National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

NYLT is a six-day course. The Winter course begins on Monday, December 26 at 7:30 am and continues through Saturday, December 31 at 5:30 pm. The Spring course takes place over two weekends. The first weekend begins on Friday at 6:30pm and continues through Sunday at 5:30pm, and the second weekend begins on Friday at 6:30pm and continues through Sunday at 4:00pm.

NYLT centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.

Course 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 the leadership skills much faster.

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 skill and confidence to lead well. Through a wide range of activities, games, and adventures, participants will work and play together as they put into action the best Scouting has to offer.

To attend an NYLT course, a youth must have the following qualifications by the beginning of the course:

• Must be a registered member of a Scouting unit.
• Must have a current BSA Health and Medical Record form parts A, B, and C.
• Scouts BSA members (male and female) must be at least 13. They must have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.
• Venturers and Sea Scouts (male and female) must be at least 14, or 13 and have completed eighth grade, and fall within the maximum age allowance for their program. They must have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews or Ships.
• While NYLT is not an outdoor skills course, it is important that each participant have basic camping and outdoor cooking experience.
• Have a unit leader recommendation.

Registration will remain open until 30 days before the course or until the course reaches 48 participants. Prospective participants registering after the deadline or after the course is full will be placed on a wait list.

The all-inclusive fee includes meals, supplies and one t-shirt; extra t-shirts can be ordered. Payments by cash or check may be submitted but must be received at the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council office within seven business days following online registration. Before registering, read the FAQs below and have the unit leader’s information (name, address, phone, and e-mail) available. Registration is complete and the Scout’s name is placed on the roster when the online registration is submitted and fees are paid in full.

After participation in a National Youth Leadership Training course, a Scout may apply to serve on staff. If you enjoyed NYLT, and you want to make sure other Scouts have the same rewarding experience, then staffing may be for you. It is a lot of fun, but also requires dedication to hard work and preparation. Conducting NYLT takes a great deal of planning, plenty of inspiration, and the enthusiastic participation of many dedicated people. The rewards for participants, staff, and the Scouting Movement are tremendous.

There are opportunities for those who have completed the course to become a staff member for NYLT. If Scouts are still active in Scouting, are highly motivated, are hardworking, and would like to be considered for a position on a future NYLT staff, they must first complete a staff application, and then participate in a youth staff interview:

To attend an NYLT course, a youth must have the following qualifications by the beginning of the course:

• Must be a registered member of a Scouting unit.
• Must have a current BSA Health and Medical Record form parts A, B, and C.
• Scouts BSA members (male and female) must be at least 13. They must have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.
• Venturers and Sea Scouts (male and female) must be at least 14, or 13 and have completed eighth grade, and fall within the maximum age allowance for their program. They must have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews or Ships.
• While NYLT is not an outdoor skills course, it is important that each participant have basic camping and outdoor cooking experience.
• Have a unit leader recommendation.

NYLT Staff Interviews – Applicants will be contacted by the Course Director to schedule an interview.
Any youth that is 14 or older who has attended NYLT as a participant and a is leader in their unit may submit an application to be considered for a staff position. Please note, staff service is for a single course, and does not continue from course to course.

Beginning in 2020, youth may not serve on consecutive Greater Tampa Bay Area Council NYLT course staffs.

Minimum requirements for youth staff members include:
+ Successfully completed an NYLT course as a participant
+ Be a registered youth member of the Boy Scouts of America
+ Be at least 14 years old
+ Be active in your home unit and have the approval of your unit leader and parent
+ Completed Trainer’s EDGE course
+ Completed the current Staff Application and participated in a staff interview
+ Be willing to pay the staff fee (covers food, lodging, course supplies) and attend staff developments

The minimum youth staff roster for an NYLT troop includes:
+ Senior patrol leader
+ Assistant senior patrol leader for program
+ Assistant senior patrol leader for service
+ Troop guides

Additional positions are added based on the course size. In order to keep NYLT fresh, at least half of the staff consists of youth who have not previously served on an NYLT staff.

Each adult staff member must be currently registered as a BSA adult leader, be at least 21 years old, and be a strong supporter of the council. Because the basic purpose of the NYLT course is to teach leadership skills, adult staff must have completed a Wood Badge course and must have completed Trainer’s EDGE.

Prospective adult staff members are encouraged to be actively involved as trainers or unit-level leaders. Interested adults are encouraged to contact the Course Director for more information.

2023 Winter Course Director

Stephanie Crawley [email protected]

2024 Spring Course Director

Sarah Cline [email protected]

NYLT Staffing

To Apply for NYLT Steff, complete the application below and email it to the course director listed above.