“Every Scout deserves a trained leader.”
– Boy Scouts of America
BSA Training
Adult Volunteer Training
Each registered leader must complete their BSA leader specific training and are highly encouraged to take other supplemental trainings that enhance the program for the youth. Training can be in-person at University of Scouting venues, Merit Badge Academies, or District events. Likewise, BSA offers state-of-the-art adult distance education via online programs and smart device apps.
BSA provides a variety of safety classes that certify adults to supervise youth programs. These include Powder Horn (high adventure certification course), Wilderness First Aid, NRA Range Certification, COPE Course, Climbing, and Repelling, Aquatics and Lifeguarding, Deep Sea Angler, and many more.
FYRE assists adults with any fees and travel costs associated with training. Likewise, volunteer expenses associated with FYRE and BSA are fully itemizable and tax-deductible.
BSA provides licensed training for youth ages 10.5 to 17. Training programs begin at the troop level with the basics of being a member of a patrol and using the “Patrol Method” (also referred to as a chain of command). Each unit provides Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST). ILST is a youth-led event overseen by trained adults. The ILST instructors are typically graduates from National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) that come back to the unit to share their skills. As the Scouts advance in rank and maturity they are afforded the opportunity to attend NYLT offered at the BSA Council level. Scouts may be afforded opportunities to attend BSA National’s National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) at either Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico or Summit Bechtel Scout Reservation in West Virginia. FYRE assists its Scouts with the fees associated with the training and travel. Visit BSA’s website for more information on youth training.
Youth Protection & Barriers to Abuse
The FYRE Foundation enforces BSA’s strict policy of youth protection. All registered leaders receive a law enforcement background check, must complete BSA’s youth protection training and pass the certification test. The basic premise of youth protection is adults are never to be alone with a child, always have another adult leader when interacting with youth, and plan ahead to prevent situations that could lead to placing themselves or youth in question. The FYRE Foundation goes above and beyond BSA’s standard with it’s policies. For instance, where BSA requires at least two adult leaders be present at every activity, FYRE requires that if two adults are family members (e.g. husband and wife, mother and daughter, etc.) then the pair only counts as a single adult and requires a third adult present. For more information go to https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/