Do course participants wear their Scout uniform at all times during the course?
Yes, wearing the proper uniform is a part of the NYLT course. The class A (field) uniform is worn at all times, unless participants are specifically told to wear their class B (activity) uniform. The following table describes the class A (field) and Class B (activity) uniforms for the NYLT course.
Class A (Field) Uniform
Scout shirt with all the proper insignia
Boots
Scout shorts
Scout socks (bring several pairs!)
Watch
Water bottle
Scout belt (web or leather with scout buckle)
Name badge (receives at camp)
Class B (Activity) Uniform
NYLT Tee-shirt (2 shirts will be provided)
Boots
Scout shorts
Scout socks (bring several pairs!)
Watch
Water bottle
Scout belt (web or leather with scout buckle)
Name badge (receives at camp)
Are electronics allowed on course?
NO ELECTRONICS WILL BE PERMITTED FOR USE DURING THE COURSE. THIS IS A HIGH ADVENTURE PROGRAM WHERE THEY WILL NOT HAVE TIME NOR THE RESOURCES TO USE THEM. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT THE CAMP OFFICE OR THE COURSE DIRECTOR.
How do I get to Belk Scout Camp?
The street address for Camp is:
Belk Scout Camp
9408 Belt Road
Midland, North Carolina 28107
Ranger: 704-545-0958
My Scout lives outside the Mecklenburg County Council, can he still attend NYLT?
Yes! Please contact the course director to get more information. Applications are available on this website's home page.
When do I take my Scout to NYLT?
Scouts should arrive at Belk Scout Camp by 12:00pm on the course start date for check-in (Do Not Arrive before 11:30am). Scouts should arrive wearing their sturdy hiking boots and Class A (Field) Uniform have any remaining paperwork ready for the Registrar, have all medications in original containers ready for review by the Medical staff, and have rain gear ready to protect themselves and their gear. They will need to bring their gear packed in a backpack for the hike to camp (do NOT bring a foot locker or trunk). In addition, the NYLT staff will conduct gear and uniform inspections to insure the scouts are prepared for the week at NYLT.
What if I cannot get my Scout to NYLT at Belk Scout Camp by 12:00 Noon on the course start date?
The staff will try to make accommodations for scouts arriving late; however, we cannot allow Scouts to arrive on course any later than 1:00 pm for their specific course.
Scouts that come late will miss very important classes and team building exercises. If you need to schedule a late arrival, you MUST contact the course director.
When do I pick my Scout up from NYLT?
Parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, etc. are all welcome to come to Camp for our graduation ceremony. Please arrive at the Belk Scout Camp Parking area in time for the 6:00 pm graduation ceremony on the course end date. Guests will be able to witness their scout's graduation ceremony. After the graduation ceremony is completed, scouts and guests are free to go. This training must be completed in full, IF A SCOUT LEAVES EARLY, they will not have completed the course and will not receive recognition for this training.
What about medical forms?
A completed, signed BSA medical form SECTIONS A, B, & C of the form is required for course attendance! This policy and form are the same as used for all attending NYLT Top Gun. The medical form is available on the website's (Documents) page. A Scout cannot stay at the camp without the medical form. The NYLT staff may not allow a Scout on course unless a Doctor signed medical form has been submitted.
What type of footwear should the Scouts have at NYLT?
Bring sturdy hiking boots! Camp is a place where you must have good footwear in order to survive the week. Boots are required for the health and safety of the participants and staff. Sandals and tennis shoes are not acceptable footwear. Please be advised, "sturdy" athletic shoes or any other footwear is not acceptable. This policy is for the health and safety of everyone. The staff has and will continue to do gear checks at check in when the participants arrive at NYLT to help avoid any problems. Equipment list.
Free time at NYLT?
Every minute (and more!) of NYLT course time is schedule with no extra, "free" time scheduled. Patrols that work well together as a team and stays focused on the tasks at hand, will earn some "free" down time by accomplishing their scheduled tasks early. please refrain from bringing your cell phone while on course. there will not be any opportunity to use them nor a need. They could be confiscated if used during the program.
