If you’ve been reading Oregon Trail Council communication, you have likely already heard of the new training requirement for direct contact leader registration. On one account, it simply means that in order to be registered as a scoutmaster, cubmaster, den leader, advisor or skipper and all assistants to these positions, proof of completing both Youth Protection Training and position-specific training must be submitted along with the usual forms.
That’s the simple part to our new policy. Let’s look at the implications for 2023:
There are two main groups to consider regarding this policy: 1. Those who are currently in a direct contact leader position without completing position-specific training, and 2. Those who will be new to a direct contact leader position starting January 1, 2023.
The first group has until the charter renewal deadline this coming year to complete their training, To wait until the end of the year is a big potential problem, however. While Oregon Trail Council will be announcing additional training dates for in-person courses, we would not be able to accommodate everyone for this training in the fourth quarter of 2023. We already have determined that there will be no waivers to the requirement, so that could spell a big problem for units.
Our hope is that every direct contact leader will complete their training requirement in the first quarter of the year. After all, the whole purpose behind the new policy is to improve the program we promise to our youth. So why put it off? Scoutmasters and their assistants have an added challenge to complete the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) as part of their position specific training requirement. Oregon Trail will offer this program throughout the year, and it is imperative that it be done as early in the year as possible.
The second group mentioned above are the new folks, either new to Scouting in general or new to a direct contact leadership position. Starting the first open Scout office day on Monday, January 2nd, they will need to submit the Youth Protection Training certificate as they’ve been required so far, and now they’ll need to submit a certificate for their position-specific training.
Changes to “what we’ve done in the past” can always be a bit painful. I’m asking for your patience and understanding, especially for those who are carrying this message out to units and to the office staff at Oregon Trail Council who will serve as the gate keepers for this new requirement.
We know that position-specific training is not be-all and end-all for adult direct contact leaders. But it does serve as a foundation to get us all on the same “Scouting page.” I look forward to the success of this new policy during the coming year.
Phil Westover, Oregon Trail Council Commissioner
