Scouts can earn college credit for attending national leadership course

National Youth Leadership Training educates Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts on how to be effective leaders; NYLT Leadership Academy teaches them how to be effective teachers.

For the first time, those who attend the academy not only will learn how to teach NYLT courses in their home councils, but they can also get college credit for it.

NYLT Leadership Academy has partnered with West Virginia University to offer the one-credit course entitled, “ORGL293A: Youth Leadership Experience.” The course, available to high school students, covers leadership techniques and practices. Most of the work in the course will be completed through the NYLT Leadership Academy program. There will be additional required reading and work before and after the course. The college credit can be transferred to any higher education institution across the country.

”Emerging leaders in the BSA will complete academic course work that aligns with the experience at the leadership academy,” says Dr. Jeffrey Houghton, professor of management and coordinator of the organizational leadership program at West Virginia University. “The material will explore leadership theories and have students reflect on their own leadership fundamentals.”

The academy, established in 2006, normally trains more than 300 youth from across the country every summer at four locations in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.

“Our partnership with West Virginia University adds academic rigor to the time-proven methodology of Scouting, resulting in an unequaled leadership learning experience,” says Gary Schroeder, NYLT Leadership Academy chair. “Like other advanced placement high school courses, youth can earn college credit.”

Upcoming courses

This summer, NYLT graduates can attend one of two weeklong courses that will be held in St. Louis and the Summit. The deadline to register is June 20. Scholarships are available.

Registering for the college credit program is an extra step in the registration process and costs an extra $25. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to enroll. Completing NYLT is a prerequisite for attending the NYLT Leadership Academy.

If your Scout doesn’t attend this summer’s courses, there should be more available in the coming year.