Dan Beard Council Information and Updates Regarding Training Requirements

Dan Beard Council continues to have a strong record of positive training metrics.  In addition, we continue to look at our culture and approach to training at both a local and a national level in the Boy Scouts of America.  After review and consideration, the leadership of the Program and Training Committees presented a new training resolution at the previous board meeting that was voted on and adopted. This resolution emphasizes a new philosophy for training in Dan Beard Council. Specifically the resolution:

• Encourages all adult leaders to make ongoing training, designed for their respective position, an integral part of their responsibility in leading Scouts;
• Encourages ongoing training for all adult leaders utilizing a balance of online training modules and hands-on practical learning;
• Emphasizes ongoing training as an essential component of quality program, rather than a requirement of registration;
• Encourages each unit to appoint a champion for training who will track, assist, and drive ongoing training to all adult leaders in the unit;
• Retires and replaces all previous resolutions and requirements of adult leader training

What does this mean for you and your district? Going forward, as it relates to charter renewal and adult applications, youth protection will be the only required training for registration. Additionally, it aligns Dan Beard Council with the BSA National Council regarding training requirements and sets the expectation that volunteer leaders will make training a priority by encouraging them to complete the necessary trainings to be qualified as an officially trained leader. It also encourages units to appoint a champion for training who will help to manage training within the unit (much like advancement) since my.scouting.org gives units the ability to oversee this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was a change made?

The Dan Beard Council and the Board of Directors believe that adult leader training is essential in ensuring that all registered youth receive the best Scout program possible. The philosophy in training both locally and nationally is shifting. While the previous requirements have served us well, we need to encourage ongoing learning and development of our leaders throughout their time in Scouting. We will do this by utilizing a balance of online training modules and hands-on practical learning in the field. The new online modules in the My Learning Center further help to provide a tool that is accessible leaders at a time convenient to them.

“We want to create a culture where learning is seen as beneficial, helpful and available to our leaders when they need it.” This also better aligns us with National requirements for training, which emphasizes ongoing training as an essential component of quality program, rather than a one-time training requirement at the time of registration; and encourages leaders to ultimately become fully trained for their position. Rather than training being a barrier to getting registered and preventing someone from helping to serve as a volunteer, we can ideally get more volunteers engaged, and then offer them the training they need and deserve to best fulfill their role. With these principles in mind, the Board of Directors passed a new resolution at the last board meeting that encourages these new principles.

How does this impact Charter Renewal for 2016/2017?

Required for 2016 Charter Renewal:
-Youth Protection Training is a requirement of registration for every adult and must be renewed every 2 years. Additional details for Youth Protection Training below.

Additional Encouraged Training Items:
– The Dan Beard Council expects all adult leaders to make ongoing training, designed for their respective positions, an integral part of their responsibility in leading Scouts; and encourages all adult leaders to complete the training necessary to become an officially Trained Leader for their leadership position within one year of accepting a leadership responsibility. The full list of trainings to be a Trained Leader is available at www.danbeard.org/training.

– Appoint a Unit Training Champion. As of last year, the new my.scouting.org resource now allows units to track, maintain, and update their training records much like advancement records for youth. This individual would help to maintain unit training records which will assist with charter renewal in the future.

Additional Youth Protection Training Details and Requirements
If an individual’s youth protection training expires prior to April 30, 2017, it should be updated prior to submitting the charter packet. During the Charter Renewal, a District Professional or Commissioner will help to guide you through the process and ensure YPT training is complete for each adult in your unit. Please print the Youth Protection Training Aging Report to include in your packet to show that Youth Protection Training is complete. A step by step process to download this report is on page 7 of this packet.

For Venture Crews, any 18 year old or older must fill out an adult application and take Venturing youth Protection, even if he/she is still participating as a youth member of the crew . This training must be renewed every 2 years. If an individual’s Venturing Youth Protection training expires prior to April 30, 2017, it should be updated prior to submitting the charter packet. *Please note that Venturing Youth Protection Training is a different training than regular youth protection.