The Chain Bridge District Training Committee invites you to participate in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), a hands-on skills training in the outdoors, designed to help you master basic camp skills required for Tenderfoot to First Class. This course will be at the Outdoor Lab, located in Haymarket, VA from November 11-12. The course will start at 8:30 am on Saturday, November 11, and end at approximately 5pm on Sunday, November 12, participants and staff should bring a signed copy of the Volunteer Agreement. There is also a virtual planning meeting on Wednesday, November 8, from 8 to 9 pm (a Zoom link will be sent to all registrants). The cost to attend is $30 per participant. Registration and payment must be made online.

Instructors will help you learn how to set up camp, cook, and work with woods tools, and about ropes, planning campfire programs, map reading and compass skills, hiking and packing techniques, nature identification, and outdoor ethics. Each outdoor session will bring to life the pages of the Scouts BSA handbooks to help you deliver the promise of Scouting to yourself and the youth you serve. It will increase your comfort level and give you confidence as a trained, skilled leader. The program will also give you the opportunity to work with other Scout leaders from your area, meet new friends, and reinforce skill techniques with fellow unit leaders.

While many of our Scouters vary in terms of experience and skills, the key to IOLS is that the program is taught in the context of the Patrol Method, which is the foundation of the Scouts BSA program. Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters must complete IOLS to be considered position-trained.

We look forward to hearing from and working with you in this unique and exciting program.