Who should take this training?
New Scouts BSA Troop Committee Chairs and Committee Members (it’s also not a bad idea for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters)
Why should I take this training?
Running a Scouts BSA Troop is a little like running a business: there’s a budget and a calendar, there’s money coming in (fundraising and dues), there’s money going out (activities, equipment purchases, registration fees), there’s a “workforce” (your fellow adult volunteers), and there are goals and evaluation of whether you reached those goals. And, of course, you’re doing all this within the unique context of Scouting with some special rules and requirements. Why would you try and do all this without some kind of training?
Troop Committee Challenge Training introduces you to everything you need to know. It won’t answer every single question you have, but it’s a great start. And, it’s available online 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.
When is this training available?
The online version of Troop Committee Challenge Training is available anytime through the Training section of My.Scouting.org.
The in-person classroom version of Troop Committee Challenge 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 Troop Committee Challenge 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 Troop Committee Challenge 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). 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 Troop Committee Challenge 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 Troop Committee Challenge 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.
