National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is the premier youth leader training experience offered by the Boy Scouts of America. 

NYLT Pack and Paddle adds value to the NYLT syllabus by executing the course of instruction in the context of a wilderness backpack and canoe trek, where participants put leadership theory to immediate, real-world practice. Participants will learn to set a personal vision, establish goals, and to lead themselves and others, in addition to picking up wilderness skills in the process. They will return to their home Troops and Crews with the tools and enthusiasm necessary to help lead their units using the Patrol Method. For many, NYLT Pack and Paddle is a mountaintop experience from which they will benefit the rest of their lives. 

Requirements to participate in the 2025 NYLT Pack and Paddle Course include: 

• All participants must be members of a Scouts BSA Troop, Venturing Crew and/or Sea Scouts Ship.
• All participants must be 13 years old or older by the first day of Course. 
• All participants must have achieved a First Class Rank (or program equivalent) or above by the first day of Course. 
• All participants must have passed the BSA Swimmer’s Test within one year of the first day of Course, or be able to pass it on arrival. 
• All participants must have a letter of recommendation from their unit leader upon registration for Course. 
• All participants must have completed the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (or Crews or Ships) by the first day of Course. 

Participants should be prepared to utilize skills including: 

Ability to live and work in a rugged environment. 

This includes the ability to eat approximately 9 days’ worth of backbacking food. 

Participants should have the emotional stability to readily work in a team environment for an intense and extended period of time. 

Participants arrive at Camp Hiawatha at 11 AM Eastern on Saturday, August 2.  Pick-up is Sunday, August 10 after the final assembly at the waterfront around 10:30 Eastern.

We are working to be able to offer a family weekend during drop off and pick up at NYLT. Information will be added if that becomes available. We are able to offer limited cabin or camping space for those families who would like to come up the night before!