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NYLT 2020 Leadership

National Youth Leadership Training at Big Horn

Important information on the impact of COVID-19 on National Youth Leadership Training

Scouting is committed to keeping kids safe.

For 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns, NYLT will be conducted at Camp Cortlandt Dietler on Charles S. McNeil Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch. Camp Tahosa is not in operation this summer.

Additionally, due to the recommendations of federal, state, and local health officials, as well as the safety standards of the Boy Scouts of America, we are unable to safely offer National Youth Leadership courses at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch before July 4.

We are rescheduling our courses to run in July 2020. Information will be going out to families that have already registered to provide information on how to change their sign-up. New registrations will be slotted into the new dates.

This was a difficult decision for us to make, but as the pandemic continues, we want to ensure we can provide a safe program full of adventure for our campers, leaders, and staff.

Again, NYLT will run at Camp Dietler in 2020 on the following dates:

Session 1: July 5 – July 11, 2020
Session 2: July 12 – July 18, 2020
Session 3: July 19 – July 25, 2020
Session 4: July 26 – August 1, 2020

Be Prepared to Lead the Way

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT @ Big Horn) is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with the opportunity to learn leadership skills and gain experience they can use in their home units and in other situations that would benefit from a leadership role.

The NYLT @ Big Horn course is leadership training experience sponsored by the DAC and normally held annually at Tahosa High Adventure Base near Ward, Colorado (and for 2020, conducted at Camp Dietler). Training is conducted by highly qualified youth staff under the supervision of adult advisors.

The course models a month in the life of a unit. The training consists of six days of Scouting activities culminating in an overnight outpost camp.

Course Overview

A constant refrain of NYLT is, “If you can see it, you can be it.” The course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what a leader must KNOW and what a leader must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the team goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.

NYLT @ Big Horn is a six-day course, patterned after a month in the life of a unit. The course integrates the best of modern leadership theory with the traditional strengths of the Scouting experience. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skills and confidence to lead well. During an NYLT course, team members find themselves going through the stages of team development. Their challenges heighten the team development process, enabling them to use their awareness of the stages to build a highly effective team that can reach its full potential.

UPDATE: Due to COVID-19 concerns, Denver Area Council will run four sessions of NYLT @ Big Horn at Camp Dietler in 2020 for the following dates

Session 1: July 5 – July 11, 2020
Session 2: July 12 – July 18, 2020
Session 3: July 19 – July 25, 2020
Session 4: July 26 – August 1, 2020

Who Should Attend

Scouts BSA and Venturers who currently hold a key leadership role in their home unit or the unit leader feels has the potential to hold a key leadership position in the future. In order to attend an NYLT @ Big Horn course, a youth must have the following qualifications by the beginning of the course, per National Council guidelines:

Must be a registered member of a Scouting unit – Troop, Crew, or Ship.
Scouts BSA Participants must be at least 13 years old at the start date of their selected Course
Scouts BSA Participants should have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST)
Venture Scout Participants must be at least 14 (or 13 and have completed eighth grade) at the start date of their selected Course
Venture Scout Participants should have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)
Sea Scout Participants must be at least 14 (or 13 and have completed eighth grade) at the start date of their selected Course
Sea Scout Participants should have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ISLS)
Venture Scout Participants and Sea Scout Participants are recommended to have had at least one year of camping experience. While NYLT is not an outdoor skills course, it is important that each participant have basic camping and outdoor cooking experience.
All participants must have a unit leader recommendation.
All participants must provide a current BSA Health and Medical Record form parts A, B, and C.

All Participants

He or she must agree to spend the entire scheduled week participating in the National Youth Leadership Training Course.
He or she should have held a leadership position in his or her unit, if possible, or be considering a position in the near future.
The Scout or Venturer should be an experienced camper with good camping, hiking, and outdoor cooking skills.

What is the Involvement of the Unit Leader? NYLT is intended to strengthen the relationship between the youth leader and unit leader. The unit leader is highly encouraged to have a pre-course and post-course conference with the participant to discuss their vision and goals for future success of their home unit. Code of Ethics Every course operates according to the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. Each participant and staff member is welcomed, appreciated and valued. There is no room for hazing or for any activities that do not add to a positive learning experience for everyone.