Kodiak Leadership Training Course
Background and Purpose
Leadership and service to others are two key tenants of Venturing, the Boy
Scouts of America's fast growing teenage program. Combine these two elements
and you get the concept of "the servant leader." Servant leadership as a
philosophy teaches that the leader works with and through a team to accomplish
the mission.
Rather than just talking about leadership, Venturing through the new Kodiak
course, teaches useable, relevant leadership skills that every teen can use.
Methods
- Challenging outdoor trek to use nature as a classroom (Not indoors).
- May be offered by a council, a district, or even a crew.
Requires council approval.
- Team taught by two instructors per crew of 5-8.
- Only 5 leadership skills taught called Commissions.
- Can be offered as weeklong or two weekends.
- Uses hands-on learning approach with very short presentations.
- Constant reinforcement.
- Creates a leadership fraternity.
Requirements
- Be at least 16 years old (May be lowered to 14 on less
challenging courses.).
- Have physical capability for specific trek.
- Have outdoor skills for specific trek.
- Parental approval.
What a Council Does
- Set the date, itinerary, and fee.
- Manage the budget.
- Order course support materials and recognition.
- Recruit leadership and instructors.
- Promote attendance and communicate with participants.
- Promote locally and with neighboring councils.
- Send an after-action report to the national Venturing
division.
How to Host a Course
- Leadership commits to hosting a course (get council approval).
- Set fee, dates, and location. Add to council calendar.
- Assign a staff advisor.
- Recruit organizing committee.
- Promotes the trek in newsletter, website, and to crews and Venturers.
- After course place pictures in newsletter, newspapers, on
website, etc.
Course Support Materials You Will Need
| Item |
Who Supplies |
| 1. |
Magic Board (light weight, comes with stylus At least one per instructor. One per participant if possible. (Can be found at Wal-Mart, drug stores, and office supply store. Very inexpensive.) |
Host council |
| 2. |
Pen and paper for participants, option to magic boards |
Host council |
| 3. |
5 bear claws for each instructor and participant |
Supply Division - No. 17034 |
| 4. |
Leather leadership bag for each participant |
Supply Division |
| 5. |
24 tooth picks per participant |
Host council |
| 6. |
1 wood chip per participant |
Host council |
| 7. |
1 feather per participant |
Host council |
| 8. |
1 marble per participant |
Host council |
| 9. |
1 pack of playing cards |
Host council |
| 10. |
1 penny per participant |
Host council |
| 11. |
1 acorn or pecan per participant |
Host council |
| 12. |
1 blindfold per 4 participants (bandanas will work) |
Host council |
| 13. |
1 Lego block per participant |
Host council |
| 14. |
1 seed (like corn or beans) per participant |
Host council |
| 15. |
1 course certificate No. 33504 per participant |
Supply Division |
| 16. |
Colored plastic beads to separate bear claws |
Host council |
| 17. |
One 2 _ ft. leather thong (bear claw necklace) per person |
Host council or Supply Division |
| 18. |
One small candle per person for closing |
Host council |
| 19. |
1 Kodiak Course Syllabus, per staff member |
Host council |
| 20. |
1 Bag-tag, No. 33506 per staff member |
Supply Division |
| 21. |
1 Kodiak Medal, No. 14221 per participant |
Supply Division |
| 22. |
1 Kodiak patch, No. 14222 per participant |
Supply Division |
If you have questions or need an electronic syllabus, please contact
Bill Evans, Associate Director, Venturing Division at 972-580-2427 or
email: bevans@netbsa.org