"Every boy deserves a trained leader" is the guiding principle for the York-Adams Area Council adult leader training team.  There is no doubt that a trained leader is better prepared to offer the best possible programs for youth members in their unit.  

Basic Leader Training

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.  For more information on the basic leader training components, please click on any of the links below:

• Basic Training Overview

• Fast Start Training

• New Leader Essentials

• Leader Specific Training

Youth Protection Training

Since 1988, the Boy Scouts of America has provided adult and youth training to combat this societal problem. For adults, we have Youth Protection Guidelines for Parents and Leaders. For youth, the BSA uses a variety of tools, including videotapes, to communicate with young people about protecting themselves against all forms of abuse. The BSA’s award-winning videos of child abuse prevention help youth recognize dangerous situations and avoid becoming victims.

The video "It Happened to Me" is designed for Cub Scouts, boys ages 6 to 10, to view with their parents or guardians. The video presents five scenarios of high-risk situations that boys may encounter. It establishes safety rules that help the boys counteract the fear and shame that can result from potentially abusive situations.

"A Time to Tell" is designed for Boy Scouts, boys ages 11 to 14. This video depicts the risks of sexual abuse through dramatizations of adolescent experiences.

A third video, "Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness," is designed for any young adult (boy or girl) ages 14 to 20. It is made up of vignettes dealing with the issues of acquaintance rape, Internet safety, stalking, and fraternization. Each scenario is followed by instructions for local group discussions and a teen panel discussion, with pertinent advice regarding each situation.

The comic book series Power Pack Pals has been created to illustrate to Cub Scout–age boys the harm that bullying may cause and how to be safe when using the Internet.

These resources have been widely used—inside and outside of Scouting. To obtain copies of them, contact the council service center.

Remember, any case of abuse is one too many!

Adult Leaders -
Take Youth Protection Training On-Line Right Now!

Wood Badge

Wood Badge is the advanced scout leader training course. Begun in 1919 by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting and Wood Badge’s first director, it came to America in 1948. Continually updated to reflect the current BSA policies and programs, incorporate the latest material and utilize the techniques available, Wood Badge has become the most advanced leadership training course in Scouting! In this course, Scouters learn practical leadership skills in a lecture-practice format. The skills taught are applicable to every leader and provide a common foundation for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venture programs. 

York-Adams Area Council will be offering Wood Badge at Camp Tuckahoe April 20-22 and May 4-6, 2007.  More information ...