Youth Training

Developing leaders is a critical component of the Scouting program. Scouting provides a wealth of materials, opportunities and training programs to help youth improve their leadership skills and deliver a quality youth-led program delivery.

Key Youth Training Programs

Leadership Skills for Troops, Crews and Ships is a course syllabus provided by National BSA and designed to teach Scouts and crew members with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role.

Scouts interested in serving as a Den Chief with a Cub Scout den are required to take this course. It is typically completed in one day or over several afternoons. Serving as a Den Chief provides a great opportunity for a young Scout to gain leadership experience. The course teaches Scouts how to help support and guide activities with a Cub Scout den, pack or day camp. Interested Scouts should speak to their Scoutmasters about these local training opportunities.

NYLT is an intense, nationally recognized week long outdoor experience and youth leadership training program. It is open to Scouts and Venturers who are 13 years or older, a first class Scout and have the recommendation of their unit leader.

Scouts and members of the coed teen programs have the opportunity to attend the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program, a nationally recognized week-long outdoor experience centered on the concepts of what a leader must be, know and do to lead well.

As a supplement to training at the unit level, NYLT provides youth with the skills they need to be effective leaders in their units. The objectives of the summer camp are to:

  • Develop a youth’s confidence and knowledge in leading the unit program
  • Gain a working understanding of resources, skills and methods for effective leadership
  • Share ideas and learn from youth from other Councils
  • Learn how to mentor and train other youth leaders in the unit

Piedmont Council encourages troops and crews to send youth members to local camps each year. Piedmont does not run its own NYLT program. Scouts and Venturers have attended local programs, including:

Requirements:  (varies by council/camp)

  • Scouts – First Class rank or higher and 13 years or older
  • Coed Venturers – 14 years or older, or graduated 8th grade and 13 years old
  • Unit Leader’s approval

Register:

Learn more about the BSA National Youth Leadership Training program here.

Additional national online youth training opportunities can be found on scouting.org.

Start typing and press Enter to search