Training Makes it Easier to be a Leader!
Your youth deserve trained leaders! Training is an important part of learning to become an effective leader. The important scouting position you hold will be easier and more effective once you develop the skills necessary to deliver a quality scouting program every Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Sea Scout, and Venturer desires. Every youth member of Scouting deserves a trained leader. All registered leaders in Scouting America are required to complete Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) online annually in order to stay registered and continue attending Scout meetings and events. You can find out more and take the training at scouting.org/training/youth-protection.
Trained leaders are critical to the success of Scouting. Every young person involved in the Scouting program needs and deserves a leader who understands the aims of the program and knows how to deliver it with enthusiasm and fun. Trained leaders are more effective at delivering the promise of Scouting because they understand their role, responsibilities, and the resources available to them.
What makes a trained leader?
Adult unit leaders are considered trained, and eligible to wear the official “Trained” emblem, once they have completed the basic training requirements outlined below. Supplemental and advanced training for adults and youth training opportunities are also listed below.
All training opportunities with course codes (such as SCO_450) can be found under My Training on my.scouting.org.
Before your first meeting (49 minutes total):
SCO_450 Welcome (2 min)
SCO_451 Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting (6 min)
SCO_453 Advancement (10 min)
SCO_454 Cub Scout Uniforms (5 min)
SCO_457 Den Management (5 min)
SCO_458 Conducting a Cub Scout Pack Meeting (12 min)
SCO_462 Involving Adults in Cub Scouting (9 min)
Before your first outdoor activity (41 minutes total):
SCO_460 Preparing Families for Outdoor (5 min)
SCO_461 Keeping Cub Scouting Safe (5 min)
SCO_800 Hazardous Weather Training (31 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (27 minutes total):
SCO_463 Pack Structure (8 min)
SCO_464 Denners and Den Chiefs (8 min)
SCO_465 Childhood Development (7 min)
SCO_466 Continue the Journey (4 min)
Before your first meeting (39 minutes total):
SCO_450 Welcome (2 min)
SCO_451 Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting (6 min)
SCO_454 Cub Scout Uniforms (5 min)
SCO_459 Conducting a Pack Committee Meeting (9 min)
SCO_462 Involving Adults in Cub Scouting (9 min)
SCO_463 Pack Structure (8 min)
Before your first outdoor activity (10 minutes total):
SCO_460 Preparing Families for Outdoor (5 min)
SCO_461 Keeping Cub Scouting Safe (5 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (53 minutes total):
SCO_466 Continue the Journey (4 min)
SCO_453 Advancement (11 min)
SCO_465 Childhood Development (7 min)
SCO_467 Pack Finance (7 min)
SCO_468 Annual Program Planning (18 min)
SCO_469 Annual Charter Renewal (6 min)
Before your first meeting (49 minutes total):
SCO_450 Welcome (2 min)
SCO_451 Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting (6 min)
SCO_452 Bobcat (7 min)
SCO_453 Advancement (10 min)
SCO_454 Cub Scout Uniforms (5 min)
SCO_455 Conducting a Cub Scout Den Meeting (8 min)
SCO_456 Resources (5 min)
SCO_457 Den Management (6 min)
Before your first outdoor activity (41 minutes total):
SCO_460 Preparing Families for Outdoor (5 min)
SCO_461 Keeping Cub Scouting Safe (5 min)
SCO_800 Hazardous Weather Training (31 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (37 minutes total):
SCO_462 Involving Adults in Cub Scouting (9 min)
SCO_463 Pack Structure (8 min)
SCO_464 Denners and Den Chiefs (8 min)
SCO_465 Childhood Development (7 min)
SCO_466 Continue the Journey (4 min)
Before your first meeting (39 minutes total):
SCO_450 Welcome (2 min)
SCO_451 Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting (6 min)
SCO_454 Cub Scout Uniforms (5 min)
SCO_459 Conducting a Pack Committee Meeting (9 min)
SCO_462 Involving Adults in Cub Scouting (9 min)
SCO_463 Pack Structure (8 min)
Before your first outdoor activity (10 minutes total):
SCO_460 Preparing Families for Outdoor (5 min)
SCO_461 Keeping Cub Scouting Safe (5 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (4 minutes total):
SCO_466 Continue the Journey (4 min)
Before your first meeting (49 minutes total):
SCO_481 Scouting Organization (12 min)
SCO_472 Aims & Methods of Scouts BSA (9 min)
SCO_479 Role of the Unit Key 3 (7 min)
SCO_480 Roles of Scoutmaster & SPL (13 min)
SCO_484 Troop Meeting (10 min)
Within first 30 days (31 minutes total):
SCO_478 Patrol Method (10 min)
SCO_471 Advancement (10 min)
SCO_477 Patrol Leaders Council Meeting (11 min)
Within first 60 days (36 minutes total):
SCO_476 Outdoor Programs (10 min)
SCO_482 Troop Committee (14 min)
