Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) “The badge of office presented to a scout who is accepting a leadership position does not automatically make the scout a good leader.”

ILST New syllabus introduced in 2017 (edited Jul 2018) Who is using it? ILST is your opportunity to set the stage and ensure success for new PLC’s If not using it, youth only learn ways and means of programs and leadership they’ve witnessed without insight to benchmark programs, options, improvement opportunities, and expectations Learning opportunity for new adult leaders too!

What’s New Removed obsolete material, added new material, and changed the format to make it easier to use Reflective questions and key teaching points highlighted with text-bars for quick-look and easy-reference (used to be buried) In general, much more user friendly for the instructor/facilitator

Example

What’s Covered Module One, Troop Organization Description of leadership positions in the troop, roles and responsibilities (expectations), troop organization Introduces concepts of vision and servant leadership Module Two, Tools of Leadership Communications, planning, and teaching EDGE Module Three, Leadership and Teamwork Teams and team characteristics, stages of team and leadership development, inclusion/using your team More in-depth review of vision, and ethics and values of a leader

What’s Covered (Con’t) Includes important tips for preparing the SPL to be SPL and to help lead the course Scoutmaster meets with SPL in advance Includes reflective questions and teaching points for the facilitator/instructor Group Games (with a purpose) Includes games intended to reinforce key points Alternate games to eliminate redundancy ILST to ILST Keeps scouts moving around – help with boredom

Why Use Syllabus? Scoutmaster is the youth leadership coach Responsibility to make sure scouts in a leadership position have all the necessary tools—ILST syllabus facilitates this process Training scouts to be leaders is an ongoing process but ILST is the launch pad—ED of EDGE Leadership can be frustrating and disappointing for a scout who is not given the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to succeed Two other purposes are to get youth leaders to establish goals for their tenure and to enable the effective formation of the new PLC leadership team ILST is a prerequisite for NYLT, NAYLE, and Kodiak Challenge Trek

Who Should Participate? Every scout in leadership positions—both elected and appointed In smaller units may be every scout Scouts who already attended ILST in the past One of the goals is effective formation of the PLC—hard to do if key players are not there Use them as trainers and as game facilitators Other Scouters – youth protection, their own learning, and you need a replacement some day Allows for breakout opportunities and load sharing as well

How to Run It Troop setting with SM, SPL, trained scouts, and other adult leaders Timing Options Modules on three different days One session, but with adequate breaks Risk boredom and overload. Scouts also don’t benefit from adequate think time for goal development and reflection Leadership campout/outing with meals and other activities interspersed between modules Generally should not be offered by districts and councils—detracts from PLC team building

Keys to Success Scoutmaster/instructors need to familiarize themselves with material and key points Make part of annual plan (every election) Meet with new SPL before ILST SM/SPL discussion topics are in the ILST syllabus Prepare weeks in advance Create presentation material (see starter package on Patriot webpage www.ncacbsa.org/patriot/ScoutsBSA) Accumulate game resources Arrange trainers Practice presentations and games (rules/objectives/questions/teaching points)

Resources ILST Syllabus (with Jul 2018 edits) https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/ Position Description Cards https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/510-046_PocketCards17.pdf 2017 SPL Handbook (scout store) 2017 Patrol Leader Handbooks (scout store) 2017 Outdoor Ethics Guide Handbook (scout store) Created for this newly added leadership position Patriot ILST Slides www.ncacbsa.org/patriot/ScoutsBSA

Questions?