Tejas District - Longhorn Council

Course Overview

The North Star Adult Leader Training course is a three part course offered by the Tejas District which begins with New Leader Essentials, moves on to Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specifics and finishes with Outdoor Leader Training (OLT). This is the Scoutmaster Fundamentals / Basic Scout Leader training recommended for all new Boy Scout leaders (and not just Scoutmasters), particularly good for Webeloes Leaders crossing over into Boy Scouts and Bear Den Leaders looking to provide their Webeloes Den with a good program for the transition into Boy Scouts. Leaders in all troop and district positions including committee, should participate in this training. Northstar Training is required for all Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster positions, even if you took a Woodbadge course as a Cub Scout Leader.
This course is a required prerequisite for Woodbadge at the Boy Scout level.

The course is offered in three sessions, all of which are required for course completion. The participants are assigned to patrols of 6-8 people at the second training session. This provides a fun and effective way for them to live and learn the patrol method - the key to a good troop program. Each patrol elects its own leaders, chooses its patrol name, and sits together during Sessions I and II and camps together during the camp out (Session III).

Each course has its own syllabus and can be taken individually, but this is highly discouraged, because of the valuable experience learned in the patrol method.

New Leader Essentials (First Session)

The first session is New Leader Essentials and provides an introduction to the aims and methods of Scouting. The organization of the Boy Scouts of America, local council, and districts are briefly covered as is the breakdown of the troop. Most leaders have already taken NLE, but to maintain the Northstar Experience, it is suggested to take all three courses together.

Scoutmaster Specifics (2nd Session)

The second session, Scoutmaster Specifics, dives deeper into the troop program. The instructors will present information on training junior leaders, health and safety issues and policies, troop finances, membership recruiting and retention. Planning and conducting the troop program which includes: the troop meeting, outdoor (camping) program, service projects, and advancement is presented.

The afternoon of Session II focuses on the model troop meeting, beginning with a Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) and a troop meeting, annual planning meeting and the uniform. The patrols will plan their patrol part of the camping experience (Session III) during the troop meeting.

Outdoor Leader Skills (3rd Session)

The final session of the North Star course, Outdoor Leader Training, is the camping experience. This begins on Friday evening with camp setup. The camping experience reinforces the patrol method by having the participant’s camp, cook, and function as a patrol. The training sessions focus on basic outdoor skills such as: cooking, woods tools, map & compass, lashings, first aid, backpacking, campfire programs,non-denominational religious services, astronomy, and fire building - the Scouting way. The course concludes with a graduation and closing ceremony at noon on Sunday.

Schedule & Locations

A flyer will be available at the Tejas District Boy Scout Roundtables. The training dates and locations are also published on the Tejas District website.

Attendance
There will be no late registration for Outdoor Leader Training after the 2nd session has ended.
Participation in all three Sessions (through noon Sunday) is required the course completion certificate, and North Star patch. Each of the three sessions of the Northstar Course are separate courses on their own and can be taken in any district. However, since participants work as a patrol throughout the course, you should make every effort to complete the training during one course. However, if you must miss one session, you may make it up during a future course.

North Star is offered twice a year and each of the three sessions cover the same content each course. If you must miss a session or have any questions, please contact the course director when you register.

If you are unable to complete the entire course, you will find what sessions you do attend a valuable learning experience, which will help you better understand and carryout your future Scouting functions. Course completion is only required as a prerequisite for Wood Badge training.

Cost

A nominal fee of $20 is charged for the course. This covers all course materials, training supplies, patches, snacks, and your lunch during Session II. The fee is due when you register at the first session. Cash is preferred, but checks will be accepted as a last resort. The fee cannot be refunded after the first session, but if you are unable to complete the course, you will receive full credit for future courses. If you pay by check, please find out whom to make the check payable at the time of registration.

Your food for the camping experience will be purchased by you and your patrol members and is not included in the course fee.

Attire

All participants are strongly encouraged to wear their full Boy Scout Field uniform, but street clothes are acceptable. Proper wearing of the full uniform is an important part of setting the example for the Scouts and no one has expressed this any better than Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the worldwide Scouting movement,

I have often said, "I don't care a fig whether a Scout wears a uniform or not so long as his heart is in his work and he carries out the Scout Law." But the fact is that there is hardly a Scout who does not wear the uniform if he can afford to buy it.
The spirit prompts him to it.
The same rule applies naturally to those who carry on the Scout Movement - the Scoutmaster and Commissioners; there is no obligation on them to wear the uniform if they don't like it. At the same time, they have in their positions to think of others rather than of themselves.
Baden-Powell, Aids to Scoutmastership, 1944

What to bring

Please bring a copy of the Scoutmaster Handbook, pen and paper.
Also bring plenty of enthusiasm.

Course Content

Check out the detail North Star course outline.
An expanded version of this course outline will be provided to each patrol leader at the first session.

Maps

See flyer for directions to the training facility each session.
Maps to the camps will be handed out at the Saturday Session.

Patrol Meetings

After the Saturday session, each patrol is encouraged to conduct patrol meetings in order to plan menus, flags, gear, patrol t-shirts (not required but encouraged), transportation, etc... kind of like a Boy Scout Troop.

The Feast

As with tradition, the Tejas District has a tradition of the Feast. This will be held on the Saturday evening meal. Each patrol is judged on the meal it prepares, the dessert, and best of all, the presentation of the meal. This ranges from ethnic to traditional, from formal to any theme the patrol wants to present. Use your imagination.

Equipment for Camping Experience

Unlike a real Scout troop, the North Star course does not have any camping equipment, so each patrol will provide its own patrol equipment. This is usually borrowed from either the participant’s home troop or from an individual who has it.

patrol flag folding table
water cans tents stove lanterns
cooking gear tarps
coolers chuck boxes
food anything else requested by the staff

Each camper should bring the following personal equipment:

sleeping bag/bedding rain gear
lawn chair flashlight
eating gear sun glasses
sun block compass (if you have one)
hat (sun protection) Scout uniform and activity uniform
shoes suitable for a short hike
anything else advised by the staff

When planning and packing your patrol and individual equipment, be aware that vehicle access into your campsite may be limited. That is, you may be limited to one or no vehicles per patrol to ferry gear from the parking lot. Be wary of smokers, 65 qt cast pots, BBQ grills, etc...This depends upon which camp we are assigned. Details will be provided during the Session II troop meeting.

Registration

Registrations will be taken via phone or e-mail. You may also register at the door on Wednesday evening, but we would really like to know you are coming. Contact training for more information

This course generally follows the BSA course syllabus, but has been evolving over the years as a result of feedback from the participants. We want to continue to improve the training experience and need your input. A course evaluation form will be handed out and all comments, positive and negative, are encouraged. The form will be collected prior to the graduation / closing ceremony.