SCO_485 Scouts BSA Uniforms (12 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (61 minutes total):
SCO_473 Annual Troop Program Planning (14 min)
SCO_474 Introduction to Merit Badges (8 min)
SCO_475 Outdoor Ethics (8 min)
SCO_800 Hazardous Weather Training (31 min)
Before your first meeting (35 minutes total):
SCO_481 Scouting Organization (12 min)
SCO_472 Aims & Methods of Scouts BSA (9 min)
SCO_482 Troop Committee (14 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (52 minutes total):
SCO_476 Outdoor Programs (10 min)
SCO_471 Advancement (10 min)
SCO_485 Scouts BSA Uniforms (12 min)
SCO_473 Annual Troop Program Planning (14 min)
SCO_474 Introduction to Merit Badges (8 min)
Before your first meeting (48 minutes total):
SCO_481 Scouting Organization (12 min)
SCO_472 Aims & Methods of Scouts BSA (9 min)
SCO_479 Role of the Unit Key 3 (7 min)
SCO_482 Troop Committee (14 min)
SCO_483 Troop Committee Meetings (6 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (52 minutes total):
SCO_476 Outdoor Programs (10 min)
SCO_471 Advancement (10 min)
SCO_485 Scouts BSA Uniforms (12 min)
SCO_473 Annual Troop Program Planning (14 min)
SCO_474 Introduction to Merit Badges (8 min)
Before your first meeting (24 minutes total):
SCO_472 Aims & Methods of Scouts BSA (9 min)
SCO_474 Introduction to Merit Badges (8 min)
SCO_486 What Is a Merit Badge Counselor (7 min)
Earn your “Trained” patch (10 minutes total):
SCO_471 Advancement (10 min)
For Scouts BSA Youth:
- National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an immersive, week-long leadership experience for Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting youth that teaches essential skills like communication, team development, and goal setting. Offered annually in our council, NYLT prepares youth to lead effectively in their home units and beyond. Many troops highly suggest that youth take this training before being ASPL or SPL.
For Pack Adult Leadership:
- Hazardous Weather (online) must be taken to be fully trained as a Cubmaster or Committee Chair.
- BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) is an overnight training for Cub Scout leaders that covers outdoor skills, safety, program planning, and camping policies to ensure fun and age-appropriate campouts. At least one BALOO-trained adult must be present on any Cub Scout overnight, and the course is offered throughout the year at various locations across our council (view our calendar to find a local training).
- Position-Specific Training is periodically offered in various locations in our council and it covers almost everything above for Cub Scout leaders.
- Wood Badge is the premier leadership training course for adult Scouting volunteers, focusing on advanced leadership skills, team development, and living the values of Scouting. Offered every other year in our council, Wood Badge is a two-weekend immersive experience that equips leaders to strengthen their units and deliver high-quality Scouting programs.
For Troop Adult Leadership:
- Hazardous Weather (online) must be taken to be fully trained as a Scoutmaster or Committee Chair.
- IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills) is a hands-on training course required for all Scouts BSA leaders to be considered fully trained. It teaches essential outdoor skills like camping, cooking, and map reading, and is offered at different times and locations throughout the year across our council (view our calendar to find a local training).
- Position-Specific Training is periodically offered in various locations in our council and it covers almost everything above for Scouts BSA leaders.
- Wood Badge is the premier leadership training course for adult Scouting volunteers, focusing on advanced leadership skills, team development, and living the values of Scouting. Offered every other year in our council, Wood Badge is a two-weekend immersive experience that equips leaders to strengthen their units and deliver high-quality Scouting programs.
Learn more about Safeguarding Youth Training (replacing Youth Protection Training as of 2025) at scouting.org/training/youth-protection.
Full Listing of Training Requirements by Program & Position
Council Training Committee
| Position | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Committee Chair | Kathryn Hinds | (701) 793-1235 |
| District Rep. (Flickertail) | ||
| District Rep. (Prairie Fire) | Dave Pedersen | (320) 808-1056 |
| District Rep. (Northern Sky) | Jason Jacobs | (701) 306-0263 |
| District Rep. (Northern Lakes) | ||
| District Rep. (Lake Agassiz) | Dave Cook | (701) 740-2780 |
| District Rep. (Meadowlark) | ||
| District Rep. (Roughrider) | James Fahy | (701) 590-2569 |
| District Rep. (Tomahawk) | Gerald Brown | (352) 817-9319 |
| District Rep. (Voyageur Trails) | ||
| District Rep. (Frontier Trails) | Grendaliz Nieves | (701) 351-9415 |
| District Rep. (Great Plains) | Aprel Purvis | (601) 337-1981 |
| Staff Advisor | Ryan Hansen | (218) 770-7505 |