Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS. S11)

Mission Peak Acorn; Course Two

IOLS builds and expands on the concepts and themes introduced in Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training (SMPST)  and provides Scouters with the confidence to take youth into the outdoors.

This hands-on program gives adult leaders a practical introduction to the patrol method of a Scout-led troop by teaching many of the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out of-doors.

The skills sessions will be presented by experienced scouters closely following the Scouts BSA Handbook. By using these skills sessions in conjunction with the Scouts BSA handbooks, trainers can be sure new leaders are proficient in many of the basic outdoor skills through First Class rank, and gain exposure to the patrol method and numerous teaching methods and learning games.

Topics covered in IOLS include:

• Hiking and Backpacking
• Orienteering
• First Aid
• Outdoor Ethics
• Wood Tools
• Plant and Animal Identification
• Knots and Lashings

Who should take this course?:

• Scoutmasters
• Assistant Scoutmasters
• Any adult who will be attending a troop campout or summer camp.

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills is one of three courses that direct contact leaders in the Scouts BSA program must take to be recognized as “trained”. Due to the practical and hands-on nature of the course, IOLS is NOT available online.

The other two courses are 

• Scoutmaster Position Specific:  Available in classroom or online
• Hazardous Weather Training:  Available only online at My.Scouting,org.  Must be renewed every two years. 

OK , so what is this ACORN thing.

Simply put, Acorn is part of the history, tradition, and culture of Mission Peak District. 

For the past several decades volunteers of Mission Peak District have presented a Scoutmaster Position Specific Training and Introduction to Online Leadership Skills as a package that we call Acorn. This program trained most of the leaders in Mission Peak District.  Graduates of Acorn can be identified by the ultra snazzy yellow neckerchief and acorn slide.  Most slides have the year of participation,    In order to earn one of these highly coveted neckerchiefs and slides students must attend both SMPST and IOLS in person through Mission Peak District.

I took SMPST online (or at summer camp, or with another district) can I just take IOLS ? (or the other way around, I took IOLS at summer camp, can I just take SMPST?

Absolutely.  You can register for either or both classes.  Neither one is a prerequisite for the other.   You just won’t get that neckerchief and slide.

My schedule only allows me to take SMPST this year.  If I take IOLS next year, can I still get the neckerchief and slide?

YES!  Take one this year and one next year.  As long as both are from MPD, you get the neckerchief and slide

But I really want that neckerchief and slide.  Is there another way I can earn them?

YES!!!   Join us on staff!   Being a troop guide is an awesome experience and everyone who serves on staff gets a neckerchief and slide. Most everyone who serves as a troop guide tell us that they get more as a troop guide than they did as a participant.  For questions about joining Acorn staff, contact course director Katherine Brovont.