Iron Horse District Training

If you have specific training needs for training or need training brought to you, contact Steve Rollings.

What training do I need?

Parent: It is recommended that all parents of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing Scouts take the Youth Protection Training (YPT) on-line. The course takes 30-45 minutes to complete and you can do it at your leisure at home. (See below for specifics.)

Committee Members: Committee Members are required to have Youth Protection Training, Fast Start Orientation and "This is Scouting!" (or NLE). Those trainings can be done on-line. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that Cub Scout Committee Members take Cub Scout Committee Leader Specific and Boy Scout Committee Members take Troop Committee Challenge training.

Merit Badge Counselors: As a MB Counselor serving the youth of your unit and the Tall Timbers District, Youth Protection Training is required. It is also strongly recommended that you complete the online training, "This is Scouting!", and attend a Merit Badge Counselor Orientation training.

Cub Scout Leaders: All adults serving as Cub Scout Den Leaders or Cubmasters are required to have Youth Protection Training, Fast Start Orientation, "This is Scouting!" or NLE training, and Leader Specific Training for the rank you are leading or position you hold. One member of each Pack is required to have attended Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) to plan an effective outdoor program for your pack. These courses should be completed within the first few months of registering your role.  Advanced training such as Wood Badge and Powderhorn are strongly recommended. 

Scoutmasters: All adults serving as Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters are required to have Youth Protection Training, Fast Start Orientation, "This is Scouting!" or NLE training, Boy Scout Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS). These courses should be completed within the first year of registering in a Scoutmaster role.  Advanced training such as Wood Badge and Powderhorn are strongly recommended.

National Training (National online training website.  Requires registration)

Council Training (Sam Houston Area Council training page)

Online Training

There is a lot of new, well-developed online training now available on the BSA Online Learning Center portal.

To enter you will be asked if you are a member. If you are a member, select the Council # (576) and anter your BSA ID# and the site will maintain a record of what you've started and completed. If you are not a member, you will be prompted for the normal personal information and to agree to the policies of the site. The best part about being registered is that it is handy for retreiving and printing a Youth Protection Training certificate necessary to attend any of the the Council Scout camps this summer, whether it's Sam Houston Area or another Texas Council. See below for more details.

Using the BSA Online Learning Center

http://www.scouting.org/myscouting

The Boy Scouts of America offers a wide range on on-line training.  Your first visit to the site will require you to register as a new user. Registration is quick and easy. During the registration process it will ask you for the name of your council; we are the Sam Houston Area Council. It will also ask for your Member ID; if you don't know it or don't have one, you can skip that line.

If you experience trouble logging in after activating your account, users are advised to wait 1 hour after activating their accounts before taking an online course. If you are still having trouble, please exit and re-enter the Online Learning Center site. 

Youth Protection Training (YPT)

http://www.scouting.org/myscouting

The BSA places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. All Cub Scout and Boy Scout adult volunteers (and parents) should take this course. It covers the BSA's Youth Protection policies, kinds of abuse, signs of abuse, how to respond to disclosure of abuse, and proper reporting procedures. It does so by taking you through situations that require choices and produce consequences.

Starting January 1, 2009 BSA is requiring all adult leaders to renew their Youth Protection Training certification every two years.

Fast Start Orientation

http://www.scouting.org/myscouting 

As a new Scout leader, you are joining our Scouting family, and we want you to understand how the program works. The Fast Start Orientation video and guide will help explain it. These materials present a quick introduction to get new leaders ready for your first Boy Scout meeting.

This is Scouting!

http://www.scouting.org/myscouting

"This Is Scouting" (formerly New Leader Essentials) is an online interactive learning experience that is divided into six modules. It picks up where Fast Start left off and introduces participants to the following areas of the Scouting program: Mission, Vision, and Values; Programs for All Ages and Abilities; Scouting Is Fun!; Scouting in the Community; Protecting Our Youth; and Scouting’s Legacy. This is Scouting is replaces New Leader Essentials and can be found on the Online Learning Center.  

Supplemental Training Courses (Online)

The following courses can also be found and completed at the BSA Online Learning Center.

• Safe Swim Defense
• Safety Afloat
• Weather Hazards
• Climb on Safely
• Trek Safely

What makes a "Trained" leader? A direct contact Scout leader is considered fully trained and entitled to wear the Trained leader emblem when he or she  has completed the following training courses and the specific training for the position.

Fast Start Training - Online Learning Center.
Youth Protection Training - Online Learning Center.
This is Scouting - Online Learning Center.

Position Specific Training - Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training is for all Scoutmasters and their assistants. Boy Scout leaders also must complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training to be considered fully trained.

Varsity Scout Coach Leader Specific is for all Varsity Coaches and assistants Coaches. Varsity Coaches and assistant Coaches must also complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training to be considered fully trained.

Advanced Training

Woodbadge

Wood Badge is leadership training for all Scout Leaders who are involved in the programs of the Boy Scouts of America – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing, as well as council and district leaders, and professionals.  Focusing on leadership and “people” skills, and not Scoutcraft or outdoor skills. Incorporating the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience and drawing upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country.    Skills developed from Wood Badge training will help a volunteer leader do a better job in any BSA program or at any level of involvement.

KODIAK / KODIAK-X

KODIAK and KODIAK-X are high adventure based youth leadership training. In KODIAK the youth are given 5 commissions which are personal and team based leadership lessons that promote growth and self-confidens in leadership. KODIAK-X adds 3 more commissions to the already 5 of KODIAK.

Trainers Edges

Trainers EDGE is BSA's trainer development course designed to help Scouters put into practice the EDGE training model and gain self-confidence through hands-on training experiences.