Training Schedule- What's Next?

[Eagle91]

Eagle Scout Class of 1991 & Scoutmaster for the last 18 months

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ADMIN EDIT: OA topic split from OP (here) and created at: "Sash and Dash" -- Advice?

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I am looking for feedback from my fellow Scouters...

I have an opportunity to attend National Leadership Seminar and Wood Badge in 2013. However, due to my troop and family commitments- I can only do 1 of them.

Should I take NLS before Wood Badge? Vice Versa?

What is the curriculum and what are the benefits of each?

Which training is better?

Where does one go after Wood Badge?

I have 4 boys- and will be involved in Scouts for another 10 + years as a leader. I need to space things out- to give me something to always look forward to in my role in Scouting.


Thanks!

[Fred Johnson]

I'm not sure taking one before the other is that important without considering your life specifics. Calendar. Needs.

- Woodbadge has value in showing how a troop is supposed to run and teaching some team leadership dynamics. For myself, I'd seen the team leadership stuff many times thru corporate training and graduate school. Lots of what is taught is standard teaming stuff. What I found valuable is watching how Woodbadge ran a troop as an ideal for how we should run troops.

- NLS (Philmont right) sounded like it had some pretty good courses. Strong materials and high quality. But higher cost for travel and course.

So it's really up to you to judge what you need when. Good luck.

[Eagle91]

Just to clarify...NLS is the Order of the Arrow's National Leadership Seminar.

It will be a while before I would be able to attend any training at Philmont

[FrankJ]

What I got out of WB was a chance to think about vision & interact with other dedicated scouters. Obviously you should be fully trained in your position first. Powder Horn is another good course.

[Eagle91]

What exactly is Powder horn? From what I read it sounds awesome!

Do the BSA height/weight requirements come into play for being able to attend that training?

I understand the need to be healthy and for insurance reasons - but I think some of it is extreme.

[wagionvigil]

Powder Horn is a Resoure course for leaders and Senior youth. The new course is done over One weekend, usually sarting at noon on Friday and ending late afternoon on Sunday. On the course I was Course Director for we did, Climbing,kayaking,Rifles, Shot Guns, pistol, Archery Modern Archery Ancient, GPS, Renaissance period fencing etc. If you look at the ranger Requirements for Venturing it is based upon those. Now all this is not done by local scouters BUT experts in the field. Oh we also did Snowshoeing in August for our winter Sport. I know a course that did falconry for hunting etc. It is a blast all hands on.

[FrankJ]

Every Powder Horn course is a little different. Some are still two weekends. The more the better. The ideal PH course will give you a taste for what is out there, introduce planning skills & tell where or how to find the resources to pull it off.

There are a lot of high adventure activities that require a lot more training than a weekend course provides. White water canoeing (kayaking), climbing, caving, scuba, back packing expeditions to distant places, are just a few examples. Your average crew or troop is not going to have the skill set in house to pull this off. PH teaches how to find the resources for this kind of stuff.

[kwildman]

Powder Horn is probably the most fun you can have while wearing a scout uniform.

However, if it is training you are after, I would recommend Wood Badge. WB is not only about learning but about doing. A strong ticket will make you a better scouter, and make your unit, district, or council better depending upon your position. A pair of small wood beads and a leather thong can tell you alot about the person wearing them.

Good luck on your training endeavors.

[White Bear]

NLS sounds interesting - never really paid attention to it before (Not a big OA person. Made it to Brotherhood...then college). I did the OLD Wood Badge back in '95, learned alot about program and myself (too stubborn to do the New WB).

I'd shoot for the National Leadership Seminar first - this is only an opinion. Sounds interesting.

[mt_goodrich]

Not knowing much about the NLS, I'd say Wood Badge. However, you have peaked my interest in NLS.

I plan on attending Philmont Leadership Challenge next September. It is training after Wood Badge.

And Powder Horn is on my list of things to do.