Allogagan Lodge > Training Opportunities

The Order of the Arrow offers some of the finest training programs available to Scouts and Scouters. This week at NOAC, a heavily revised version of the Lodge Leadership Development (or abbreviated as 'LLD') training material is being released, with anticipation of wider accessibility and use by lodge leaders seeking to plan training events and effectively enhance leadership development back home. A special “LLD From the Ground Up” training cell is being offered to NOAC participants. The new program will also be highlighted at the start of the National Council of Chiefs meeting.

The revision came in response to the need for a lodge year-round training program that could be easily updated upon the advent of new programs. Another goal was to enable lodge leaders to easily access information on demand – from anywhere, anytime, online. The new program will help to improve current LLD programs as well as to build successful first-time LLD programs.

As of the 2004 printing of the Guide for Officers and Advisers, a new lodge operating committee is prescribed for lodges to effectively implement a year-round training program. The Lodge Leadership Development committee in your lodge is charged with planning an annual conference to build leadership and enhance job-specific skills of your lodge's membership, as well as coordinating continued leadership training throughout the year at other events and meetings based on your lodge's current needs.

The main hub of resources lies at the new Lodge Leadership Development website: http://lld.oa-bsa.org. The website features an improved lodge assessment system that generates a list of suggested training topics based on the needs of the lodge. Each session topic has several documents available, including multiple ability levels of training session syllabus files and PowerPoint presentation files. In addition, users can search for documents based on keywords and session objectives. A special section of planning support documents provides all the tools needed to build a successful LLD event from start to finish; from an invitational letter and promotional poster to clipart and certificate templates. All this is available on the web site as well as on the NOAC Resource CD-ROM that will be distributed at the conference. While the website may be more current, the CD-ROM provides a reasonable way to plan an LLD event in the absence of an Internet connection.

To aid the Key 3 and other lodge leaders, the Lodge Leadership Development Planning Guide is also being released at NOAC and will be distributed to participants at the National Council of Chiefs. The publication, also available for download from the LLD website, guides the new lodge operating committee through the process of implementing successful year-round training programs, with an emphasis on the major annual LLD event.

Following implementation of a lodge’s LLD committee, forms are available to evaluate the planning process to help further improve the amount and type of resources available to those planning lodge training.

Beginning in January 2005, a new patch will be available for lodges to use as recognition of participants after completion of an LLD training program. Planning is underway for a special Lodge Leadership Development training course at Philmont in Summer 2005.

The LLD Taskforce was led by section chiefs Rob Rosamond, Ed Clifford, Gil Rogers, Michael Long, and Chris Hunt together with a team of nearly 100 content authors and contributors. In a period of a year and a half, this team was able to produce over seven times the content and resources as in previous versions of LLD software.

Effectively utilized and promoted, the revised Lodge Leadership Development will help the Order remain the training flagship for all of Scouting.

The Lodge is sending a contingent to Camp Alpine, NJ, March 28 - 30, 2008. Help make our Lodge stronger with well trained Brothers. Consider attending and contact Chief Luke Graffum at Chief@oalodge83.org. Transportation provided.

The National Leadership Seminar is a weekend conference on the skills and attributes of leadership. It is intended primarily to enhance the leadership skills of the Order of the Arrow's key youth and adult members as they seek to improve their services to the Boy Scouts of America and the greater community. The weekend format is designed to complement the longer, more detailed Wood Badge and Junior Leadership Training Programs. Near the end of the seminar, participants make a contract with themselves to apply the skills studied in the seminar on projects in their lodge, council, and community.

Who Should Attend:
It is recommended that youth participants be at least 15 years of age or a lodge officer. Completion of the Lodge Leadership Development Course is desirable. The seminar is an intensive experience in learning about the nature of leadership and practicing some of the skills that a leader uses. While it is designed to be fun, the course challenges participants mentally as well. Participants should be developmentally, physically, and mentally prepared to actively engage in an exhausting, invigorating weekend.

Notable Quotes:
"I really enjoyed the weekend and would rate it among the top three Boy Scout/OA experiences I have had in the past seven years. I enjoyed meeting and working with some of the best Arrowmen in NE Region has to offer. I truly believe this training was helpful and can help me to better serve my troop, lodge, council and community. Thanks for a great weekend." - A youth participant

"The NLS is an experience in my life that I will truly never forget. The outstanding leadership and abundant material really helped me learn. Meeting the national officers (and possibly future leaders of America) really motivated me." -A youth participant

The National Lodge Adviser Training Seminar (NLATS) is a weekend conference focusing on the skills and attributes of effective lodge advisers. It is intended primarily to enhance an adviser's knowledge of and connectivity with the OA's strategic plan, program and resources, while emphasizing personal skills that are essential to the development of effective youth leadership and ultimately the OA's service to the council.

The National Lodge Adviser Training Seminar (NLATS) is a brand new training program. This is the second time the seminar is being presented in the Northeast Region. It has been timed to coincide with the National Leadership Seminar also taking place at Alpine that same weekend. The NLATS is limited to 40 participants. For this seminar no more than two participants should register from any council. The course is designed for one-time participation. Repeat participation is not encouraged.

Who Should Attend:
It is recommended that participants be lodge advisers or staff advisers and those with lodge adviser potential, as approved by the local council Scout executive. Prior completion of a Lodge Leader Development Program and the National Leadership Seminar are desirable. The NLATS is an intensive experience in learning about the nature of lodge program, delivery of service to the council, and development of youth leadership necessary to both. While it is designed to be fun, the course is mentally challenging as well. Participants should be open to learning and prepared to actively engage in an invigorating weekend.