What is Big Horn National Youth Leadership Training?

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

The Big Horn NYLT Course is an intense youth oriented leadership training experience sponsored by the Denver Area Council and held annually at Tahosa Camp near Ward, Colorado. Each week, the training is conducted by highly qualified youth staff under the supervision of adult advisers using the National Youth Leadership Training Course Syllabus, as published by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America. The course models a month in the life of a unit - four meetings (one each day for the first four days) and multiple unit meetings all leading up to a culminating outdoor experience (an overnight outpost camp).

NYLT is a six-day adventure. The program centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the scouts go on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership. Content is delivered in an outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon, and aided by the use of memory aids, which allow participants to understand and employ the leadership skills much faster. While the challenge is designed to have them go through the four stages of team development, it will help teams, patrols and individual Scouts internalize the leadership skills and concepts being presented to them along the way. Throughout the course, the staff will be modeling the concepts and skills that are the core content of the course. The focus of each session is not only knowledge but giving the youth a "Toolbox of Leadership Skills" that equips them with the "How".

For more information please contact; Email  Greg Luer  or 303-904-9077.

See the Big Horn NYLT video!

Who Should Attend Big Horn NYLT?

An NYLT course is ideal for training unit leaders. It can also be a valuable experience for other older Scouts and Venturers.

In order to attend an NYLT course, a youth must have the following qualifications by the beginning of the course:

Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts must be 13 years of age and not reached their 18^th birthday.  They must be a First Class Scout and have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.

Venturers must be at least 14 years old. They must have completed Crew Officer Orientation and Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews.  It is advised that Venturers over the age of 18 should consider taking the Wood Badge for the 21^st Century leadership course in place of Big Horn NYLT.

All participants must have the permission of their unit leader and submit their unit leaders name, phone number and email. 

§    He or she must agree to spend the entire scheduled week participating in the Big Horn National Youth Leadership Training Course.

He or she should have held a leadership position in his or her unit, if possible, or be considering a position in the near future.

The Scout should be an experienced camper with good camping, hiking and outdoor cooking skills.

In addition, any adult Scouters wishing to join as staff are welcome to download an appropriate staff application. Big Horn is a great way to improve your own leadership skills while helping to further advance the Aims of Scouting. It is also an opportunity to understand the material that youth leaders are learning and should be applying in your unit. This understanding will help you to help these Scouts to become the best leaders possible. Please remember that for Troops or Crews with five or more Scouts on the course, it is asked that they send at least one Scouter to serve on staff.

2013 Big Horn NYLT Dates

• Week 1: Sunday, June 9 - Saturday, June 15, 2013
• Week 2: Sunday, June 16 - Saturday, June 22, 2013
• Week 3: Sunday, June 23 - Saturday, June 29, 2013
• Week 4: Sunday, June 30 - Saturday, July 6, 2013
• Week 5: Sunday, July 7 - Saturday, July 13, 2013

Orientation Dates

• Big Horn Orientation - May 8, 2013; 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Big Horn Orientation - May 22, 2013; 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Big Horn Orientation - June 1, 2013; 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Youth and Adult Staff

Adult staff must complete and submit application no later than April 12, 2013

Adult Staff Application

Youth Staff applications for Senior Patrol Leader and/or Asst. Senior Patrol Leader must be completed and submitted no later than November 15, 2012. All other youth staff members must complete and submit their application no later than January 6, 2013.

Youth Staff Application

Training Commitment and Dates

Big Horn Staff will require a substantial commitment from everyone. You are expected to make Big Horn a priority and attend all training sessions. Please communicate with your Scoutmaster if you are unable to attend.