What is Powder Horn?

Powder Horn is a training opportunity designed to introduce scout leaders at all levels and older scouts to program possibilities and resources necessary to operate a successful Adventure Program in their unit. 

It is important to understand that Powder Horn is not a personal development course or a team-building experience. Its purpose is to educate the youth and adult Scouting leaders about specific adventure skills, to connect them to resources to deliver those skills and to get them excited about delivering those skills in an exciting, challenging way to youth.

The next Atlanta Area Council’s Powder Horn course will be conducted over three (2-day) weekends.  The Atlanta Area Council will host its 10th Powder Horn Training Course in the Fall of 2022 split between all three council camps; , Woodruff, Allatoona, and Bert Adams, each on a different weekend. 

Learning Objectives:

• Provide a robust outdoor program using a variety of resources.
• Familiarize adult leaders and youth participants with challenging program ideas and activities.
• Identify local resources and consultants that can provide adventure activities, safety precautions, guidance, and proper equipment.
• Apply the health and safety requirements of the Boy Scouts of America to outdoor programs.
• Apply the rule and regulations of the Boy Scouts of America as they apply to the outdoor programs.
• Gain the knowledge and tools to successfully plan and execute an adventure expedition.

This course is not a total training program that enables the Scouting unit members (youth and adults) to become experts or even self-sufficient in any aspect of outdoor skills. Units will likely still need knowledgeable, trained, and certified individuals (consultants) to help provide a safe and correct outdoor/adventure program.

Powder Horn Classes and Activities:

This Powder Horn Course will include many (not all) of the following activities and classes:

Astronomy, ATV, Backpacking, Biking - Cycling / Mountain Biking / BMX, Cave Exploring, Climbing/Rappelling, Communications, Conservation, Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, Equestrian, Expedition Planning, First Aid, Fishing, Geocaching, National and Regional High Adventure Bases, Hunting, Lifesaver, Mountaineering, Orienteering / Land Navigation, Outdoor Ethics / Leave No Trace, Outdoor Living History, Overnight Hiking / Camping Trip, Physical Fitness, Plants and Wildlife / Ecology, Project COPE, Scuba (and/or Snorkeling), Shooting Sports, Sweet 16 & Prohibited Activities, Watercraft, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Winter Sports, Working with Teens

Note: No one is required to do an activity they feel uncomfortable with. Exposure to activity and associated consultants are the first priorities. Actual participation concerning any challenging activities is by choice of the participant.

Qualifications for Participating:

• Must be a registered youth or adult member of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Youth should be 16 years of age 
• Youth must have completed the unit's version of leadership training (Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops, Ships, or Crews) and attendance at National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
• Youth must have Unit leader's recommendation to attend an advanced training course.
• Adults must be trained for their current registered position.
• Prior to the course, all participants must complete the following online training through MyScouting.org:
  • Youth Protection
  • Hazardous Weather
  • Safety Afloat
  • Safe Swim Defense
  • Climb on Safely
• Meet the physical requirements of Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A, B, C) in a backcountry environment.