Who should take this training?
New Scouts BSA Scoutmasters (highest-ranking adult volunteer leader working with youth in a Scouts BSA Troop) and Assistant Scoutmasters
Why should I take this training?
You’ve taken on the role of Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster; thank you! It’s a big responsibility but you’re not in it alone: all of your Troop Committee wants to help you be successful and run a fun program for all the Scouts in your troop. The best way to start is to get trained with the basic information you need.
Scoutmaster-Specific Training introduces you to everything you need to know about running a Scouts BSA Troop, which is different from a Cub Scout Pack. In particular, you and your fellow adult leaders are now in more of a “mentor” position where your job is to help your youth members learn and practice leadership. While this training will not answer every single question you have, it is a great start. This course, combined with Youth Protection Training and the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) course, will make you an “fully trained” Scouts BSA leader.
Scoutmaster-Specific Training is available online at My.Scouting.org, so you can complete it in 10-minute modules during free time. You can also take the course in person; an advantage of doing it this way is you’ll be able to ask questions of and get feedback from an experienced Scouter who has been in your shoes before. Since Scoutmaster-Specific Training is only a half-day course (roughly 4 hours), you’ll often see the in-person version combined with the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Training course to make the most of your valuable time.
When is this training available?
The online version of Scoutmaster-Specific Training is available anytime through the Training section of My.Scouting.org.
The in-person classroom version of Scoutmaster-Specific Training is generally offered in the fall and spring in different areas of our council (the “council” is made up of all 15 counties we serve in Central Texas; the council is split up into geographic areas called “districts” along school attendance or county boundaries). We try to schedule the in-person courses to be available right around the same time as our fall and spring recruiting periods, so that as new adults join Scouting with their children, they can get trained as quickly as possible.
Where is this training offered?
You can take the online version of Scoutmaster-Specific Training by logging in to My.Scouting.org (if you’ve never visited this site before, you’ll need to click the “create account” button and then follow the instructions; have your BSA membership ID number handy).
The in-person classroom version of Scoutmaster-Specific Training will require you to go to a physical location within your district, or there may be a course offered at the Frank Fickett Scout Training and Service Center (12500 North IH 35, Austin, 78753). It may also be combined with an Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Training course. Since the course is usually offered by multiple district volunteer training teams, there’s a good chance a course will be offered at a Scout meeting location near you.
What is the cost of this training?
There is no cost if you take Scoutmaster-Specific Training online through My.Scouting.org.
If you take the in-person classroom version, there may be a small fee to cover the cost of handouts or other class materials.
How do I sign up for this training?
You don’t have to register to take the online version of Scoutmaster-Specific Training through My.Scouting.org; just log in and start taking the class modules.
Dates for the next available in-person course have not yet been announced.
