Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST)

The purpose of the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) course is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and the organizational and leadership skills needed to most effectively reach success in that role. Completion of ILST is a prerequisite for Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). 

ILST is typically offered within a troop, with more experienced Scouts training the Scouts new to leadership positions. Students will return to their troops with a stronger grasp of leadership skills and the EDGE method. Additionally, they will be able to facilitate ILST for other Scouts in their troop and create a legacy of strong leaders. 

Topics will include:

• Troop Organization
• Descriptions of leadership roles
• Responsibilities of these roles
• Introduction to Visions
• Servant Leadership
• Tools of Leadership
• Communication
• Planning
• Teaching
• Leadership and Teamwork
• Teams and team characteristics
• Stages of team development
• Inclusion in teams
• Ethics and Values

Who should attend?

• Scouts new to, or interested in, positions of responsibility in a troop
• Scouts interested in pursuing advanced training at NYLT or NAYLE
• Scouts interested in helping facilitate an ILST course for their own troop