As a brand new user to this forum, I'd like to say hello to all and to weigh in on this training discussion. I'm the District Training Chair for my district and there are several items that I have frustrations with as well. One of my biggest frustrations is that I seldom can get enough volunteers to assist in the training sessions that are orgainized months in advance. For all those out there that complain about the training not being good enough, or that it is "Childish" there are remarkably few that choose to participate and help make the program work. If more would step forward to help, the program would be a lot better.
I whole heartedly support the training program currently used by the BSA, yet I also long for the "old days" as well. I'm also frustrated with the volunteers that come in and say "That's not the way it was done in the old days", not because they are a pain, but because most of the time, they are right! There should be a mix of what was and the new program. The new NLE program has some great points and the videos are a lot better. The specific training classes, for the most part, accomplish what they are designed to do. We have, in the past, combined the Cub Specific training simply because they do overlap and because I can seldom find anyone to do the other courses! So, the one lady that does the training handles all of the classes and, yes, she does hand out a lot of stuff to remind the participants of their training. She is awesome and the participants have always left her classes inspired and looking forward to going back to their Dens and starting anew.
However much I like the new NLE training etc, there are some things that need to be changed. This is why there is now a policy change recomendation being submitted to the Training office at National that outlines a new training outline with a mixture of old and new as well as the stipulation that a BSA leader, no matter the position, has to complete training every three years in order to be a leader in the BSA. This goes for EVERY leader in the BSA from the SE all the way down to the pack leader and committee members. This recomendation has been in the creation process for the last 14 months and has input from over 1500 troops, crews and dens from across the nation. It's been an exciting proposal to work on and I hope that it's carried through. Even if it's not, I'll still go on training those that want the training, encouraging those that are doubtful or that are fence sitters, and promoting the scouting spirit as much as I can within my small sphere of influence.
