Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops
The First Steps in the Youth Leadership Continuum
The purpose of the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops course is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Boy Scouts in leadership positions within their troop understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops is the first course in the series of leadership training offered to Boy Scouts and is a replacement for Troop Leadership Training. Completion of Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops is a prerequisite for Boy Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). It is also required to participate in a Kodiak Challenge Trek.
Leadership in Boy Scouting
Leadership is a vital part of the Scouting program. Boy Scouts in positions of leadership run the troop. They take care of the many tasks necessary for troop and patrol meetings and activities to run smoothly. By accepting the responsibilities of troop leadership, Scouts are preparing themselves to be leaders throughout their lives. Opportunities to develop leadership skills are every bit as important, if not more important, to Boy Scouts and to Scouting in general as any recognition or advancement program. Scouting offers young people a rich and varied arena in which to learn and use leadership skills. It is also a way to keep Boy Scouts interested and involved—keep them busy, organized, and trained, and give them opportunities to lead.
Among the activities encountered by a troop’s leaders are
• Organizing the troop
• Planning and organizing activities and meetings
• Assigning duties to others
• Planning menus and figuring out food costs
• Encouraging advancement
• Guiding a troop’s involvement in problem-solving
• Teaching outdoor, sports, or craft skills
• Ensuring the troop’s safety during meetings and outings
• Handling the troop’s finances
• Helping other Boy Scouts make the most of their own leadership opportunities
• Encouraging participation