NYLT gives youth the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead.
Falley Scout Reservation
Develop Leadership through National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
NYLT is the premier youth leadership training course for Scouts BSA and Venture youth leaders. It provides the skills that youth leaders need to be successful in their Scouting roles and in life. Through the Scouting method, skills such as communicating, developing a team, applying leadership, and much more are learned and applied!
The National Youth Leadership Training course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what they must KNOW, and what they must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.
NYLT is a six-day course. Content is delivered in a Troop and Patrol team outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon, and aided by the use of mnemonics (memory aids), which allows participants to understand and employ the leadership skills much faster.
Requirements to Attend:
- Scouts BSA - Must be at least 13 years old, at least First Class rank, and complete Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.
- Venturers & Sea Scouts - Must be 14 (or 13 and have completed the 8th grade) and complete Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews or Ships. It is recommended that Venturers or Sea Scouts have had at least one year of camping experience.
- All Scouts must have a current Scouting Health Form parts A, B, & C.
2027 Key Contacts
Please email all three contacts below with your questions.
Josh Evans | SM Troop B
Abriel Andrade | SM Troop G
Dan Wadley | Program Director
NYLT Silver Arrow
The Silver Arrow Award is specific to Jayhawk Area Council. The purposed is to encourage Scouts to use the leadership skills they learned during the course to make an improvement to their unit. After going through the NYLT Course, Scouts should develop and implement a plan in their unit to help improve something about their unit meetings, camp-outs, rank advancement, etc. The Scout should work with the Unit Leader and/or Youth Leadership to implement their idea. After the plan has been implemented, the unit leader can reach out the NYLT Leadership and an NYLT SPL or Course Director will present the Silver Arrow Patch with a Silver Border to the Scout at Court of Honor.
The Silver Arrow Award can also be earned by returning to the NYLT Course as a Staff Member. The new Staffer will be presented the Silver Arrow patch with a Silver Border the night before the course starts so they can wear the patch during the course. If a staff member decides to come back on staff for a second year, they will be presented the Silver Arrow Patch with a Gold Border. This Gold Bordered patch is only given to scouts who staff the course for two years.
Scholarship Infomation
Jayhawk Area Council is proud to support Scouts in their commitment to Leadership Development and attending NYLT. The Dudley Havens and Dave Meggers Exemplary Scouter Scholarships are each $200 towards the cost of registration. These scholarships aim to foster leadership potential and aid Scouts with financial need.
Scholarship Dates for the 2027 Course
- Last day to submit an application: Noon February 23
- Applicants are notified: March 1
- Presentation at NYLT & Wood Badge Banquet: March 7
Applications received after deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis and any financial assistance will vary in amount.
Download the application for the full details on the application process.
Joining Staff
Staff Interviews are typically held over the course of two Saturday Mornings in late October and early November at the Jayhawk Area Council Service Center. To be on Youth Staff, the scout must be under the age of 21 until the last day of the course. They also must have attended any NYLT Course in the past.
2027 NYLT Staff Invitation Letter
Download the 2027 NYLT Staff Application
2027 NYLT Staff Calendar
2027 Staff Interview Dates
Schedule an Interview Here
Email the NYLT Scoutmasters listed above if you need to schedule a separate zoom/phone interview at a different time.
- Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Council Office (1020 SE Monroe St Topeka, KS 66612-1110)
- Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 9:00 to 12:00 PM at the Council Office (1020 SE Monroe St Topeka, KS 66612-1110)
2027 Staff Developments and Commitments Weekends.
- December 5, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Staff Orientation Day FSR
- January 2, 2027, Time TBD | Virtual Recap/Prep Meeting ONLINE video conference call
- February 5 - 6 from 6:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Staff Development #1 FSR
- February 26-27 from 6:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Staff Development #2 FSR
- March 6 - NYLT and Wood Badge Banquet at Town & Country Church (4925 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614). We will be coordinating volunteers for this event. The banquet itself will be from 5:00 PM - 8:00. Registration Link will be provided soon. *This Event is optional, but EXTREMELY encouraged*
- April 2 - 3 from 6:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Staff Development #3 FSR
- April 30 - May 1 from 6:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Staff Development #4 FSR
NYLT Course
- Friday May 28 - at 5:00 PM | Report for Camp Setup FSR
- Sunday May 30 - Friday June 5 | NYLT Course FSR
- Saturday June 6 | NYLT Camp Tear down FSR (done typically between noon and 1:00 PM)
Staff Registration
Link coming soon
Staff Google Drive
