History of the Course

HISTORY OF THE COURSE

The Buckskin training course started in 1979 as a very special Junior Leader Training Course. It was only an experiment to test the response of the Scouts in the (then named) Robert E. Lee Council. In 1983, after five years, it was decided to abandon this course because it just was not working.

1985

1984

The decision was made to go one more year in 1984 as a last effort. That year was quite a test; a new Scoutmaster, and an all new staff. Everything was done on a rush basis. When it was over and 1984 was deemed a success, the staff looked at each other and wondered why all this was done and if it would happen again the next year.

The response of the council, its troops, and its Scouts was tremendous. In 1979, there were 20 scouts attending. By 1984, there were 35 scouts in attendance. In 1995, there were 80 scouts in attendance and the course had to turn away more scouts than attended the first 5 courses combined.

1990

2003

2012

Today, the Buckskin Training Experience is a key component of the Heart of Virginia Council's youth training strategy. For over 35 years, Buckskin has supported Troops to strengthen their own visions of success. The current course offers a unique training experience blending theoretical learning and hands-on practice.

2021 (current)

History of the Participants

HISTORY OF THE PARTICIPANTS

In addition to the course patch, the Buckskin staff presents three patrol level awards.

The patrols compete throughout the week on all aspects of Scouting, and they are encouraged to improve in the pursuit of these awards and the course patch. The S. Porter Meyer Clean Camp Award is awarded to the patrol with the most outstanding scores in daily campsite inspections. The William Givler IV Outdoor Skills Award is awarded to the patrol with the best performance in troop competitions. The Benjamin E. Gregory Silver Fork Award is awarded to the Patrol Leader of the patrol with the most outstanding scores for mealtime preparation and hosting.

The S. Porter Meyers
Clean Camp Award

The William Givler IV Outdoor Skills Award

HISTORY OF THE STAFF

Each year the Buckskin staff starts planning for the Summer course in January. The staff meets once a month to develop and practice a cutting-edge training course that combines the best of traditional scouting and leadership techniques with new approaches to both. All together, there are over 150 years of Scout leadership training experience on staff, and over 90% of the staff graduated from the course themselves. With a focus on developing youth and responding to the ever-changing needs of the troops and crews of the council, the Buckskin staff continues to pursue its long-standing vision of generating the best prepared and trained youth leaders in all of Scouting.

History of the Staff