National Leadership Seminar (NLS)

What is the National Leadership Seminar?

The National Leadership Seminar (NLS) is a weekend conference that focuses on the skills and attributes of leadership. The program enhances the leadership skills of the Order of the Arrow’s key youth and adult members as they seek to improve their service to Scouting America and the greater community. The weekend format complements the National Youth Leadership Training (for youth) and Wood Badge (for adults). Course participants make a promise to themselves to apply the skills learned on projects in their lodge, council, and community. NLS prepares Arrowmen to become better leaders both within and outside the Scouting program. 

Why attend the National Leadership Seminar?

The National Leadership Seminar provides Arrowmen with an opportunity to grow in their leadership through a weekend of intense trainings. Course topics will include making personal belief based decisions, promoting resilience, and cultivating a growth mindset. Arrowmen will bring these new skills back to their lodges to strengthen the leadership within their lodges and chapters. 

Who should attend?

Every Arrowman can find something that benefits them during the National Leadership Seminar. It is encouraged that youth participants be at least 14 years of age, or serve as a lodge officer. The completion of a Lodge Leadership Development (LLD) course is desirable. NLS is an intensive experience in learning the nature of leadership and practicing some of the many skills that a leader utilizes. While the course is fun and a great opportunity to make new friends, it also challenges participants mentally. Participants should be developmentally, physically, and intellectually prepared to actively engage in an arduous, yet uplifting weekend.

How do I attend?

The National Leadership Seminar program is offered several times a year in various locations throughout each region. Scheduled dates can be found on the National OA Program Calendar, and reach out to your lodge chief or adviser for more registration information, or visit registration.oa-scouting.org.

Developing Youth Leadership Conference (DYLC)

The Developing Youth Leadership Conference (DYLC) will strengthen an adviser’s capacity to develop youth leadership within the lodge and chapter. Conference topics will include learning how to promote resilience, foster a growth mindset, provide constructive feedback, and create a life-long mentoring relationship. Conference participants will gain insights necessary to successfully mentor youth applying the leadership skills they gained during the National Leadership Seminar. 

DYLC will progress advisers beyond lodge mechanics and operations to establishing a culture within the lodge and chapter that grows youth who are capable of building teams, establishing goals, and guiding the lodge’s work to achieve within the Performance Measurement Program. Prior participation in the National Leadership Seminar is encouraged, but is not required. 

The Developing Youth Leadership program is offered several times a year in various locations throughout each region. Scheduled dates can be found on the National OA Program Calendar, and reach out to your lodge chief or adviser for more registration information, or visit registration.oa-scouting.org.

How do I attend?

The National Leadership Seminar program is offered several times a year in various locations throughout each region. Scheduled dates can be found on the National OA Program Calendar, and reach out to your lodge chief or adviser for more registration information, or visit registration.oa-scouting.org.