BALOO - Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation

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Boy Scouts of America regulations state that no Pack campout may be conducted without at least one adult leader who has completed BALOO training.

Ask any new Cub Scout why he wanted to join Scouting, and 9 times out of 10, his answer will be "to go camping". While his leader may have the desire to follow through on the young boy's hope, the leader may not have the skills or the confidence to actually take him camping.

What's New .... It's BALOO!

Overview

The revised Camping guidelines for 2000/2001 give councils the authority to allow Cub Scout packs to conduct a pack campout (overnight) activity, as long as the activity is conducted at a council-approved location and is under the direction of a leader in the pack trained to do so. The new training course to prepare these leaders is called Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO for short).

The target participant for BALOO training is a new Cub Scout leader with a desire to plan and carry-out an entry-level outdoor experience for the pack. Successful completion of this training will result in an increased level of confidence and a willingness to plan an age-appropriate pack overnighter.

The goal of the pack overnight activity is to provide a successful pack event that is Age appropriate, based on the purposes of Cub Scouting, successful in whetting the appetite of the Cub Scout, his parents, and the leaders to want to do more in the outdoors, a fun time with family and friends

Chapter 10 of the Cub Scout leader Book (as revised in 2000) has more information and background on this outdoor activity area.

BALOO Learning Objectives

By completing this training course the participants will:

Understand the focus of the Cub Scout level of the BSA program
Acquire the skills and confidence necessary to plan and carry out a successful Cub Scout-level overnight activity.
Increase their knowledge of the resources available from the BSA for carrying out this activity.

Target Participant:
The BALOO target participant is a parent who is not already part of the pack leadership team. This position should be similar to the person in charge of the pinewood derby, blue and gold banquet, or other special pack activity. He or she may not have already attended Cub Scout Leader Basic Training or Youth Protection, but should be encouraged to do so before or as part of this training.

The course is presented in one full-day session.