Courses

Following are descriptions of training courses offered by and for volunteer Scouters in the Foothills District. Please see our Training Calendar for a current list of scheduled courses.

Intended Audience Course Description
Backcountry Outdoor Leader Skills (BCOLS)

Advanced outdoor skills for Boy Scout and Venturing leaders. (Backpacking emphasis, excellent prep for Philmont) – Participants must have completed IOLS prior to attending.
Boy Scout Leader Specific Training (BSLST)

Delivering the Boy Scout Program to the youth, this course is required for Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster positions.
Chartered Organization Representative Training (COR)

The role, responsibilities and resources for all unit CORs.
Cub Scout Parent and Leader Training

This Training is “Cub Scout Leader Position-Specific Training” for all positions, and instead of separate sessions, this is “Team Training”, geared to give Den Leaders, Cubmasters and Assistants, Committee Members, Parents and Helpers the knowledge and skills they need to have fun and active adventures for their Scouts. In Cub Scouting, your job is either (1) be a Den Leader or (2) help your Den Leader. This course is designed to show everyone how to play the game as a team in a way that is fun and that works for your local resources, community and Pack.
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)

ILSC is intended to help Venturers in leadership positions within their crew understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILSC replaces the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) and is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership courses (i.e., National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and the Kodiak Challenge).
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

Working as patrols, this hands-on course provides adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors. Upon completion, leaders should feel comfortable teaching Scouts the basic skills required to obtain the First Class rank. This course is required of all direct contact leaders registered in Boy Scout Troops and Varsity Scout Teams, in order to wear the Trained patch.
Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders (OWL)

This course is designed to help Webelos leaders enhance the outdoor program for the Webelos Scouts in their den by teaching some basic outdoor skills as well as skills needed to complete many of the Webelos activity badges. This course can be taught as a stand-alone experience but is often presented in conjunction with Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS).
Powder Horn

Powder Horn is a two weekend course geared towards teaching you how to bring the excitement back into your unit. Boring is doing the same thing over and over again. Think outside the tent and learn how to bolster your unit’s program with climbing, biking, caving, scuba, shooting sports, sailing, equestrian, and many more opportunities for outdoor adventure. Powder Horn is applicable for every Scouter. Cub leaders: Get ahead of the curve and learn about the excitement that awaits you in Boy Scouts and Venturing. You will get to experience some of the new challenges and adventures you will see in the Troop or Crew! Boy Scout leaders: Bring new ideas back to your Troop to put an end to the same old calendar. An active Troop with different types of activities energizes the Scouts and serves as a great recruiting tool. Prospective Scout will see how much fun they will have in your Troop. Crewvians! The Venture motto is “Lead the adventure!” Come to Powder Horn and learn more about the adventures that you will be leading! Venture age youth! Youth led, youth run… Heard that a few times? At Powder Horn, you will learn valuable skills for planning, organizing, and implementing a variety of fun and exciting adventures. The Powder Horn weekends are fully catered by the Council’s Best Cook Team. All of the hands-on activity sessions (shooting sports, rappelling, dutch oven cooking, water crafts, etc.) have been expertly planned and your lodging, framed platform tents with cots, is just a short walk from the activity hub. Powder Horn is “Learning by doing.” We don’t just talk about putting on a shooting sports program, we spend time at the range actually shooting! What better way to know the impact that navigating a COPE course will have on your scouts than for you to spend a morning on COPE hill sampling initiative games, challenging yourself on the ropes course, and cheering on fellow Powder Horn participants.
Rangemaster Training

This course is required for anyone who wishes to supervise council or district level shooting sports, as permitted for the various age level programs. Included in this course are Cub Scout Archery as well as Cub and Boy Scout BB’s, Sling Shot, and Tomahawks.
The Unit Toolbox

This training is designed for the Unit and District Key 3 leaders to learn how to utilize the new tools available through MyScouting that includes editing member records! The Unit Key 3 are the Charter Organization Representative, Committee Chair and the Cubmaster/Scoutmaster/Varsity Coach/Crew Leader. The District Key 3 are the District Executive, District Committee Chair and the District Commissioner.
Tiger Time!

Tiger Time! is a chance for new Cub Parents and Tiger Den Leaders to gain important insight and training that will make their son’s Cub Scout career start off on the right foot … er … paw! Tiger Cubs will have fun with games and crafts led by volunteer Crews and Troops, while Parents will receive Cub Leader Specific Training about the Cub Program. We encourage all Tiger parents and leaders to participate … even if they are not planning on being a Tiger Den Leader. Parents who understand the program will be in the perfect position to assist their Den Leaders in the years to come.
Troop Committee Challenge – Instructor-led

This course focuses on the core beliefs, aims, and methods of Scouting. It specifically helps each committee member learn and identify his or her role and responsibilities in support of the unit in order to provide a quality troop experience for the Scouts. An online version of the course is also available.
Troop Committee Challenge – Online course

This course focuses on the core beliefs, aims, and methods of Scouting. It specifically helps each committee member learn and identify his or her role and responsibilities in support of the unit in order to provide a quality troop experience for the Scouts. Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes.
Venturing Leader Specific Training (VSLT)

All about Venturing – required for Venturing Advisors and Crew Committee Chairs.
Youth Leader Training (YLT)

YLT is a district level course for youth developing leadership skills. This one-day course is positioned between Troop Leader Training (unit level) and National Youth Leader Training Council level, one-week course).
Youth Protection Training (YPT) – Instructor-led

Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers. Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered. We recommend taking the classroom version at least once, where you can discuss topics with experienced leaders. An online version is also available, and it is great for updating your certification every two years.
Youth Protection Training (YPT) – Online version

Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers. Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered. The online version is great for updating your certification every two years, we highly recommend taking the classroom version at least once.