KODIAK
Overview
Kodak is the new name (as of 2004) for the course that originally started as the
sole "Nature of Leadership Trek". Starting in 2001, a new
advanced leadership development program was created for Venturers called
"Nature of Leadership". With the rollout, two courses were run
in the summer of 2001, one at Philmont (a second one was cancelled) and one on
the Yukon river. Since the first run, plans for more Nature of Leadership
Treks came in the
summer of 2002 and 2003, several of which where run by local councils. In
the scheme of Venturer leadership development programs, Nature of Leadership
Treks can be thought of as
loosely equivalent to Council JLTC courses. The course was intended
to be run in the setting of a week-long or 2 weekends high adventure trek.
This is a formalization of the special Venturing treks run at Philmont in
2000, which included the first trial run of Nature of Leadership.
More information may be found at the National Website here.
There is a Nature of Leadership Treks Fact Sheet and information on the upcoming treks. The
Venturing newsletter at the USScouting Service Project site also had information on
these upcoming treks here.
There is a nice color brochure on the 2003 Nature of Leadership Treks at the Venturing Information site here.
(Warning: Word Doc)
Fact Sheet: HTML
or PDF
2003 Nature of Leadership Treks Brochure: Word
2002 Nature of Leadership Treks Brochure: Word
A recent issue of Scouting magazine (May/June 2002) devotes a cover article
to the Nature
of Leadership Trek.
Later on in 2004, the Nature of Leadership Treks course will be renamed "Kodiak". The
course has been rewritten to allow for running the course over 2 weekends, in
addition to a single week-long trip, and the intent is to make it widely
available, such that crews could run it as part of a high adventure trip.
Program
Kodiak combines leadership development and service into a week-long high
adventure trek. The newest syllabus does now allow for a 2-weekend version
of the course. The Venturers must be at least 16 years old and physically
capable for the trek. During the Kodiak trek, 5 leadership skills, called Commissions,
will be taught. The intent is to teach through experience, instead of
classroom lectures.
The Commissions are: Effective Teams, Values/Vision,
Communication, Decision-Making, and Planning.
The Kodiak trek course is a combination of leadership skills that can be found in
many leadership development courses.
2001 NoL Treks: Philmont, Alaska (Yukon River) Brochure With
Images and Without.
(both Word Docs)
2002 NoL Treks: High Desert Whitewater Trek (Oregon), Savannah Sea Kayaking,
Alaska Wilderness Trek, Grand Teton Mountain Trek
2003 NoL Treks: Chisholm Trail (Texas), Adirondacks Canoe Trek, Linville Gorge
Wilderness Area Trek (NC), Alaska Wilderness Trek
Insignia
During the course, participants are given 5 wooden bear claws to represent the
five commissions. These they wear on a leather thong as a reminder of the
leadership skills they learn during the course. At this time, no other
recognition items have been made (patches, pins, etc.), but this should change
soon. The idea is to have something that will hang from the pocket, like
the Powder Horn medallion. A staff item is apparently also planned.
These should come out in Spring of 2004. A scan of one of these claws is
coming soon.
Literature
No literature apart from the course syllabus/staff guide exists. This
course syllabus is available from the Venturing Division to councils and crews
wanting to run the course. First draft edition was written by Dr. Dick
Miller, chairman of the Venturing Outdoor Committee and piloted at Philmont in
summer 2000. In April 2001, a national taskforce revised Dr. Miller's
first syllabus into the second draft edition used for the formal courses in 2001
& 2002. Further work in September 2002 lead to the next edition, which
was further revised in March 2003.
First (Draft) Edition: Venturing Nature of Leadership Philmont Trek
Syllabus, 2000
Second (Draft) Edition: Venturing Nature of Leadership Trek 2001 Course
Syllabus, April 2001
Third Edition: Venturing Nature of Leadership Trek 2003 Course Syllabus,
September 2002
Fourth Edition: Venturing Nature of Leadership Trek 2003 Course
Syllabus, March 2003
Kodiak X
Overview
This course is still being developed as the next step beyond Kodiak. The
"X" can stand for eXtreme or eXtra. Time frame will probably be
spring 2004.
Program
No data on the actual format of the course. Most likely will be a weekend
course. It WILL be done in a more extreme high adventure environment to
build on Kodiak. There will be a sixth commission beyond what is taught in
Kodiak.
Insignia
Insignia is being developed. No idea what form it will take.
Literature
A course syllabus is being developed. Uncertain
if it will be a separate document from the revised Kodiak syllabus.
portion of above information from http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/8826/nol.html
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