What is SFBAC-NYLT?

SFBAC-NYLT is a week long outdoor experience for present and future youth troop leaders, designed to help a Scoutmaster in his responsibility to train his scouts in being better troop leaders and in maintaining a youth-run Scouting Program. It is based on the BSA National Youth Leadership Training Program. NYLT replaces the course curriculum previously known as Junior Leader Training (JLT).

The Course focuses on teaching advanced leadership and planning skill in an intense, team-building atmosphere. Participants will be regularly challenged to accomplish time-sensitive tasks using the team-building and leadership skills taught in the Course. Participants will also have opportunities to improve their outdoor skills and apply them. To Top

What is the purpose of SFBAC-NYLT?

SFBAC-NYLT has six major aims:

• To give participants the confidence and knowledge to run the troop program;
• To teach and practice key leadership skills and relate these skills to the Scout's troop responsibilities;
• To give Scouts the opportunity to share ideas and experiences that other Scouts have found to be successful and useful in their home troops;
• Give each Scout a varied experience with emphasis on the patrol method and new ways to teach Scoutcraft skills in a fun atmosphere back in his home troop.
• To create an atmosphere where scouts will experience "Scouting at its best".
• To enhance the relationship between the participant and his home troop's scoutmaster. To Top

Is SFBAC-NYLT complete after camp?

No, SFBAC-NYLT is a two phase program. Phase 1 is the training week at Wente Scout Reservation. Phase 2 is by each scout applying the leadership skills in his home troop after he completes the course. The home troop Scoutmaster certifies suitable application of the leadership skills. This application phase can be completed at any time but we have a Recognition ceremony the third Thursday of November (each year) to recognize all scouts that have completed their challenges. The home Troop Scoutmaster approves the completion of these challenges by e-mailing a short note to the Course Director stating that the Scout has demonstrated leadership thru applying the SFBAC-NYLT skills. Please also summarize what the participant did to demonstrate leadership. E-mail this to: Info@SFBAC-NYLT.org. The Scoutmaster may also change the challenges as needed to meet the troop's needs. After completion the signed form and a cover letter should be mailed to: To Top

Is SFBAC-NYLT a week at summer camp?

No. SFBAC-NYLT is a leadership training course in an outdoor environment. There are no rank advancement nor Merit Badge opportunities during the week. The purpose of this course is to develop leadership skills that scouts will use in their home troop and throughout their lives. To Top

Where is SFBAC-NYLT?

SFBAC-NYLT is held each year at Wente Scout Reservation in Willits California. Transportation TO Wente is included in the course. Parents or scout leaders must pick up their scouts after the course on Saturday (see next section). To Top

Important dates for SFBAC-NYLT?

Orientation: A SFBAC-NYLT Orientation meeting (MANDATORY) will be held on Thursday May 20th at 6:30PM at the LDS Church in Castro Valley, 3900 Seven Hills Road. Parents and scout leaders are required to attend. Please bring valid Class I and Class II medicals, payment, a completed application and a signed Code of Conduct. If you registered at our website you still need valid Class I and Class II medicals, an approved application and a signed Code of Conduct.

Course start: SFBAC-NYLT always starts on Father’s day. The 2009 course starts Sunday June 20th and ends on Saturday June 26th. Scouts must be dropped off at the SFBAC Council Office (1001 Davis St, San Leandro, CA) before 7:00AM on June 20. Buses leave by 8:00AM SHARP! Each scout should have one backpack with all of his items and be in a full Class A scout uniform (with shorts). THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR MEDICALS AND REGISTRATION PAYMENTS.

Course end: The SFBAC-NYLT course graduation ceremony takes place at Wente on Saturday, June 26th, at 11:00AM . It takes about 3+ hours to drive to Willits from the Bay Area. Please don’t arrive any earlier than 10:30AM. You will not be able to see your son until after the ceremony. This ceremony takes about 1 hour. All scouts can leave as soon as the ceremony has been completed. (Note that Staff must remain until all SFBAC-NYLT equipment has been stored). The Quartermaster will have a small selection of SFBAC-NYLT memorabilia available for sale (T-shirts, hat pins, patches and belt buckles) after Graduation. Lunch can also be ordered at Orientation before the course (for your entire family).

Goal Completion Ceremony: SFBAC-NYLT has a Graduation reunion on Thursday November 18th at the LDS Church in south Fremont (same location as the Orientation meeting). At this Graduation, all SFBAC-NYLT graduates that have completed their challenges and e-mailed in certification from their Scoutmaster, will receive a SFBAC-NYLT Trained strip and a completion emblem. Wear this strip with pride! To Top

How can I contact a participant?

In case of an emergency, call the Wente Ranger at (707) 459-2110. He will get a message to the SFBAC-NYLT Staff and we will then get the message to the Scout.

If you would like to mail letters (which Scouts just love to receive), the camp address is:

Due to the schedule that is run at SFBAC-NYLT, visitors are discouraged because of disruption to the program and the difficulty in providing make-up sessions. To Top

Who should attend SFBAC-NYLT?

SFBAC-NYLT participants must be thirteen years of age by October 1, 2010, be in a position of leadership (Senior Patrol Leaders, Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders or who will be candidates in the near future) and be First Class rank before May 20th. A scout must want to attend SFBAC-NYLT and have the enthusiasm and desire to participate in this learning experience. Because SFBAC-NYLT requires camping skills, Scouts must have had at least one long-term camp experience (such as summer camp) in order to attend. To Top

Who should not attend SFBAC-NYLT?

