Weekend Course: April 18-20 and April 25-27, 2008 FIND OUT WHAT'S NEW!

What's new this year?
The Minsi Trails Council will be sponsoring a two Troop course in 2008 to provide additional opportunities for the Scoutmasters to train your youth leaders. The National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course training course supports Scoutmasters in their primary responsibility of training youth leaders. The Minsi Trails Council will offer the two weekend course in April, 2008.

Built on the legacy of past youth leader training courses, NYLT integrates the best of modern leadership theory with the traditional strengths of Scouting experience. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skills and confidence to lead well. Through a wide range of activities, events, games, and adventures, NYLT participants will work and play together as they put into action the best that Scouting has to offer.

The course is set up to represent a month in the life of a Scout Troop.  Patrols experience the stages of team development. Scouts discover that leadership requires vision, goals, and planning. Participants are provided a "toolbox" of leadership skills.

The National Youth Leadership Training is an outdoor experience for boy leaders in support of the Scoutmaster's responsibility for the training of Troop junior leaders. It is conducted by the council leadership training committee using an outline approved by the Boy Scout Division of the Boy Scouts of America.

What’s the Date?
The two-weekend course will occur Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20 and Friday, April 25 to Sunday April 27.

Attendance at both weekends for the entire weekend is required to complete the course. If you cannot be at both weekends or attend the entire time period of both weekends please do not register since you will not pass the course and you will be depriving another Scout of an opportunity.

What's the Location?
The course will be held in Akelaland in the Trexler Scout Reservation, Jonas, PA.

What's the Cost?
The cost for the conference is $165.00 per Scout, which includes all food and training materials. If fees are not paid in full by April 4, 2008 the fee is $185.00. Troops are encouraged to pay at least part of the fee from their budgets.

Who May Attend?
Qualified participants are all four:

1. Your Troop's senior patrol leader or a Scout with other Troop leadership experience and the skills and abilities to be senior patrol leader in the future.

2. At least 14 years old by September 1, 2008.

3. Star Scout (First Class Scouts will be accepted if they have the physical and emotional maturity to benefit fully from the experience).

4. Actively supported by their Scoutmaster. A signed recommendation is required.

Is Any Special Equipment Needed?
An equipment list will be sent to each participant. He should bring the same clothing and equipment he would take to summer camp, together with a completed medical form from a current physical exam. Each Scout will represent his home Troop and will wear its insignia. Full uniforms are needed.

How many Scouts may my Troop send?
NYLT is a training program, designed to improve the Troop program. Troops may nominate one boy leader for every thirty (30) Scouts, or portion thereof, registered in the Troop. They can also nominate alternates who will be accepted for the course if space is available after March 29, 2008. Troops need to name the boy leader(s) who will attend at the time a nomination is made.

Pre-course Meeting
A pre-course meeting will be held on March 29, 2008 for Scouts, parents and the Scout's Scoutmaster. We will review course expectations, equipment needed, the Scoutmaster's role, and answer any questions. Final payments may be made at the meeting.

RESERVATIONS
The course is limited to 96 participants so reserve space for your key youth leader(s) as soon as possible as. Send in the attached
nomination form to:

Minsi Trails Council, BSA
P.O. Box 20624
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-0624

A $75.00 deposit per Scout is required with the registration form to hold the reservation. The remaining fee is to be paid by April 4, 2008.. If full fee is not paid by April 4, 2008 then the fee is $185.00. No refunds after April 4, 2008

Who Directs the Conference?
The course directors for the two training Troops are Charles O'Connell and Charles Ricketts. They are experienced Scout Leaders who are Wood Badge trained. They are building a staff of outstanding Minsi Trails Council youth and adult leaders.

Where Can We Get More Information?
Additional information can be obtained from:
Council NYLT Coordinator Wayne Gross 570-595-2904
Email: wegseg@msn.com

Download NYLT Flyer (pdf format)
Minsi Trails Council  NYLT websitehttp://www.minsi-nylt.com/