Training

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Required Training for Direct Contact Leaders

Direct contact leaders must be trained for their position. Direct contact leaders are Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Den Leaders, Assistant Den Leaders, Venture Crew Advisers and assistant Crew Advisers. Confused? Check out this guide to “What Makes a Trained Leader”.  To assist you in the process of meeting training requirements for rechartering, these documents have been added Adult Training Record, Youth and Adult Application Checklist and Position Specific Training List.

Youth Protection Training and Cub Scout Leader Position Specific Training can be done online at http://olc.scouting.org or via DVD from the Council Service Center. 

Volunteers who have not completed this training may be registered as committee members until they are finished.  Eighteen to twenty year olds can be registered as “College Scouter Reserve (92)” if they are unable to complete the training because they are away from home. 

You do not have to have a BSA membership ID# to start your training.  Once you have your ID# you can add that to your MyScouting.org profile to link the training you have completed online with your BSA membership profile. 

All instructor led courses provided by the Heart of Virginia Council are national BSA training courses presented by district volunteer instructors.  You may take this training in any district.   For a description of district boundaries click here. 

Training Summary

Fast Start Training (online)
Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer and is to be delivered immediately after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member. 

This is Scouting – replaces new Leader Essentials (online & DVD from Council Service Center)
The new Basic Leader Training comprises two parts: New Leader Essentials for all unit-level leaders and Leader Specific training, which is based on the leader’s unit-level position.
 

Youth Protection (online & DVD from Council Service Center)
Every leader in Cub Scouting must complete Youth Protection training, which provides essential information about working with youth.  If you are a new leader it is required that you take this training before you submit your adult application.  After you take the training online print the certificate and attach it to your volunteer leader application. 

Leader-Specific Training (online for Cub Scout Leaders and instructor lead)
These break out sessions are for specific positions within a Cub Scout Pack , Boy Scout Troop, and Venturing Crew and some have an introduction to outdoor skills.  See below for instructor led classes being offered soon.  You may click on the specific class to find out more details and/or register online.  Where a training coordinator has not yet been chosen, the selection appears without a link.  When this information is available, the link will be established. 

Wood Badge

Wood Badge is the pinnacle of training for leaders and volunteers in all Scouting programs – Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing and Varsity.  Participants that complete the Wood Badge course and their “ticket”, are awarded the Wood Badge honor and become members of a worldwide association of committed and dedicated Scouters.  The Wood Badge experience enables Scouters to become better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement.  The Wood Badge course combines both classroom training and practical outdoors experiences, followed by the completion of one’s Wood Badge ticket, known as the project phase.  By “working the ticket” participants put their newly gained experience into practice to fulfill their individual goals and their personal vision in Scouting.  Come and be part of the Wood Badge experience! 

For more information about upcoming Wood Badge courses, click here.  You can also register now for the Heart of Virginia 2013 Wood Badge course by clicking here. 

Other Online Training

There are many training opportunities available online at olc.scouting.org.  These can be completed in the comfort of your own home, and you don’t have to have your BSA membership ID# number to get started! 

• Youth Protection Training (Venturing leaders must take Veturing Specific Youth Protection Training)
• Safety Afloat
• Safe Swim Defense
• Climb On Safely
• Trek Safely
• Weather Hazards