National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

What is NYLT?

NYLT stands for National Youth Leadership Training and has been Scouting’s premiere leadership training program since its establishment in 2003. The training is held over 6 days, or a two-weekend span and scouts will learn important Scout and life skills that can translate over to troop leadership and even everyday life.During the program, Scouts will be placed into patrols with Scouts that they may have not met before, where they will go through the stages of team development as they strive to become better leaders. Scouts will learn how to communicate effectively, how to resolve conflicts, and how to work towards a vision.

Who can attend NYLT?

To participate in NYLT, scouts must meet the following requirements:

be currently registered with a Troop, Crew, or Ship
be at least 13 years of age and at least of First Class rank (Scouts BSA) or a Venturer/Sea Scout at least 14, or 13 and have completed 8th grade. Must fall within age range for their program (Scouts BSA: no older than 17; Venturing/Sea Scouts: no older than 20)
have approval from their unit leader AND parents/guardians
have completed the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST)/ Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crew/Ships (ILSC/S)

What will Scouts learn at NYLT?

Presentations include how to properly prepare your plans, how to resolve conflicts between other Scouts, finding your vision, embracing leading change, the importance of resilience, and how to lead a team through the stages of team development. In addition to presentations presented by the NYLT Youth Staff, challenges such as a pioneering project, first aid scenarios, and a quest for the meaning of leadership will lead your Scouts through working with their patrol to become better leaders and better Scouts.

Why should I as a Scout consider NYLT?

NYLT not only helps your Scouts become better leaders within the scouting community but can have a direct impact on their overall attitude and confidence in their everyday lives. Both leaders and Scouts have seen how NYLT can affect a Scout’s confidence in themselves and their leadership attributes, which has made them into better people and leaders in every facet of their lives.

Do the skills of NYLT help at the Troop Level?

Yes, absolutely! You can ask any of the folks that have had an NYLT trained leader. One scout said that it completely changed their confidence level and their confidence in themselves as a leader. They were able to apply the principles that they learned at NYLT at the troop level, student government level, and even in sports to become a better leader and teammate. NYLT changed their perspective on leadership and greatly advanced their understanding of the scouting program which led to their completion of the Eagle Scout Rank.