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2026 Course Information
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Quick Summary
Quick Summary
Using the 5WH tool, something you will learn about at course!
WHO?
WHO?
YOU*, who will be trained by our staff!
*or anyone who is currently a youth leader in your unit, or who plans to be in the future!
WHAT?
WHAT?
A weeklong leadership seminar called National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
A week-long, fun, interactive course teaching you the skills YOU need in order to become a better leader!
WHEN?
WHEN?
June 7th-13th, 2026
The "Goldilocks" time of year! (Usually. Our weather rock unfortunately can't make any guarantees...)
WHERE?
WHERE?
Camp Big Timber (Elgin, IL)
The beautiful fields and forest of your local Scout camp!
WHY?
WHY?
To enhance your leadership skills in an engaging way!
We teach you team building, conflict resolution, communication, and goal setting, all while having fun!
HOW?
HOW?
With hands-on activities, presentations, and real-world experience!
You'll have opportunities to be a patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, and a team member, all while completing challenges designed to stress-test the skills you learn.
Course Value
Course Value
Or in modern slang: TRADE OFFER!!!
You give us...
You give us...
Payment as described on the Course Overview page
Your time
We give you...
We give you...
A week of Scouting fun and a bunch of engaging activities, all in beautiful, well-maintained Camp Big Timber
New lifelong skills to lead yourself, your unit, and your community - and a binder to keep track of them
A safe and encouraging environment to practice and experiment with leadership
An ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER staff - we are not paid, but we still hold ourselves to the highest standards of Scouting! Our staff is here because we believe in the program and in our vision of it!
How's that for value?
NYLT In Context
NYLT In Context
It's a big piece of the leadership puzzle.
Definition of NYLT: National Youth Leadership Training, shortened to NYLT, is a mid-level leadership training program for Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts. It is offered nationwide by participating Scouting America councils.
Definition of NYLT: National Youth Leadership Training, shortened to NYLT, is a mid-level leadership training program for Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts. It is offered nationwide by participating Scouting America councils.
More specifically... NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience - and it's led by fellow youths! Our adults serve as mentors and supervisors, monitoring the youth staff and ensuring the quality and safety of our course. Otherwise, they stay out of the way and let the youth staffers learn and teach!
More specifically... NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience - and it's led by fellow youths! Our adults serve as mentors and supervisors, monitoring the youth staff and ensuring the quality and safety of our course. Otherwise, they stay out of the way and let the youth staffers learn and teach!
In Three Fires Council, we spend six days giving presentations, running activities, and camping on the grounds of Camp Big Timber, allowing all participants a hand at leading their patrols through a rigorous yet supportive environment. Our nationally-accredited program is held after months of preparation by a well-rounded staff, composed of both newcomers and seasoned leaders with years of experience.
In Three Fires Council, we spend six days giving presentations, running activities, and camping on the grounds of Camp Big Timber, allowing all participants a hand at leading their patrols through a rigorous yet supportive environment. Our nationally-accredited program is held after months of preparation by a well-rounded staff, composed of both newcomers and seasoned leaders with years of experience.
Patrols complete an activity (2024).
A patrol eats together (2022).
NYLT equips tomorrow's leaders to lead ethically, efficiently, and effectively. We discuss how to communicate effectively, the dynamics of teamwork, and work through conflicts. Most importantly, we teach participants how to find and achieve their vision of success. Plus, each participant is provided a binder to fill with notes. Like a toolbox, they can take it home and use its contents to put their training into practice!
NYLT equips tomorrow's leaders to lead ethically, efficiently, and effectively. We discuss how to communicate effectively, the dynamics of teamwork, and work through conflicts. Most importantly, we teach participants how to find and achieve their vision of success. Plus, each participant is provided a binder to fill with notes. Like a toolbox, they can take it home and use its contents to put their training into practice!
NYLT is just the beginning. It is one part of a chronological series of training courses offered in Scouting America. This series begins with Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (Crews in Venturing or Ships in Sea Scouts), a short course which teaches participants the very basics of leadership.
NYLT is just the beginning. It is one part of a chronological series of training courses offered in Scouting America. This series begins with Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (Crews in Venturing or Ships in Sea Scouts), a short course which teaches participants the very basics of leadership.
ILST is a prerequisite for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), a six-day course which builds upon the foundation of ILST and provides time for participants to put those skills into practice, equipping them to take those skills back to their units and communities.
ILST is a prerequisite for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), a six-day course which builds upon the foundation of ILST and provides time for participants to put those skills into practice, equipping them to take those skills back to their units and communities.
NYLT leads into the final course in this series, which is National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). NAYLE is an opportunity for participants to rigorously test their NYLT toolbox, allowing them to expand and improve it with experience - all at high adventure bases, no less! NAYLE courses take place at the Philmont Scout Reservation and the Summit Betchel Reserve, though the material presented at each course is essentially the same.
NYLT leads into the final course in this series, which is National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). NAYLE is an opportunity for participants to rigorously test their NYLT toolbox, allowing them to expand and improve it with experience - all at high adventure bases, no less! NAYLE courses take place at the Philmont Scout Reservation and the Summit Betchel Reserve, though the material presented at each course is essentially the same.
Taking NYLT as a participant also opens up the door to the NYLT Leadership Academy. It offers great experience in making presentations, facilitating course activities, and living the values that NYLT is based upon. This course is great for anyone who wants to learn how to apply these skills in a more professional setting, and especially for future NYLT staff members. You can learn more about the Leadership Academy at https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org ↗.
Taking NYLT as a participant also opens up the door to the NYLT Leadership Academy. It offers great experience in making presentations, facilitating course activities, and living the values that NYLT is based upon. This course is great for anyone who wants to learn how to apply these skills in a more professional setting, and especially for future NYLT staff members. You can learn more about the Leadership Academy at https://nylt-leadershipacademy.org ↗.
Course 2022.
Banner image: the 2025 NYLT staff practicing skits.
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