The Twin Rivers Council is committed to delivering a quality Scouting program to the youth and young adults in our thirteen county area.  Every boy and young adult needs and deserves a leader who is educated in the ways of Scouting, understands the aims of the program and knows how to deliver it with enthusiasm and fun – in short, a trained leader. Because they understand their role, trained leaders have a positive influence on the lives of boys and young adults. Research shows that boys and young adults with trained leaders enjoy Scouting and stay in the program longer. How well we influence the lives of boys and young adults depends on leaders understanding of the program and their responsibilities. We need to ask ourselves, which boy or young adult doesn’t deserve a trained leader?

What Makes a Trained Leader?

• Cub Scout Leaders are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, and the Cub Scout Leader Specific training for their position.

• Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. 

• Troop Committee Members are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, and the Troop Committee Challenge as their Leader Specific training.

• Varsity Scout Leaders and Assistants are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, Varsity Scout Leader Specific Training (upcoming), and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. 

• Varsity Scout Leaders and Assistants are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, Varsity Scout Leader Specific Training (upcoming), and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. 

• Venturing Crew Advisors, Assistant Advisors, and Crew Committee Members are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training, New Leader Essentials, and Venturing Leader Specific Training. 

New Supplemental Training

Supplemental training modules are designed to provide orientation beyond the basic training offered in New Leader Essentials and leader-specific training. Each module is a unit of training that can be used as an outline for a group, for personal coaching, or for self-study. Most of the outlines should require about an hour to complete. Consider each unit of study to be an introduction to the subject. Scouters are welcome to download subjects that are of interest for personal or unit use. There are no training credits associated with the completion of these units of study. Additional training units are being developed.

Selecting Quality Leaders 

This session will provide an overview of the seven steps to recruiting a key adult unit leader and will prepare participants to recruit new leaders for their units' needs.

Board of Review Training

This module will train troop committee members and others in the purposes of the board of review, offering suggestions for the types of questions that can or should be asked.

Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing

Safe Scouting can happen if you follow the Scout motto—Be Prepared. This unit of supplementary training will describe how to plan for and conduct a safe Scout outing.

Scoutmaster Conference Training

This module will teach Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, and other troop leaders about the purposes of the Scoutmaster's conference and will offer suggestions for questions that could be asked at these conferences.

The Order of the Arrow and Your Troop

This session discusses the benefits to the individual, troop, district, and council as a result of the Order of the Arrow's influence in your troop.

Troop Leadership Training

A new Troop Leadership Training program is now available. Troop Leadership Training, No. 34306A, has been rolled out to replace the Scoutmaster Junior Leader Training Kit. It is organized into three one-hour modules, which can be taught individually or all in one session. The content of the first session focuses on what a new leader must know; the second session on what a leader must be, and the third session on what a leader must do. Completing all three modules qualifies the Scout to wear the "Trained" patch under his badge of office. The new syllabus contains leadership position cards that define each position in the troop. Completion of TLT prepares the youth to attend National Youth Leadership Training.

Scouting has designed a training program that provides leaders the specific they need for the program they are leading. This just in time style of training begins with Youth Protection Training and New Leader Essentials, continues with outdoor training and is extended with the invitational Wood Badge course.  Scouting has prepared the courses; our Council’s training team provides the training courses – now it’s up to you – do you want to be the best leader for your Scouts? Come join us!

Youth Protection

As one of America’s largest youth-serving organizations, we continually address important issues that impact young people; among these is youth protection. We are committed to making the Scouting environment as wholesome as possible for our youth members and adult volunteers.

We continue to seek and implement improvements to our youth protection training. As of March 1st 2003 Youth Protection Guidelines for Adult Leaders and Parents is available via the council Web site. Youth protection is the most important training we offer. We anticipate that offering this important training via the convenience of the Internet will be well received by our volunteers who tend to have very full schedules.

Youth protection training is valid for three years.

Upon completion of the training, the volunteer will provide their name, address, e-mail address, and council information. Once this information is submitted, the volunteer’s name will be matched through the council’s database of registered leaders. If the name is matched, the volunteer will receive a certificate of completion, letter from our Scout executive, council youth protection reporting procedures, and a course information handout. If the name is not matched, the volunteer will receive everything but the certificate of completion. The volunteer may then take this information into the council service center to prove completion of the training.

As of January 1, 2003, the BSA tour permit policy requires at least one youth protection-trained leader on all trips and outings requiring a tour permit. Completion of either this online youth protection training or our traditional youth protection training meets this requirement.

We believe the critical importance of protecting our youth from abuse or violence will be recognized by all and that parents and leaders will take comfort and pride in the steps we are taking.

Basic Leader Training

The new Basic Leader Training comprises two parts: New Leader Essentials for all unit-level leaders and Leader Specific training, which is based on the leader's unit-level position.

Test Your Skils

Whether you have been in Scouting for many years or are just starting out, the Boy Scout Leader Assessment Tool is for you. The online assessment will help Scouters of all experience levels discover opportunities to refresh their understanding of Scouting and determine how to update their skills. Specifically, the Boy Scout Leader Assessment Tool will:

• Identify which BSA training courses would be most beneficial to the individual Scouter.
• Allow local council trainer chairpersons to know and understand which courses should be offered.
• Remind long-term Scouters that there are new and interesting skills for them to learn.
• Allow adult leaders to determine their strengths and weaknesses regarding Boy Scout training.
• Help our adult leaders to have the latest and greatest skills to support and mentor our Scouts.

Please allow 40 - 60 minutes to complete the assessment.