Can the participants earn Merit Badges or other advancement?
No! Although the course activities require the skills needed for main of the outdoor oriented merit badges, NYLT focuses on teaching the participants how to teach skills; no course time is spent on merit badge advancement. Remember, NYLT is not summer camp. The objective of NYLT is to train leaders, not earn merit badges and rank advancements.
What about the food at NYLT?
There is no need for the participants to bring any food. Scouts should not bring any food with them to NYLT! All the meals are provided for them. If Scouts are hungry in between meals, the staff will have snacks (fruit, crackers, other healthy snack items).
Please note, if the Scout has any food allergies it is vital the Scout and the parents inform the NYLT staff before the course starts!
I heard there are critters at Camp.
Bears, Skunks, possums, ticks and other wildlife are often found in camp during NYLT. It is important that the participants follow the instructions given by the NYLT staff on keeping food out of tents, backpacks, and away from sleeping areas. The NYLT staff prepares for this as we teach the Scouts from the minute they arrive at Camp how to live at camp.
Does every scout need to bring a tent?
It Depends! NYLT makes it a point to insure no participant patrol has more than one member from any one unit. This is done to force the participants to form a team with people they do not know, a very important skill for a leader. They should have been contacted by their troop guide and given contact information for other patrol members. They should contact their patrol members and arrange to share equipment. However, it is very important to ensure that this is clearly communicated. Equipment list.
How are medications handled?
The NYLT staff meets with scouts when the scouts check into camp. At check in, all medications are reviewed by the medic. Medications must arrive in their original containers with clear instructions on dosage. All medications will be held by the scout unless special storage is required. It will be the scout's responsibility to take his medications when needed. NYLT does this for Health and Safety reasons. If you have more questions about this please contact the NYLT staff.
How do I become a member of the NYLT Youth Staff?
Youth can become NYLT staff by invitation and/or by application.
By Invitation: At the end of the week, the NYLT Staff assigned to each patrol will evaluate each patrol member. They consider how the Scout acted as a Patrol Leader, as a Patrol member and how he presented themselves throughout the week. Based on observations and evaluations of the Scout by the NYLT Staff, they will recommend the Scout to be or not to be on Staff. If the Scout is recommended, he will receive an invitation to be a Staff member. By accepting the invitation they will have the chance to become a staff member after an interview process. There has been such an interest in youth staff that NYLT has in the past had to turn down many qualified applicants because we did not have staff positions for all of them.
By Application: Youth interested in staffing NYLT may submit a staff application here: Applicants must have completed a previous NYLT Course before applying for a staff position. Previous experience staffing SEALS, NYLT or other district/council-level program is preferred but not required.
What about NYLT Adult Staff?
If you are an adult leader, the council training staff needs you to help with NYLT too! We are always looking for adult leaders. Please contact the NYLT staff and tell us who you are and why you want to be an Adult Leader for NYLT. Although NYLT exists to teach youth how to be leaders, the Adult Leadership at NYLT is an opportunity to learn. Over the past several years, many of the youth staffers who have turned 21 have returned to staff as adults.
What does the Staff do?
The Staff spends approximately 6 months preparing for camp. They plan classes and activities based on the National Youth Leadership Training Syllabus. They arrive at Camp two days before the participants to set up the camp. They spend the week teaching and leading, preparing the participants to be leaders in Scouting and in their communities. There is a youth staff that does all most all of the work. They are the ones planning and teaching the leadership skills to the participants. The Adult staff is there mostly for health and safety, but also to mentor the youth staff. The youth staff consists of a Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster(s), Instructors, and one Troop Guide for each participant patrol. The Adult Staff consists of the Scoutmaster and several Assistant Scoutmasters. Each position has its own unique responsibilities but we need every single one to run NYLT successfully.