HAYMARKET, VA – This year, the NYLT Leadership Academy welcomed two troops during the first week of course. The Salad Troop, led by Catie McEntee, and the Soup Troop, led by Andrew King. McEntee and King worked as the Leadership Academy’s two Senior Patrol Leaders for the first week. Although these troops were separate during some activities, which included the first part of the Morning Assembly, the Realistic First Aid (RFA) activity, and the Geocaching challenge; both worked together to create one big family composed of energetic and knowledgeable leaders by the end of Week One.
The week was full of constant activities, all meant for the development of the Participating Staffers. “It [the NYLT Leadership Academy course] was an intense, fun, and exciting experience. There wasn’t a time when something wasn’t going on,” shares Joseph C. (Chief Seattle Council) from the Soup Troop. “I learned tons of new skills, like hooks, RFA tips and tricks, evaluations, new games, [and] how to speak in front of someone that you have never met.”
The course offered learning opportunities for the Participating Staff, many of which involved how to improve their home NYLT courses by including new activities and improving the activities they already carry out. Many of these new ideas and skills were brought to them not only from the Leadership Academy Staff, but from other Participating Staffers as well.
Jason S. (New Birth of Freedom Council) of the Salad Troop shares what he learned during his time at the Leadership Academy, and his plans for improving his home course. “It [the NYLT Leadership Academy] was an amazing, life-changing experience. Of course, I improved as a presenter and learned how to give critical feedback, both to myself and to others. Not only did I learn these and other helpful strategies to use for an NYLT course, but I also learned more about myself as a leader, why I lead, and how I can incorporate my personality and who I am into my presentations and leadership style,” he writes during an online interview.
He also talks about his plans to “revamp” the Realistic First Aid, an activity in which the participants of an NYLT course are presented with a realistic looking, intense, and fake emergency scenario created by NYLT Staff. More so, he plans to incorporate the “shenanigans” used during the Leadership Academy, as well as his new ability to evaluate concisely and offer presentation tools to his peers. Not only will this improve an already great home course, but his new skills will allow others to learn a lot from him.
The Leadership Academy gave Participating Staffers new ideas and skills to enhance their home courses, as well as affecting them in a more personal level. These personal improvements will help them in their NYLT courses as well as in their daily lives. Riley P. (New Birth of Freedom Council) from the Salad Troop shares his own personal take on the course and how it affected him personally. “I could easily describe the [NYLT Leadership] Academy as a defining moment in the content of my character,” says Riley. “It’s so much more than just learning material, especially on the last two days. I believe those last two days forced me to understand myself and changed me a lot. Anyone who goes through the program will come out a better person.” He later explains how his ability to reflect on his own actions and goals and his new skills in presenting helped improve his confidence. The more skills the Participating Staffers gain during course, whether it be knowledge, new skill sets in communication, or personal improvement, the better they will be able to give successful courses and improve the way they lead themselves.
The Participating Staffers of Week One were largest group the NYLT Leadership Academy ever had, and interaction was a fundamental part of the development of the Participating Staff. Guest speakers spoke to them on a daily basis, sharing their own personal stories of leadership roles, and giving the Participating Staff examples of how leadership can be taken from Boy Scouts of America programs and implemented in real life. “The public speakers were a fantastic way for us to see how we will be using these same skills in the future,” Tyler T. (Potawatomi Area Council) from the Soup Troop said.
Tyler spoke more of his interactions with the rest of the Soups and Salads: Two Troops, One Amazing Week Patricia Hernandez – Copy Editor individuals attending the Leadership Academy. “The Leadership Academy Staff were the definition of setting the example, showing us how to be good staffers and how to be friendly but not a friend, which is something a lot of staff have a hard time with. The Participating Staff were full of knowledge and experiences that were invaluable. I learned a lot of small things from them, but the big lesson was about understanding why we do what we do. I realized there is more than two ways to do something and that I shouldn’t be satisfied with anything but the best program possible, meaning ‘this is the way we do this’ is not a good defense to do something subpar. There are always different ways to do things and we should take a deep look at what we are trying to accomplish and direct our theories along those lines, even if that means doing something different.”
The development of the Participating Staff is the reason the Leadership Academy exists. After such a successful week, proven by the amount of knowledge these enabled Participating Staffers gained, and by how they plan to pay it forward to those they lead, the NYLT Leadership Academy is more eager than ever to continue to change the lives of others, thus spreading the new skills and enthusiasm these individuals now possess. In his interview, Jason S. seized the chance to encourage other NYLT staffers to attend the NYLT Leadership Academy. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime that you simply cannot pass over because of the amazing impact it will have on you — do not be afraid to go to the Academy because it is something new and different,” said Jason. “Seize this opportunity and make it the best experience that you can!”
