I'm a New Leader

Thank you for becoming a new Scout leader. You are about to embark on a journey full of many challenges and rewards. You have many resources available to you to help you be a successful Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venture Crew leader. 

• Leader Guides, How-to-Books, Program Helps – There are leader specific guides that are published by the National Boy Scouts of America. These publications are the primary resource material for all unit leaders and committee members, and contain information about everything from unit structure and leader roles, to how to run a meeting and ideas for program. These guides, along with many other invaluable publications, are available from the Council Service Center.
• Council Service Center – The Shenandoah Area Council’s Supply Shop and Service Center are conveniently located at 107 Youth Development Court in Winchester, Virginia. The Scout Shop is well stocked with any supplies you need. Customer service professionals are on hand to answer questions about uniforms, camps, training, and any thing else you need to know. This is Council Headquarters, where the Council Executive and District Executives have offices.
• Council Website –The Shenandoah Area Council’s website contains a wealth of information for new and veteran leaders. Note the following links: 
  Calendar- each district has a calendar which has all events posted by date, time and location. Information about training, Roundtable, district activities and important committee meetings can be found here.
  Training- one of your primary resources is training. Every youth deserves a trained adult leader. There are many training opportunities available. It begins with the Fast Start training, continues through New Leader Essentials, and is followed by Leader Specific training for each adult's role in the unit. Youth Protection Training was developed to help safeguard both youth and adult members. It is an approximate 60-minute program available on-line.
• Roundtable is on-going leader training. Each month a different theme is explored, and a training topic is discussed, based on local interest and/or national BSA guidelines. This is an opportunity to engage in fellowship with other leaders in your District, while learning of the latest information from your District, Council and National BSA.
• Trail Signs – each month the Council mails out a newsletter to all registered scout leaders. Trail Signs is also available on line [insert link]. This newsletter contains a message from the Scout Executive, information about upcoming product sales, council and district updates, messages from the District Executives, and the Order of the Arrow Shenshawpatoo Lodge calendar.
• Commissioners – each unit is assigned a Unit Commissioner. The Unit Commissioner visits each unit every 2 to 3 months. Roundtable Commissioners provide a monthly forum for on-going training and exploration of a monthly theme. Unit Commissioners and Roundtable Commissioners are good resources for information about rechartering, upcoming council and district events, and can help answer your questions.
• Pack/Troop Trainer – The Pack Trainer is a committee member whose job it is to guide new leaders. Pack Trainers encourage new leaders to attend training and answer their questions.
• Fellow Leaders – one of a new leader’s most valuable and long lasting resources are his or her fellow leaders. Other leaders in your Pack, or those you meet at training and Roundtable, have gone through many of the experiences you have or will have in Scouting, and want to share their knowledge with you. They are often just a phone call away.