Scouts attend leadership training

SHOHOLA — Two members of Shohola Boy Scout Troop #76 have recently completed National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), which was held at Camp Nooteeming, Salt Point, N.Y.

Matthew Murphy and Sean Rinkel, both Freshmen of Delaware Valley High School, participated in and successfully completed the week long youth leadership development training program offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

Thomas Seltzer, Life Scout of Troop #76, who had completed the training in 2013, was selected to serve as a youth staff member for the program. The program is intended to provide standardized, in-depth training covering a number of leadership concepts and skills for Boy Scouts.

The syllabus uses a sequence for learning that the Boy Scouts previously defined as effective teaching: learning objectives, discovery, teaching / learning, application and evaluation. During the program, the participants are taught event planning, communication, team development, teaching, leadership styles, setting goals, problem solving and other leadership skills.

Participants are organized as a generic scouting unit and are grouped into teams of no more than eight. Each day, the participants of each unit are elected to take on a different role within their respective units. As the NYLT program is run by youth leaders under adult supervision, the different roles within the units include: Senior Patrol Leader; Assistant Patrol Leader; and Team Guide.

The objectives of the program include, but are not limited to: giving confidence and knowledge to conduct a youth-run program thus learning life skills; training in all aspects of effective leadership which may range from teaching skills to motivating an organization; guiding through the stages of team development; giving the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with youth from other units; enhancing the relationship between the youth and adults; creating an environment of Scouting fellowship and fun guided by the Scout Oath and Law; and experiencing Scouting at its best.

Matt Murphy, who currently holds the rank of Patrol Leader within Troop #76, reflected that he found the program to differ greatly from regular scout camp in that the scouts were assigned to different units with people that the scout has never met before and were expected to work efficiently with toward various goals, as a team.

He found the program to be extremely beneficial in that he gained self confidence in the development of his own leadership skills and learned many new concepts for the enhancement of team building. Matt stated that he is looking forward to applying some of these skills within his own patrol in Troop #76.

Sean Rinkel, who currently holds the rank of Den Chief within Troop #76, has been involved in scouting for approximately eight years. He commented that he found the NYLT program to be a very positive experience in that he learned some new concepts to assist him with dealing with future challenges. Sean confided that he found that attempting to motivate people who didn’t necessarily want to participate in team activities was most challenging.

He also mentioned that he enjoyed the fact that the units were entrusted to cook their own food independently. Sean noted that the skills he acquired will assist him in everyday life.

Thomas Seltzer, Life Scout and Patrol Leader of Troop #76, held a staff position as Team Guide. He had been invited back to Camp Nooteeming this year to take on the challenging role as staff member. As he had been a participant within the NYLT program in 2013, he noted that his role as Team Guide was very different. He was amazed at how the unit, that he was assigned to, depended upon him for guidance during for the first few days. He went on to state that suddenly, when he took a step back, his unit took charge, independently.

Thomas confided that the most challenging aspect of his role was staying up late at night to conduct written performance evaluations on the skills of each of his unit members. As he currently holds the position of Troop Guide in Shohola Troop #76, Thomas looks forward to applying the skills that he has learned from the valuable experience and has his sights set on the possibility of assuming the role of Senior Patrol Leader, within the Troop, in the future.

Troop #76 Scoutmaster Herb Rinkel, who embraces the philosophy of education and continuous training, noted that he is quite proud of the scouts. He stated that this type of training will not only assist them in the development of a “boy led troop” but will teach them skills that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

For more information about Shohola Troop #76, visit www.troop76events.com.