Grow and improve your leadership skills while following the guidelines of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Scouts earning the National Youth Leadership Training shield are better prepared to interact with adult leaders and face the challenges and demands ahead.

It is recommended that they 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.

Land Based

To attend NYLT, a Scout must be:

• A current registered member of the BSA 
• First Class rank or higher and have completed introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops
• 13 years old
• A current or prospective youth leader approved by the Scoutmaster

**Venturers and Sea Scouts must meet all of the above but the First class rank requirement.and fall within the maximum and minimum age allowance**

**For 2019 only, an exception will be granted for girls to attend NYLT  without first achieving the First Class Rank; they must meet age requirements and first attend Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST). **

Pack & Paddle

The Pack & Paddle course is conducted in the S bar F Scout Ranch backcountry and on Nims Lake during the NYLT courses. Attending Scouts develop leadership skills, practice low-impact camping, hiking, canoeing and learn the proper use of a compass for navigation.

All participants must stow food, crew gear, shelter, personal items and any other essential equipment in their packs. It’s important to remember, that when selecting equipment, this is a physically demanding course.

To attend Pack & Paddle, a candidate must:

• Meet all NYLT requirements, including Crew Advisor Approval
• Be 14 years of age by date of summer camp
• Pass the BSA swim test (swim 100 yards using strong strokes)

The Pack & Paddle outpost adventure program follows the NYLT syllabus.