Pre-Course Orientation

Also, read through our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you have any questions please email the Course Director at bearclaw@trcbsa.org. THANK YOU!!!

Here is some important information that the Bear Claw NYLT Staff has put together regarding the pre-course briefing for Scouts, Scoutmasters, and parents.

1. The purpose of the Bear Claw National Youth Leadership Course is to provide Scouts that are either in a Troop leadership position or will most likely be entering a Troop leadership position in the near future, the knowledge and skills that position requires. It is not a summer camp experience! Traditional rank advancement, merit badges and crafts are not a part of the Bear Claw NYLT experience.

2. Scouts are placed into a patrol of six Scouts. Selection is based on the following criteria, in order of importance:

   • Scouts are grouped with Scouts other than from their home Troop

   • Scouts are grouped with adult or youth leaders other than from their Troop

3. Because Bear Claw participants are required to be at least First Class rank, we expect that all Scouts attending Bear Claw be accomplished at these skills. Since the course begins immediately building on these skills, there is not time to review or re-teach this information once the Scouts arrive. Therefore, it is imperative that all of these First Class Scout Skills be reviewed prior to arriving at Bear Claw by the home troop unit.

4. The purpose of having each Scout as closely uniformed to every other Scout at Bear Claw (including staff) is so they see themselves as part of a team. Working in common as a team, they learn leadership through bringing together and using their own Patrol's diversity.

   • A Field Uniform at Bear Claw includes the official Bear Claw hat (supplied at check-in), official BSA short sleeve shirt with red epaulettes and appropriate patches, official BSA shorts, official BSA belt/buckle (web or leather), and official BSA socks with sturdy hiking boots. Troop neckerchief and neckerchief slide are not worn at Bear Claw. While we don't change their Troop patches, all patches on the uniform must be current, correctly placed (or removed from the uniform if not worn correctly), according to the BSA Handbook.

   • An Activity Uniform (Class B) at Bear Claw consists of everything in a Field Uniform, except a Bear Claw Activity shirt (three supplied at check-in) is substituted for the official BSA long or short sleeve shirt. During the course, Scouts will be required to be in either the Field Uniform or Activity Uniform.

   • Scouts must be wearing sturdy hiking boots. The terrain, activities, traction, and weather conditions require a solid, firm, treaded platform under the feet during Bear Claw.

5. At check-in, Scouts will be issued three (3) Bear Claw Activity shirts, a Bear Claw hat, Bear Claw neckerchief, and nametag .

6. Bear Claw practices the Patrol Method, and follows the Outdoor Code. Scouts will learn/enhance their skills in safe handling of food preparation and clean up, flag ceremonies, campfire ceremonies, cooking, organization, teamwork and team building, in addition to the leadership skills.

7. While we rarely have behavior problems at Bear Claw, we have sent Scouts (both participants and staff) home for behavioral reasons or for homesickness that requires the staff to address the issue at the expense of not being able to properly monitor the other participants. Generally, these incidents are dealing with the safety and welfare of the Scout and/or other participants. We do have a set procedure in place to handle behavioral issues:

   • When an issue is identified, it will first be dealt with by the Patrol Leader with counseling from the Troop Guide and Assistant Scoutmaster.

   • The next step of escalation is to take the issue to the Senior Patrol Leader. If the Senior Patrol Leader cannot resolve the issue, then the issue will be raised with the Scoutmaster, who immediately contacts and consults with the Course Director.

   • Issues that reach the level of the Scoutmaster result in expulsion from the course. We expect home troop Scoutmasters to respond immediately, if they are called to make arrangements to remove the Scout from the course site, in an expeditious manner.

8. If there are any medical or dietary needs or need for any special accommodations, parents should download a Special Needs form from www.trcbsa.org and submit it to the Course Director through the Council Service Center (by June 1).   The Course Director will be able to direct you in contacting and discussing those needs with the course medic, food quartermaster, or other appropriate staff personnel.
    

9. Bear Claw is not equipped to deal with long-term illness during the course. We take every step possible to keep the Scouts at Bear Claw for the entire course, and only have them removed when they are unable to attend the sessions or when they become a serious detriment to the program.
    

10. If you do arrive early, please be prepared to enjoy the scenery at camp while you wait. We will try to make accommodations for Scouts arriving late, however, we cannot allow Scouts to arrive on course any later than the evening on Day 1 of the course. Scouts that come late will miss very important classes and team building exercises from Sunday afternoon. IF YOU NEED TO COME LATE, YOU MUST CONTACT THE SCOUTMASTER AND COURSE DIRECTOR.

11. Families and friends are encouraged to attend graduation ceremonies on the final day of the course. Again, we ask that you do not arrive early, since the Scouts will be striving to keep to their schedule while working on getting their Patrol's equipment cleaned and readied for checkout.  Don't be late unless you know the way! For those with mobility needs, please notify the Scoutmaster so that arrangements can be made for transport to the ceremony.