NYLT Notes

Winter Edition

Sam Houston Area Council

Welcome to NYLT!

Congratulations on being selected by your troop to attend National Youth Leadership Training.  This 6-day course will provide you with new leadership skills and resources that will help you in many ways.  This NYLT course is especially unique in that its syllabus is similar to what your troop leaders will get in their Wood Badge training.  So you'll be getting the latest and best training possible. The experience should be exciting for all of us.

In order to be sure things go smoothly we do need your help.  Please read through this newsletter and be sure you complete the required tasks and prepare for the course properly.  We look forward to having you on the course!

Course Orientation Meeting

Orientation is mandatory.  This is where we provide you with details for the course and where we collect all of your paperwork and payments to confirm your registration.  Please bring your parent, guardian, or troop Scoutmaster so that they may be informed as well.  Orientation for the winter course will be held at the Cockrell Scout Center (2225 North Loop West, Houston, 77008) on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 1:30 PM and conclude at 3:30 PM.  Please try to arrive at 1:00 PM so that we can check you in.

Participant Paperwork Requirements

As with any event we do require some paperwork from you before the course starts (15 days in advance), but the good news is that there are just a few simple items.  Every participant must have the following (absolutely no exceptions):

1. Medical Form - A Class II medical form that is complete and signed by a doctor within the prescribed time period.  A copy rather than original is recommended.
2. Resource Questionnaire - This form includes any information we should know about, such as physical or dietary restrictions, needed to accommodate medical or religious issues.  This form also provides the staff with important information, used to group the participants, to assure that the maximum benefit is received from the course.
3. All Fees Paid in Full - The Council must have your full fee paid at least 15 days in advance to have the funds needed to buy all food and supplies in order to host a successful course.
4. Medication Form - This form must be completed if you are taking any medicine; either prescribed or over the counter.
5. Talent Release Form - This form is required so that photographs of course participants may be taken and be used for Council purposes only.

NOTE:  We will not allow anyone to participate on the course without all the above.  It is particularly important that you bring all this to Orientation so that we can check them for completeness.

Course Location and Arrival / Pick Up Times

The course will be held at the Bovay Scout Ranch near Navasota, Texas.  Go to this link in the Council website http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/Bovay/MaptoBovay/Map%20to%20Bovay.PDF for the map and driving directions.

The course will start at 12:00 PM on Friday, December 26, 2008.  Participants should plan to arrive between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM in order to be there on time.  Please do not arrive before 11:30 AM as we will not be ready to receive any participants yet.

The course will finish by 3:30 PM on Wednesday, December 31, 2008.  Parents should plan to arrive between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.  Please do not be late, as the staff will depart for home directly after the course and no one will be allowed to remain at the camp.

NYLT Course Policies

We do have a few policies we have been motivated to develop that you should know and be aware of:

1. Fee Refunds - We understand things can happen that causes a participant to withdraw from the course.  However, refunds or balance transfers to a future course will only be discussed if the withdrawal is due to factors beyond the control of the participant or guardian.  The Council will assess the reasons for a withdrawal and make a fair ruling, if any refund might be available at Council¡¦s discretion.
2. Equipment Damage - Any Council equipment or property damaged by participants during the course, where damage occurs from other than normal or expected use, shall be the responsibility of the participant(s) involved (and of their parent or guardian).  Payment to the Council is expected to repair / replace for the cost of the damage.
3. Course Completion - To successfully complete the course and receive the certificate and patch, a participant must attend the full course including its closing ceremony.  Anyone leaving the course early will not be eligible for completion.
4. Medication - All medication (prescribed or over the counter) must be labeled with participant¡¦s name, medication name, dosage, and schedule for medication.  Send only enough medication for the 6-day course which will be kept and dispensed by adult staff.  Use the Medication Form.  Each participant may keep inhalers and sting kits.

Food and Supplies, Uniforms, Prohibited Items

The Council will provide all the food, course supplies, and patrol equipment needed for the course (e.g. stoves, cook gear, etc).  We will be sleeping in wall tents similar to summer camp most of the week so we recommend a ground cloth and a cot for comfortable sleeping.  One night you will backpack to an overnight camp a short distance away so you¡¦ll need to borrow / bring one of your troop¡¦s tents.

As representatives of their own troops attending a national-level BSA training course, participants are expected to wear the BSA uniform proudly at all times.  The field uniform for NYLT includes Boy Scout uniform shirt, Boy Scout uniform pants, Boy Scout belt and buckle, and Boy Scout socks.  The activity uniform is the field uniform with a Scouting t-shirt in place of the uniform shirt.  Caps are permitted as long as they are BSA issued or plain (no advertising or company logos).  We recommend bringing enough clothing to permit a daily change and alternate day washing and drying to promote personal hygiene (odor) and comfort.

Audio or electronic gear (pagers, cell phones, games, etc) as well as any food, snacks or drinks are not permitted on the course, so please leave them home.

Contacting Your Scout at Camp

The emergency phone number for Bovay Scout Ranch will be provided at Orientation.  When calling, please identify yourself as an NYLT parent or guardian, state your emergency, ask that your son contact you, and leave a call back number.  Similarly, the NYLT Scoutmaster may give his cell phone number to parents or guardians at the Orientation meeting.

Recommended Personal Equipment Checklist

Required Personal Gear:

•   Complete BSA Field Uniform 
•   Uniform Shirt with proper patches (1 to 2)
•   Uniform Pants (1- 2)
•   Uniform Socks (3 pair)
•   Uniform belt and buckle
•   Uniform hat and/or troop neckerchief (if applicable)
•   Shoes, 1pair suitable for hiking, 1 extra pair
•   Rain Suit or Poncho
•   Light and/or heavy jacket
•   Change of clothing: pants, shirts, underwear, etc.
•   Backpack (for all gear ¡V no footlockers or suitcases)
•   Sleeping bag
•   Ground cloth
•   Lightweight tent for overnight (share with others)
•   Eating ¡V plate, bowl, cup, knife, fork, spoon
•   Water bottle or canteen
•   Flashlight (with spare batteries and bulb)
•   Compass
•   Boy Scout Knife (lock blade ¡V no fixed blades)
•   Chapstick, sunblock, insect repellent (no aerosol)
•   Any prescribed or required medication
•   Pens, pencils, notepad
•   Boy Scout Handbook

Recommended Personal Gear:

•   Cot and/or foam sleeping pad
•   Mosquito netting to cover cot
•   Bathing - towels (2), soap, shampoo
•   Hygiene - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb, etc.
•   Personal first aid kit - basic band aids, etc.
•   Watch  and/or alarm clock
•   Clothesline and clothespins
•   Patrol Leader Handbook or Senior Patrol Leader Handbook

Optional Personal Gear:

•   Small rug or mat for tent floor
•   Pillow
•   Woolite or similar biodegradable laundry soap
•   Sewing and/or repair kit
•   Sunglasses
•   Camera, musical instrument (no radios/CDs)
•   Religious book(s)