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Transformative Training: The NLS Course Experience in Puerto Rico

  Ethan Bardsley             OA Today

Transformative Training: The NLS Course Experience in Puerto Rico

National Leadership Seminar (NLS), the premier training course of the Order of the Arrow, aims to develop youth leaders across the country into effective, servant-oriented leaders who can guide their lodges with excellence. While NLS courses are held multiple times a year across the United States to ensure widespread participation, Puerto Rico is one location that has rarely hosted this essential training. Home to Yokahu Lodge and Guajataka Scout Reservation, Puerto Rico is nearly 1,000 miles from the southernmost point of Florida, so reaching the island typically requires a minimum 3-hour flight. Yokahu has sent Arrowmen from Puerto Rico to courses in the States, but the cost and flights proved to be impractical for training an entire lodge. The only other alternative was to bring the course down to them. Given that the last NLS course in Puerto Rico was held over a decade ago, the lodge was long overdue for one.

After the location and a February weekend were picked, it all came down to the logistics, which were a bit more complicated than a normal NLS course. Organizing the course involved extensive logistical planning, including arranging travel for trainers and ensuring that course materials were shipped and arrived on time. Once the trainers arrived, they hit the ground running preparing for the course. The facilities at Guajataka were used to accommodate the course and its participants and the kitchens helped keep everyone fed. This course was unique in the aspect that all participants were from one singular lodge. Over 70 Yokahu youth packed the NLS side of the course, while about 30 leaders attended DYLC, causing this course to be 100% filled.

Mike Fowler, a former E17 chief and NLS staff member reflected on his experiences with the course, sharing insights into the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants.

“There were so many Arrowmen from Yokahu who were coming up to me and were asking about how they could get more involved in the lodge and the section. These people wanted to give back even more to Scouting than they already were. The passion and leadership were very evident down there and it only got even stronger through the course. Being able to give them the tools and skills that NLS teaches will only do wonders for them.”

He continued saying,

“The Arrowmen and leaders who attended this course had such an extreme desire to learn and everyone was highly engaged. It was like a blanket of enthusiasm the entire weekend.”

While seemingly smooth, the course was not without its challenges. The largest being a financial barrier. Both the cost of getting the materials and staff to the course along with making sure participants could attend were overcome through the sale of fundraiser patches which were sold through Section E17 and the national OA trading post. (They can still be purchased here!) Lowering the cost of this allowed as many youths as possible to attend the course and guaranteed that the course wasn’t empty. One of the biggest questions about the course was how the language barrier would work. Many members from Yokahu speak Spanish as their first language and have a very limited knowledge of English. Considering that all the material was written in English, the problem was a very real one. To combat this, Crew Guides arranged participants so that anyone who needed help understanding certain words or phrases would be paired with someone who did understand. This allowed the Arrowmen to work together to help their friends understand the material that they were learning.

Another issue that was greatly overcome was occasional power outages which in turn affected the presentations. Traditionally, a projector is used to display the course slideshow, but without electricity, staff was on the fly. One presenter was about to deliver his module right when the power shut off, having to then pivot, they delivered the entire presentation from memory. Despite some of these challenges, the course saw an extremely strong bond between the staff and learners. Both sides were deeply invested in the course. They were all in it together and through dual collaboration they were all able to put together a successful course.

Despite the ups and downs, NLS in Puerto Rico left a lasting impact. Participants and staff alike left with invaluable experiences and knowledge, ready to make a difference in their lodges and communities. This course was one of two international courses of 2024, the other being a Gateway NLS course which was held in Tokyo, Japan a month later in March. So if NLS can be done here, the skies are the limit. Maybe someday, we’ll see even more international NLS courses! Either way, the future looks bright with motivated leaders who are seeking to better the world. Ready to start your expedition? Register for NLS today!