Whitefire, the Council's Junior Leader Training Conference, is an 8 day outdoor experience for youth leaders in support of the Scoutmaster's responsibility for the training of his Troop's junior leaders. It is conducted by the Training Committee using an outline developed by the Boy Scout Division, BSA.
Whitefire has three aims. The first is to give each participant a varied experience in Scoutcraft skills that can be shared with the members of his home Patrol and Troop. The second is to relate his Patrol or Troop job to the 11 skills of leadership that have proved effective in a variety of Scouting and personal leadership situations. The third is to give participants a chance to relate to leaders (youth and adult) from other Troops throughout the Council for an exchange of ideas and experiences.
Whitefire participants should either be his Troop's Senior Patrol Leader or should have the skills and experience that make him a strong candidate for the SPL job in the near future. He should have an interest in bringing his Whitefire skills back to his Troop. Since Whitefire will take place in a camp setting where the participants take care of themselves completely, the Scout should have experience in hiking, cooking, personal/group sanitation, and other camping skills. He should be at least 14 years old by May 30, 1998.
Very much so! Whitefire is intended to strengthen the relationship between the junior leader and his Scoutmaster. The Whitefire participants receive training which complements the training received by his Scoutmaster at Wood Badge. Scoutmasters are required to be part of the nominee selection process for each Troop and are strongly urged to bring and pick up their participating Scouts. A special orientation will be given to the home Scoutmasters on the opening day and a follow-up report will be given on the final day.
Whitefire will start at 1 pm on May 30, 1998 at Camp Westmoreland. The course will conclude at 12 noon on June 6. Scoutmasters (who bring participants) will be free to leave before noon on the first day and should arrive (to pick up participants) by 12 am on the last day. The drivers must plan to stay until the registration process is compete. The staff will have no way to obtain missing required equipment (uniform parts, backpack, change of underwear, etc.) for the participants and the drivers will need to get the missing gear for the Scouts. Participants must plan to stay from course start to finish unless prior arrangements are made.
Whitefire will be held at Camp Westmoreland near Florence. A map to the site will be sent with the reservation confirmation. The location is the same as the '95, '96 and '97 courses.
The cost for Whitefire is $115 per Scout. This includes all food, group camping equipment, and training materials. A deposit of $50 per Scout must accompany the Troop reservation-nomination form into the Scout Service Center and the balance ($65) is due in the Scout Service Center by May 1 (the course must be canceled unless 24 participants are paid in full by May 1!). Many Troops pay part of the fee for their Scouts.
An equipment list will be sent to each participant as soon as the Troop's reservations are confirmed. Most Scouts participating in an active Troop outdoor program should have the needed equipment. Scoutmasters should assist their participants in obtaining the items needed for the course. Please ask if there are questions!
The Whitefire training Troop will be in Scout uniform from start to finish. The Class A uniform (Scout hat, tan shirt, green short pants, Scout web belt, red-top socks, any shoes/boots appropriate for camping) will be used at assemblies and during the evening program. The Class B uniform (Whitefire t-shirt, Scout hat, green short pants, Scout web belt, red-top socks, any shoes/boots appropriate for camping) will be used at all other times. Two Whitefire t-shirts will be provided as part of the registration fee. One Class-A shirt should be enough if the Scout takes care of it. While two pairs of green Scout shorts would make life a little easier, only one pair will be required. The Scout visor cap ("baseball cap" - green body with red front, either mesh or twill) is the right one to bring. Use of the Scout uniform is a very important part of the Whitefire team building experience - please borrow missing uniform parts if you don't have them! Contact the Whitefire SM before the course and we will be happy to help scrounge up the right pants, etc. Participants must be in full Class-A uniform (see above) at registration. There is no reason to bring any clothing except Scout uniforms. PLEASE READ THIS PARAGRAPH AGAIN!
All participants must have a properly completed "Personal Health and Medical Record" form at registration time. This form will be required for medical recheck and in the unlikely event that a medical emergency arises. BSA safety rules require use of either the "Class-2" form (No. 34414 - parent history signed within the year, medical evaluation signed within the last three years), or the "Class-3" form (No. 34412 - annual signatures).
Additional information can be obtained from the course Scoutmaster (Sims Lawson, 205/764-1932) or the course Publicity Committee (Sandra Widerick, 205/882-0668). Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about selecting, financing, or equipping the right Scouts. Saving a question for that first Saturday morning might put us all in a bind if one of your Scouts is not prepared to start Whitefire - call now!
Submit a Reservation - Nomination form with a $50.00 deposit for each nominee. The Scoutmaster is not limited to the number of nominations that can be submitted.
Send White Fire questions to Sims Lawson: SLawson44@aol.com
Return to Tennessee Valley Council home page