• Scouts with significant homesickness issues or discipline problems,
• Scouts who have little camping experience,
• Scouts who have never camped without a parent in attendance, or
• Scouts who are generally not leaders counted on by your troop.

SFBAC-NYLT will not “fix” your problem scouts and cannot change scouts that do not want to learn or participate. SFBAC-NYLT will nourish the leadership ability of the Scouts that you count on to run your troop. SFBAC-NYLT will not help Scouts with discipline problems or homesick problems.

Scouts with discipline issues will only disrupt efforts to train other Scouts as leaders and will likely be sent home without a refund. Removal of a Scout from the program is not done lightly and is reviewed thru a multi-level process and ultimately thru the Course Director. If a Scout is removed from the program, his parents will be called and they will need to pick him up at camp. All of our staff members are very busy training leaders during course week and do not have time to tend to Scouts who are not mature enough to attend a week-long leadership camp.

If you have any questions about the appropriateness of any scout attending SFBAC-NYLT, please contact the Course Director at info@SFBAC-NYLT.org. To Top

When does registration close?

The Course closes for Registration when the Course fills up. The current enrollment limit is 144 scouts. Once that limit is reached, all other Scouts will go on a waiting list. In the last three years, the course registration closed before the first week in May. The 2005 course was filled as of April 26th! The 2006 course was filled on May 1. In 2009, we had over 165 Scouts but we antecipated this extra large course and increased the staff to accomodate this influx. Do not plan on this again in 2010. Register as early as possible to avoid problems and potential disappointment.

What Paperwork is due and when is it due?

Last day to register is on May 18, 2010. After that date, Scouts are taken IF space is available. No applications can be accepted after Orientation. At Orientation, you need to bring a copy of the completed and signed application and Code of Conduct, an Annual Health and Medical Record (SFBAC form available at: www.sfbac.org), SFBAC Medication form and course fee payment. These are also available off of the Orientation page.

Best way to register is on the web at: www.SFBAC-NYLT.org. After completing the application form, before payment, there will be multiple reminders to print a copy. You must print it, sign it and get your parent's and Scoutmaster’s approvals. Failure to return a signed copy of the form may disqualify you from the Course. On the Orientation Page, print a Code of Conduct form, you and your parents must sign it. Bring this to Orientation.

Please bring a valid Annual Health and Medical Record to Orientation. PLEASE STATE ALL FOOD AND MEDICAL ALLERGIES OR ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR SON. A copy of the form kept by your home troop is acceptable.You will also find all of these form off of the Orientation page. All prescriptions must be in their original containers for camp. THANKS. To Top

What is the cost?

The Conference fee is $295 if paid on or after April 30th. Cost is $275 if paid on or before April 29th (payment must be received by SFBAC council office before April 29th). Please submit ONLY $275 for payments in full by April 29th or $295 total for payments in full after that date. On-line Registration is handled thru an independent company. To Top

Is there a handling charge for registration?

No, The registration fee is all inclusive. Credit Card charges will be only the course fee shown here. While the on-line registration company does charge the Council, the fee is imbedded in the fees shown on this site. To Top

Is the home Scoutmaster involved?

Absolutely! SFBAC-NYLT is designed to enhance the Scouts relationship with his home Scoutmaster. The home Scoutmaster coordinates and encourages the Scout's completion of his Phase 2 challenges. The home Scoutmaster works with the scout upon his return to identify 4 areas where the Scout can apply his SFBAC-NYLT skills. See Bringing SFBAC-NYLT Home on the Home Page. Upon completion, the Scoutmaster e-mails Info@SFBAC-NYLT.org, stating that the Scout has completed the goals that the Scoutmaster and Scout had agreed upon. To Top

How will Scouts live during SFBAC-NYLT?

Scouts will be placed into a patrol consisting of six Scouts from many Districts and even from other Councils. Each patrol has its own site with it’s own stoves and patrol cooking equipment. Scouts will prepare their own meals as Patrols. Tents are provided with 2 Scouts sharing a tent.

We have no trading post on camp. No candy or snacks are allowed on course.SFBAC-NYLT prides itself in providing Scouts with a well-balanced menu meeting the needs of energy levels needed for the course. To Top

What about meals and special dietary needs?

Scouts will eat "Jamboree" style. The patrol will pick up food at the Commissary before each meal and will prepare meals in camp. The scouts will be cooking on camp stoves. Scouts with special dietary needs should contact the the Course Director (info@SFBAC-NYLT.org) before the course. As part of Orientation, we ask all Scouts with any food restrictions to hand in a form outlining the dietary needs. We can accommodate most dietary needs but do require advanced notice. To Top

Is any special equipment needed?

An equipment list can be located off of the SFBAC-NYLT Webpage.

Each scout should have 2 full scout uniforms with shorts/switch-backs. During most occasions on course, switch-backs will be worn as shorts. The following items are to be removed from your uniform shirt: Rank, Leadership position, Trained strip, Quality Unit, Patrol, Right-Pocket/Activity Patch.

Please leave on the uniform: Council and Troop Number, World Crest, National Jamboree Patch, Interpreter, Tote-N-Chit or OA patch on right pocket flap, and any Knots.To Top

Do I need a backpack?

Yes. You will be expected to carry all of your equipment to and from your campsite and you may have to hike over a mile to accomplish that. There will be other times during the week when the backpack is essential. To Top

How can I get additional information?

E-mail us at info@SFBAC-NYLT.org

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