Utah National Parks Council – Advancement Policy Change

Use of Internet Advancement by units to record advancements became required July 1, 2007. Nearing the end of 2011, the council continues to find units that are not recording advancements in the system. In fact, the percentage of units recording advancements across all Scouting families continues to drop. Advancement is a very good benchmark to determine how well the Scouting program is being executed. This year’s ‘Journey to Excellence’ includes advancement as a critical benchmark.

 

The council firmly believes that the majority of Scouting units are indeed being successful and our youth are progressing in their advancement. However, with fewer advancements being recorded, it is hard to identify which units need additional training and assistance in this area. The lack of recorded advancements also causes unnecessary delay and frustration for those young men working toward their Eagle Scout rank, as well as added personnel cost at the council level.

 

In order to help the council and our units better succeed in serving our youth, the following policy change is being implemented.

 

Units and individuals purchasing advancement recognition pieces at all Scout Shops (both National and Council shops within the council boundaries) must provide Internet Advancement reports corresponding to the awards before the awards may be purchased.

 

Effective immediately, all Scout Shops will ask for an Internet Advancement Report when advancement pieces are being purchased. Training will be offered to those without an Advancement Report on how to record advancement for their unit. A grace period extending through the remainder of 2011 will allow units to still pick up awards without an Internet Advancement Report, but the unit will be asked to record the advancement within two days. Beginning January 1, 2012, advancement pieces will not be able to be purchased without an Internet Advancement Report.

 

Advancement Pieces That Require an Internet Advancement Report

Bobcat

Tiger

Wolf

Bear

Webelos

Arrow of Light

Webelos Activity Badges

Scout

Tenderfoot

Second Class

First Class

Star

Life

Eagle Palms

Varsity Letter

Denali

Venturing Bronze (All)

Venturing Gold

Venturing Silver

Venturing Ranger

Quest

As the Shooting Sports Committee, which is responsible for the annual certification and verification of current NRA certifications, we need the hard copies of the Merit Badge Counselor application and verifications. Each individuals' NRA certification expires in different months throughout the year. So the verification of Merit Badge Counselors has to be reviewed on a month by month basis. These records need to be collected and maintained in a central location. The location we feel would that best serve the Shooting Sports Committee is with the Professional Scouter who is the Advisor to the Shootings Sports Committee. We also feel that since the Shooting Sports Committee needs to approve the Shooting Sports Merit Badge Counselor applications prior to them being entered into any database or recording of the individual as a Merit Badge Counselor the following process (some of which is already in place) would be appropriate.

            For a person applying as a new MBC in Shooting Sports –

o    We will still turn in the Adult Application, the MBC application, the YPT certificate and now we will attach a copy of a current NRA Instructor Certificate.

o   A copy of the MBC application is made and the copy of the NRA Instructor Certificate is attached. This is placed in a file (Currently Karen Frost, Advisor to the Health and Safety Committee/Shooting Sports Committee has the file) and reviewed with the Council Shooting Sports Chairman

o   If a copy of a current NRA Instructor Trainer Certificate is not included with the application then a copy of the MBC application is placed in a file (Currently Karen Frost, Advisor to the Health and Safety Committee/Shooting Sports Committee has the file) to await the certificate being provided. The individual’s MBC application is returned to the DE with the Shooting Sports MB highlighted with a note stating that a copy of a current NRA Instructor Trainer Certificate is needed for that person before they can be approved as a MBC for the Shooting Sports MBC. As soon as that certificate is provided it will be placed with the MBC application and reviewed by the Council Shooting Sports Chairman.

o   When the approval for a Shooting Sports MBC is given the DE will get a copy of the MBC application and a copy of the current NRA Instructor Trainer Certificate via email for their records as well as their Advancement Committee member over MBC.

This is the area where there are questions – current MBC…

For current Merit Badge Counselors it is suggested that they all be sent a letter explaining the requirements. A schedule of the upcoming courses could also be included.  Until the requirements are met, their names would be removed as Shooting Sports Merit Badge Counselor.

For a person already registered as a MBC –

o   As soon as a person provides a copy of their current NRA Instructor Certificate as well as their district and contact information to us Karen will let me know. I will approve the person ASAP - we usually can communicate within a 36 hour period.

o   The DE will get a copy of the MBC application and a copy of the current NRA Instructor Trainer Certificate via email for their records as well as their Advancement Committee member over MBC. 

·      The renewal of MBC occurs at the same time as the District charter renewal process. The Shooting Sports Committee will continually review the applicants for current certificates. There will be a spreadsheet provided with the names of those individuals who are currently approved as Shooting Sports MBC

Thank you,
Woody Cannon

Utah National Parks Council Shooting Sports Committee Chairman

"Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader" – Google that for fun!

If you are in a new leadership position, or if it has been more than three years since you went through "Leader Specific Training" for your current leadership position, we encourage you to take advantage of the upcoming training session.

You can review your personal training history at http://myscouting.scouting.org. Some training, such as Fast Start, Youth Protection, This is Scouting, can be completed on line. Activity specific training, such as Safety Afloat, Safe Swim Defense, and many others, can also be completed on line. However, Leader Specific Training, and Outdoor Leader Skills, required in-person training,

To learn more about training, please go to http://www.utahscouts.org. Across the top, under the logos, you will find a link to [Training]. On the training page you will find:

Trained leaders provide a quality, fun-filled program for Scouting units. When leaders understand Scouting, they are more effective in their roles.

So what does it mean to be "Trained", and what is required to receive the "Trained" patch? The following shows the natural sequence that leaders should follow to become "Trained".

1. Fast Start: This online course provides useful training to help you understand how Scouting works.
2. Youth Protection Training: This online course is required for all adult leaders, and focuses on safety for our youth. There are courses specifically for Cub Scout Leaders, Boy Scout/Varsity Scout Leaders, and Venturing Leaders.
3. This is Scouting: This new class replaces the old "New Leader's Essentials. This online course is required to earn the Trained patch and should be completed before taking Leader-Specific Training. This course helps the new leader understand what resources are available to them.
4. Leader-Specific Training: Taught as part of Basic Training, this course focuses on helping you to accomplish your responsibilities.
5. For some positions, North Star Training teaches an Outdoor Leader Skills course.
6. All leaders must also take Hazardous Weather training before taking their units outdoors. This is also an online course.

In the left-hand margin of the training page you will find [New Leader Training]. When you hover over [New Leader Training], you will see [Register for Basic Training]. Click on [Register for Basic Training] for a list of training dates and as well as a link labeled [Click Here to Register]. There you will find details about the given training date as well as the [Register] button.

Leader Position-Specific Training course times:
•Cub Scouts: 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
•Venturing: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
•Unit Commissioners: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
•Boy Scouts and Varsity: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The monthly "Leader Specific Training" sessions, held at the Council Service Center, are hosted by the various districts throughout the area.

Please, take advantage of on-line training and in-person training as soon as possible. You will be glad you did. And remember, "Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader."

We will see you at Roundtable!

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2010 Klondike Derby Photos