Boy Scouts of America® Leatherstocking Council

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

Who should take this training?

New Scouts BSA Scoutmasters (highest-ranking adult volunteer leader working with youth in a Scouts BSA Troop) and Assistant Scoutmasters

Why should I take this training?

Scouting’s outdoor program is a critical part of how the Scouts BSA program develops young leaders. While camping or participating in other outdoor events, your Scouts will challenge themselves to learn skills they’ve never tried before or maybe didn’t think they could do. In doing so, your Scouts will work together as a team to overcome adversity when things don’t go as planned; this is truly the magic of Scouting that no other program does as well.

To safely offer Scouting’s outdoor program, however, you need a certain set of skills and knowledge – and that’s why you’re required to take Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (also known as “IOLS”) Training. You’ll learn how to build a fire, use an axe, cook outdoors, use a map and compass, responsibly care for the outdoors, and much more. Even if you weren’t a Scout as a kid, you’ll come out of this course looking and acting like a seasoned camper. This course, combined with Youth Protection Training and the Scoutmaster-Specific Training course, will make you an “fully trained” Scouts BSA leader.

How do I sign up?

Decide which IOLS training session you would like to sign up for, then click its respective registration button below to begin your registration. You may then select the adult that is attending or enter a new adult using the "NEW ADULT" tab to enter their information. Once all information has been entered, you may confirm your event selection and complete the registration to add it to your cart. If you want to sign up for both training sessions, then use the back arrow at the top to return to where you are given both training session options. You may then proceed using the same steps as the first registration, but for the training session you have not yet sign up for. Feel free to call the council office for any registration assistance.