Sometimes, plans change you know? Well, that’s what happened with this would-be campout. We had a weather advisory in the area we were going to camp, saying it was going to be really windy and really cold, AKA a BAD day for camping – especially when the whole thing involves a lot of sitting around and not having your blood moving. So instead, we just vibed in our normal meeting place for the training, where we didn’t have to worry about the weather.
ILST is an acronym for Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops. In this leadership training, we learn about the different youth and adult positions in the troop and how they work together. We learn different leadership skills such as delegation, communication, trust, and the importance of individuals. We have more experienced scouts lead games where these skills are implemented, like leading blindfolded scouts through mazes, creating personalities for rocks, telephone, a “Helium Stick” and more. They also give lessons on other aspects of leadership.
As the scouts learn these skills, it prepares them for potentially taking up leadership positions in the troop like Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Scribes, Historians, Quartermasters, Chaplains Aids, Youth Instructors, and more. They get to start a new aspect of their scouting, helping them in their higher ranks where having a position in the troop is one of the requirements. ILST also introduces them to new opportunities like NYLT, National Youth Leadership Training.
ILST in one of our most important campouts in the year, partly because of the preparation it gives scouts, but also because of the amount of bonding and fun we get to experience as a part of it. It’s pretty great.
