Training for Adults & Youth
Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader
Whether you have been a Scout leader for decades or you just joined, training, offered online, through the National Boy Scouts of America website, and in-person throughout the council, ensures that adult leaders, parents, and community supporters are fully prepared to deliver the best program possible to the Scouts of the Chickasaw Council.
Safeguarding Youth Training
Safeguarding Youth Training is required for all Scouting America registered volunteers and is a joining requirement. SYT was formerly known as Youth Protection training.
Safeguarding Youth training must be taken every year. If a volunteer’s Safeguarding Youth training is not current at the time of annual registration renewal, the volunteer will not be re-registered.
You do not have to be a registered member of Scouting America to take Youth Protection training.
To take the training, go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. You’ll receive an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/reference number.
From the My.Scouting.org portal, you can launch the Safeguarding Training from the home page. Upon completion, you may print a training certificate to submit with a volunteer application, or wait for an email with your certificate to be sent to your email address. Your training will automatically be updated in our system and associated with the member ID/reference number issued when you created the account.
Position-Specific Training
Position-specific courses are designed to help Scouters learn how to effectively carry out their Scouting roles. In most cases, completing the course will make a Scouter “trained” for the role(s) covered in the course. Most courses are available either online through the My.scouting.org portal or in person through the Chickasaw Council. Check the Training calendar for upcoming opportunities.
Cub Scout Position-Specific Training
Cub Scout position training provides Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Pack Committee members, and Pack Committee chairs with information and tools they need to conduct a successful program.
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
This course for Cub Scout leaders is an overnight training event that introduces participants to the skills needed to plan and conduct pack outdoor activities, particularly pack camping.
This training is required for any adult who is in charge of planning a pack campout, and it is required that at least one adult per pack complete B.A.L.O.O. training.
B.A.L.O.O. training is offered by individual districts and by the council several times per year, mostly at Camp Currier; it is also offered annually at the University of Scouting.
Den Leader Learning Journey
Cubmaster Learning Journey
Pack Committee Learning Journey
Scouts BSA Position-Specific Training
Scouts BSA position training provides Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Merit Badge Counselors, and Troop Committee members and chairs with information and tools they need to conduct a successful program.
Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specifics Training provides specialized knowledge to troop leaders about troop operations, event planning, using the patrol method, and troop administration. This training is offered online, and it is also offered several times per year, throughout the council, in person, including each week at Kia Kima Scout Reservation
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide Scouts BSA leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start and guide a program the right way. Completion of this course is the required outdoor training for all Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook. The course is normally a day and a half long and conducted at Camp Currier on a weekend; this course is also offered at summer camp at Kia Kima Scout Reservation.
Scoutmaster Learning Journey
Troop Committee Learning Journey
Merit Badge Counselor Learning Journey
Wood Badge Training
Wood Badge is an advanced, national leadership course open only to Scouting volunteers and professionals. It is Scouting’s premier adult training.
The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units in achieving the mission of Scouting America.
Wood Badge is open to all Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing leaders and covers areas including listening, managing conflict, leading change, stages of team development, coaching & mentoring, leadership for different stages, servant leadership, and project planning.
Chickasaw Council typically offers Wood Badge training at Camp Currier over the course of two consecutive weekends in the fall.
National Youth Leadership Training
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an exciting, action-packed six-day council-level program designed to provide Scouts with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and other situations demanding leadership of self and others. The course is designed for Scouts who are at least 13 years old.
NYLT is filled with activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and camping in a team and model unit environment. Participants learn and practice skills that are valuable at home, church, school, work, and the Scouting unit. Content is delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon, and aided by the use of memory aids, which allows participants to understand and employ leadership skills much faster. These skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.
The Chickasaw Council offers NYLT annually at Camp Currier. The 2026 course runs Sunday, May 31, through Friday, June 5. The cost is $250 per participant.
Range & Target Activities Training
The Chickasaw Council Shooting Sports Committee offers a variety of training courses at Camp Currier each year including:
USA Archery Instructor Level 1
USA Archery Instructor Level 2
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor
NRA Range Safety Officer
Archery Instructor Courses
Archery training is divided into two segments where the student first completes an online class and then a hands-on Practical segment with a Chickasaw Council Instructor.
The Level 1 Archery Instructor course provides the necessary tools to maintain a high level of safety on and off the archery range. Students will learn about range safety, range setup, steps of shooting, equipment and repair. Level 1 Instructors are qualified to operate Scouts BSA, Venturing, Exploring and Sea Scout archery ranges and teach Cub Scout Range Master training. The Level 1 Practical segment is a four-hour, in-person course.
The Level 2 Archery Instructor course provides graduates the necessary tools to serve as the lead instructor for long-term archery and other programs such as “Explore Archery” as well as eligibility to take the Instructor Trainer Certification Course. The Level 2 Practical segment is an eight-hour, in-person course.
Range Safety Officer Training
Scouting America shooting ranges require the supervision of a trained Range Safety Officer (RSO) who is responsible for the safety of the range. There will always a trained instructor on the range too, so RSOs do not have to be proficient with firearms. RSO training consists of nine hours of classroom time and is limited to those 21 years of age older.
NRA Rifle and Shotgun Instructor Courses
Scouting America Rifle and Shotgun Ranges Require the Supervision of an NRA Trained Rifle or Shotgun Instructor. These three-day courses typically include Basic Instructor Training via Zoom on a Friday, Basic Rifle/Shotgun Training Saturday morning at Camp Currier, and Rifle/Shotgun Instructor Training Saturday afternoon and Sunday at Camp Currier.
Rifle/shotgun, ammo, and meals are included in the course fee.
Links & Resources
Archery training contact:
Jimmie James - archerycoachjimmie@gmail.com
Firearm and RSO training contact:
Will Boyd - ChickasawCouncilRATATrainings@gmail.com
C.O.P.E. & Climbing Instructor Training
COPE and Climbing Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor Training equips leaders with the knowledge and skills to lead COPE (ropes course) and climbing activities. These trainings are offered periodically at Camp Currier, usually in the same weekend.
The Level 2 training is a three-day course with Level 1 as a prerequisite. The course is intended for adults, though older Scouts may also participate. Meals, snacks, training materials and equipment are including with the course fee.
Links & Resources
COPE/Climbing program page on Scouting.org
Council contact:
Brian Look - 1brianlook@gmail.com