the other training courses described under "Training Overview".

Boy Scout Leader Training Schedule for 2008-09:

Scoutmaster Specific - session 1 - session 2 - session 3	Sat, Oct 4, '08 Sat, Oct 4 Sat, Oct 4	8:30a - 11:00a 11:00a - 2:30p 2:30p - 5:00p	(location to be announced later)
Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills	Wed, Oct 1, '08 & S-S, Oct 11-12	See link below
Merit Badge Counselor Training	Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008	7:30p - 9:00p	St Paul's Presbyterian Church	7200 Bellaire Blvd, at Southwest Frwy
New Leader Essentials (during the Merit Badge Fair)	Saturday, Oct 25, 2008	9:00a -11:00a	(location to be announced later)
Scoutmaster Specific - session 1 - session 2 - session 3	Sat, Jan 17, '09 Sat, Jan 17 Sat, Jan 17	8:30a - 11:00a 11:00a - 2:30p 2:30p - 5:00p	(location to be announced later)
Scoutmaster Specific - session 1 - session 2 - session 3	Sat, Mar 28, '09 Sat, Mar 28 Sat, Mar 28	8:30a - 11:00a 11:00a - 2:30p 2:30p - 5:00p	(location to be announced later)
Merit Badge Counselor Training	Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009	7:30p - 9:00p	St Paul's Presbyterian Church	7200 Bellaire Blvd, at Southwest Frwy
New Leader Essentials (during the Merit Badge Fair)	Saturday, Apr 4, 2009	9:00a - 11:00a	(location tbd)
Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills	Wed, Apr 15, '09 & S-S, Apr 25-26	See link below

Registration: No advance registration is required for the New Leader Essentials or
Scoutmaster Specific courses. However, please contact Fritz Maxwell (see below)
in advance so that the training team can ensure that enough copies of the training
materials are available.
For the Scoutmaster Specific course, the cost is usually $8 (mostly for lunch).
The fee is paid at the door.

For the schedule for Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, click HERE.

The Troop Committee Specific course can be conducted upon request
for individual troops or groups of troops. Contact Fritz Maxwell for scheduling.

For information, email or call Fritz Maxwell at 281-238-4438 (H)