By Chris Beauchene & Matt Garrison
As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine, our regions have already begun to train upcoming leaders for the year. In February, the Central and Southern Regions hosted the first National Leadership Seminars of the year.
The National Leadership Seminar, or NLS, is the premiere OA leadership training program. Each region is responsible for anywhere from three to four each year hosted at various camps and conference centers throughout their geographical area. The seminar is a weekend event that takes participants through various training cells that range from communication to role plays to team development. The program relies on enthusiasm and trained presenters to deliver the content in an engaging way. The seminar is open to both youth and adults.
"It was one of my favorite programs not only because the staff can be completely ridiculous and funny, but because you really get that sense of formality and quality leadership," said Mason Fox, Central Region table guide and Section C-6B section chief. Mason was referring to one particular cell that really highlights everything the participants learn during the second day of the seminar.
The Northeast Region hosted their first NLS March 14-16 and the Western Region will hosted their first NLS April 4-6. While each seminar contains the same material, each region staff adds their own unique programmatic elements to the weekend. If you are interested in attending, visit your region's website for more information as well as registration details.
Kyle Polster of Michigamea Lodge, an attendee of the Central Region NLS, summed up his experience in a sentence similar to nearly every other NLS participant, "NLS is the best training that Scouting has to offer to Arrowmen."