Hawk Mountain Council, BSA

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National Youth Leadership Training

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is the premier youth leadership program offered by Hawk Mountain Council. NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and crews, and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

[Read more…]

Adult Leader Outdoor Trainings

Are you in a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or an assistant of either position? Have you completed your required Outdoor Leader Training? If not, we have a number of opportunities for you.

Cub Scout Leaders:

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

This one-and-a-half day course is an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities. BALOO training consists of an online pre-requisite component in addition to an overnight hands on practical. BSA’s Cub Scout camping policies will be taught along with the necessary tools to help units carry our a successful camping experience. Completion of this course is mandatory for a MINIMUM OF ONE adult on a Pack overnight trip.

Online Training Pre-requisite for BALOO

The online portion is available through the BSA Learn Center. Log onto my.scouting.org and select the BSA Learn Center image on the right side of the home page. On the following page select Catalog from the top menu, and enter “BALOO” into the search box.

Scouts BSA Leaders:

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS)

Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills is a mandatory training for all registered Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. We will be covering the fundamental skills necessary to successfully and safely take a Scouts BSA troop or patrol on an outing. The Campsite Edition of IOLS has participants simulate a classic Scout “car camping” weekend. Therefore participants will carry their gear a short distance from a vehicle to a campsite. They will set up their tents at the site, and remain there other than short expeditions.

Campsite edition is designed for scout leaders with minimal camping experience.

 

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS)

Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills is a mandatory training for all registered Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. We will be covering the fundamental skills necessary to successfully and safely take a Scouts BSA troop or patrol on an outing. The course explores the back corners of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation and is led by experienced backcountry guides. This course is open for more than just those in need of Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training. It should be noted that all required IOLS course material will be covered while hiking on the trail. The course is also for those who simply want to experience the challenge and fun of backpacking. Leaders who have completed IOLS but would like to further improve backcountry skills are more than welcome to participate.

In addition to regular outdoor skills, you will learn trail navigation, gear, hydration and cooking for backcountry camping, trail crew planning and methods and tips for keeping you (and the scouts) healthy and happy on the trail. You will carry your tents to the overnight location.

You will need to carry a backpack, your sleeping bag/pad and scout essentials for approximately 8 miles over 2 days. There will be a Zoom Question & Answer session held where a complete gear list will be discussed on the weekend prior to the course. We highly recommend that you borrow gear you need before purchase as you will learn about what gear you want to have.

Leaders who have completed this course have had the same reaction – they learned more than they expected and had a lot of fun together. Leave the campsite behind, get outdoors and strengthen your skills and leadership. The cap for this course is 12.

 

Click the button below to find when our next courses will be held & register now!

Become a Merit Badge Counselor

Become a Merit Badge Counselor

What expertise do you have to share with Scouts? Check out the list of merit badges and their requirements. To become a merit badge counselor or to change your list of badges offered, complete the Merit Badge Counselor application and a new adult application (using position code 42), and take the Merit Badge Counselor training on my.Scouting.org.  This position also requires current Youth Protection training.

Experienced Leaders

Hawk Mountain Council recognizes that some leaders are very experienced with the operation of a Scouts BSA troop and also serve as merit badge counselors. We have prepared an online training that meets the national training requirements for Merit Badge Counselors for those who are already experienced and familiar with the Scouts BSA program. Complete this training by watching the video below and then reporting it to the training committee as directed at the conclusion.

Youth Protection Training Updates

UPDATED YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING MODULES

Over the decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in developing training and policies designed to keep young people safe. Over time, these policies have become standard with organizations across the nation. True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. It is the mission of Youth Protection volunteers and professionals to work within the Boy Scouts of America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, regional, area, council, district, and unit levels.

We have heard your feedback and are now releasing updates to the mandatory online Youth Protection Training to include items such as:

  • New mobile friendly design.
  • Updates to the certification test to make questions less ambiguous.

We will communicate when this new release is available. The target date is June 1st, 2021.  We recommend anyone who has started the online training prior to this date complete the training before the updates. The new versions will cause the loss of any progress in a module.

Youth Protection Training Information

Dear Hawk Mountain Volunteers and Parents,

Youth Protection Begins With You

Over the decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in developing training and policies designed to keep young people safe. Over time, these policies have become standard with organizations across the nation. Now, the Boy Scouts of America is releasing fully updated training to further strengthen our ability to protect youth

[Read more…]

Leadership Training

One of the keys to a successful Scouting experience for young people, second only to the selection of the right person for each responsibility, is trained volunteer leadership.

The training philosophy of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide adults with fundamental information about the aims and purpose of the movement, as well as specifics about their particular roles in Scouting.

[Read more…]

PA Background Checks

Overview – Pennsylvania Act 153 Pertaining to Volunteers

Summary

In October 2014, Governor Corbett signed PA Act 153 into law. This legislation is designed to increase the safety of children by requiring background checks and child abuse clearances for all volunteers and staff who are responsible for children. This law impacts all organizations that serve youth and also includes strengthened mandatory reporting requirements for adult volunteers and staff.

What are the criteria for clearances?

Adults who are currently unpaid volunteers, or are applying to be unpaid volunteers with the following responsibilities:

  • Acting in lieu of, or on behalf of a parent by providing care, supervision, guidance, or control of children, or…
  • Having regular, ongoing contact with children that is integral to their volunteer responsibilities.

[Read more…]

National Youth Leadership Training

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is the premier youth leadership program offered by Hawk Mountain Council. NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills […]

Adult Leader Outdoor Trainings

Are you in a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or an assistant of either position? Have you completed your required Outdoor Leader Training? If not, we have a number of opportunities for you. […]

Summer Camp 2024

  Welcome to the Hawk Mountain Council Summer Camp Page We have a great summer lined up for you and hope you will join us at HMSR. Check back … [Read More...]

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Places to go with your Scouts

Have you and your committee been stuck trying to pick out somewhere to take your pack or your den? Is that Patrol Leader's Council stumped for … [Read More...]

Cub Scouting

Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family.  In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best right now selves and grow into their very best future … [Read More...]

Join Scouting Today! Adventure is waiting for You! Click here to learn more.

Questions on Scouting? Just use the "Contact" link in the main menu and get in touch!

Download Forms

  • Hawk Mountain Council Volunteer Disclosure
  • Unit-Recharter-Booklet-2022.pdf
  • Appendix G - BSA Annual Health and Medical with HMSR Forms
  • BSA Annual Health & Medical Record Parts ABC
  • PR Check List
  • Boy Scout Inspection Form
  • Cub Scout Peer to Peer Cards
  • Into the Jungle Day Camp Flyer

Other Forms >>

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The Latest News…

  • 2023 Membership Kickoff
    Resources Available To You! As part of the Hawk […]
  • HMC Service Fee
    Updated August 1, 2023 The number one objective of the […]
  • 2023 Program Launch – Unit & Program Resources
    Thank you to those that joined us on April 20th to […]
  • Submit PA Background Checks and Waivers
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  • Important Update on COVID-19
    Hawk Mountain Council, BSA & the National BSA […]
  • Internet Rechartering
    Our Annual Recharter Cycle opened January 1, 2023 and […]

How to Help

  • HMC Service Fee
    Updated August 1, 2023 The number one objective […]
  • 2023 Program Launch – Unit & Program Resources
    Thank you to those that joined us on April 20th […]
  • FOS 2022
    The annual Friends of Scouting campaign provides […]
  • Submit PA Background Checks and Waivers
    Steps to Submitting Your Background Checks and […]
  • Hawk’s Nest
    The Hawk’s Nest is the quarterly newsletter […]

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