Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America National College Internship Program is a unique educational, work, and interpersonal relationship program specially designed to introduce interested college students to the Scouting program. The program focuses on developing practical knowledge of the role and responsibilities of professional Scouters.

Students who are accepted into the program receive academic credit for the internship from their college or university. The internship program is now offered at more than 60 universities.

Interns can receive a stipend of up $1,500 for a semester of training and work. All required program materials and supplies are provided by the Boy Scouts of America.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The internship program is divided into 11 experience areas, or modules. Each module is preceded by a two-hour educational experience that covers theories and basic aspects of professional Scouting work, such as membership drives, fund-raising, volunteer recruitment, and program development.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Students spend a minimum of 20 hours a week with a mentor, learning firsthand about different professional Scouting activities. The 11 modules developed for the student intern include orientation, history, and structure, personnel, the district, program, membership, and service. Finance; time management skills, valuing cultural diversity, and professionalism. Some examples of typical experience areas include.

* Finance. Interns receive experience in a variety of areas related to financing in the local council. Areas such as council budget, the BSA's Annual Giving Campaign, United Way of America, and special finance activities are part of this module.
* Membership. In this module, interns learn about organizing new groups. They learn about the chartered organization concept of the Boy Scouts of America as they discover how to organize, recruit, and retain members.
* Service. Interns experience firsthand the charter renewal process of units and become familiar with the functions of a district commissioner's staff.
* Valuing Cultural Diversity. Interns learn the importance of cultural diversity. Outreach with minority communities is part of the learning experience.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The internship program consists of a full winter, spring, or fall semester. A minimum 20-hour week is required, with evening and weekend meeting and activities. Although the National College Internship Program is open to students of all academic majors, the Boy Scouts of America particularly seeks those who are majoring in liberal arts and human services. First-semester seniors are especially encouraged to apply for the program.

PLACEMENT

Since the program began, many former interns have been employed by the Boy Scouts of America and now serve local councils across America.

More than 300 BSA local councils offer career opportunities to those students who have had successful intern experiences with the Boy Scouts of America National College Internship Program.

For additional information about the National College Internship Program, contact the cooperative education office at your college or university OR contact the Cascade Pacific Council , email or visit our local council office in Portland at:

2145 SW Naito Pkwy
Portland, OR 97201