Training for Scouters

"Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader"

There are many BSA supplemental training opportunities for Scouters to build upon their basic leadership and outdoors skills. Scouters are able to choose from many fine courses offered by (i) our own Piedmont Council AND (ii) neighboring councils that open their training programs to us. Some BSA courses can be taken on-line. Here is information on these resources. If you have other suggestions, please let us know. Training is one of the highlights of the BSA program for Scouters. We are adding non-BSA training resources too!

Wood Badge

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Earn your beads!
Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for adult scout leaders. It takes place over two long camping weekends and is generally offered annually in the Fall. Piedmont Scouters have participated as attendees and staff at recent Wood Badge courses put on by both the North Coast Cluster and San Francisco Bay Area Council. ("I used to be an Owl...")

Sponsoring Council(s)	Dates	Links	Brochure
North Coast Cluster (Piedmont, Marin and Redwood Empire councils)	August 30-Sept 1, 2008 and Sept 13-15, 2008	link	brochure
SFBAC (San Francisco Bay Area Council)	Sept 12-14, 2008 and Sept 27-29, 2008	link
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council	Sept 12-14, 2008 and Oct 4-6, 2008	link

High Adventure Training ("HAT")

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! LOTS OF FUN.
HAT is a family of courses, comprised of a core course (pre-requisite) and then a series of specific topics.

HAT Curriculum:	SFBAC HAT team link	Mt. Diablo HAT team link
HAT Core	part of Basic Backpacking	Sept 12-13, 2008 Jan 9-10, 2009 Sept 11-12, 2009
Basic Backpacking	March 1-2, 2008 (indoor) March 14-16, 2008 (outdoor) link	Sept 24, Oct 10-11, 2008 Sept 23, Oct 9-10 2009
Reboot Backpacking	November 1, 2008 link
Snow Camping (aka"Okpik")	December 13, 2008 (indoor) January 10-11, 2009 (outdoor) link	Feb 11, Feb 28-Mar 1, 2009
Cycling Awareness	May 3, 2008 link	April 9, 18-19, 2008 April 7, 17-18, 2009
Paddle Sports		May 14, June 7-8, 11, 2008 May 13, June 6-7, 10, 2009
Wilderness First Aid	June 7-8, 2008 link	November 8-9, 2008 November 7-8, 2009
Adult CPR		Nov 7, 2008 Nov 6, 2009
Climbing Instructor		March 11, 14-15, 18, 2009

University of Scouting ("UoS")

UOS is a fun one-day extravaganza of many classes on a wide variety of topics for Scout Leaders involved in Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and/or Venturing. Several local councils put on UoS each year and they are open to all Scouters. A typical UoS may have 30-60 classes (1 hour each) including separate "majors" for Cubs, Boy Scouts and Venturing. Topics may include: where to go camping, troop organization and mini-training modules (i.e. Trek Safely). (Register in advance with the sponsors).

Sponsoring Council	Location	Dates	Links
SFBAC	Pleasanton (Foothill High School)	January 26, 2009	link
Pacific Skyline	Belmont (Peninsula)	February 2, 2008 (w simultaneous Merit Badge Midway for scouts)	link
Mt. Diablo Silverado		March 8, 2008	link
Santa Clara	Santa Clara High School	January 24, 2009	link

Other Training Resources

Piedmont Council - Training Page calendar and info about Piedmont council offerings and upcoming training opportunities in the region.
BSA Adult On-line Training training over the Internet: offerings are growing, includes: [Adult Leader Fast Start], [Youth Protection], [Safe Swim Defense], [Safety Afloat].
BSA Training Knot - Boy Scout Adult Leaders can earn a Training Knot for completing training programs. Requirements are listed at the link.
Bay Area Red Cross Training - the Red Cross puts on First Aid classes and CPR training and other classes, for individuals and groups.
T11- Becoming an Adult Leader our web page with guide to acquiring basic Scoutmaster/ASM training.

Questions or comments? Broken links?