Training

Kodiak

The Kodiak Venturing leadership course is unique in that it is offered in an exciting and challenging atmosphere using available high-adventure resources . A crew or council may offer a course centered around a high adventure expedition such as backpacking or rafting. Kodiak teaches leadership skills in a fun way that is internalized by the Venturers who take the course. In other words, it is a challenging high-adventure trek with a simple and fun leadership course included. Kodiak is not taught indoors or in a classroom; it is done completely outdoors using nature’s examples of leadership.

It is …

1. Fun!
2. Relevant to each participant’s life.
3. Internalized by participants.
4. Based on nature.
5. Based on the servant leader concept.

Course Methods

• It is taught by two instructors (one adult and one youth if possible) in an "instructor team."
• Only five skills are taught. They are called "commissions." The five commissions are:
  1. Effective Teams
  2. Values/Vision
  3. Communications
  4. Decision Making
  5. Planning
• It is based on symbolism using the Kodiak bear.
• Commissions are introduced with a hands-on exercise followed by a short presentation, then reinforced with one or more exercises.
• It uses constant reinforcement.
• It creates an older teen leadership fraternity.

Who May Offer a Course

This course may be run at any level (crew, district, or council), but must be approved by the Council Scout Executive. Most courses will be offered at the council level to maximize participants, facilities, resources, support, etc. However, the course could be run by a crew going on a week long trip to the Amazon River. It works well on any outdoor trek that last at least 6 days where an hour or two a day would be available to teach the course. There are two trek options; a six-day course or a two-weekend course.

Trek Setting

One course characteristic that the designers of this course (including Venturers) felt very strongly about was that this course should be taught in an outdoor setting. Fight the temptation to teach the sessions in a dining hall, classroom, or even an outdoor pavilion. Have your participants setting on a log, on a sandbar or rock, or other outdoor setting.

Group Size

Most exercises are designed for 5-8 participants. If you have a large group of say 10 participants, you might have participants watching as others participate in exercises. Obviously, this is not good. Likewise, too small of a group will not give enough participants to effectively do the exercises. The ideal size is 8 participants with 2 instructors.

You may have one, two, or more teams of 8 on a trek. However, you still need two instructors for each team of 8. You may choose to have teams travel, camp, and cook together. That is your option. Commission delivery and exercises should be done by teams of 8, not by the larger group.



Kodiak X

Kodiak X is a weekend leadership challenge course that builds on the leadership commissions learned in Kodiak. The exercises in this program are also designed for 5-8 participants. During the weekend, participants will review what they learned at Kodiak, and learn two additional commissions. These commissions are:

1. Evaluating Performance
2. Mentoring

They will also have an opportunity to practice their leadership skills while serving as a leader of their team as they face challenging scenarios.

Who May Offer a Course

This course may be run at the district or council level and must be approved by the Council Scout Executive. Most courses will be offered at the council level to maximize participants, facilities, resources, support, etc.

Course Setting

It works well at a camp whether BSA or other or even an outdoor conference center. Most of the leadership challenges for day two can be done either indoors or outdoors. If the weather is good, it is recommended that all challenges be offered outdoors in the spirit of Nature of Leadership.



Recognition

Participants completing each course will be presented the new Kodiak and Kodiak X medals to proudly wear. (The Kodiak X medal is still being developed.) Adults who have completed the staff development training and who are promoting a course can wear the medal. When they are not promoting a course they are staffing, it is inappropriate for them to wear it. It is technically a youth recognition.

For more information about upcoming courses, please consult the following:

• National Kodiak program website, www.kodiak-bsa.org
• Regional Kodiak Coordinator: Ms. Connie Elliott

Resources:

 Central Region 2008 Kodiak CDC Registration Form
 Kodiak Fact Sheet
 Kodiak overview flyer