Becoming a Qualified Youth Leader

** Note: We have recently changed our qualified youth leader process, please review the following new requirements.**

Anyone who volunteers with youth on a regular basis must be a Mountaineers Qualified Youth Leader. Below list the steps to earn the Qualified Youth Leader Badge AND program specific Skill Badges. Our Qualified Youth Leader Course is an online course, that is designed to be taken with our Qualified Youth Leader Handbooks.

First: ENroll in the Qualified Youth Leader Training Course 

Enroll in The Qualified Youth Leader Course

All people looking to volunteer with youth will need to enroll in the Qualified Youth Leader Training Course. To enroll in this course, click here, and set up an account with coassemble to gain access to the course. This course consists of the General Qualified Youth Leader Training and five separate program specific trainings for Volunteers in Youth Programs:

• General Qualified Youth Leader and Youth In Adult Programs Training

Activity Specific Trainings:

• Family Activities Training
• Teen Clubs Training
• Kids Clubs Training
• Outreach Programs Training
• Camp Programs Training

Note: To enroll in Activity Specific trainings, volunteers need to complete the General Qualified Youth Leader Training.

Second: Complete Qualified Youth Leader & Youth in adult programs course

The Qualified Youth Leader and Youth In Adult Programs course is an online course that uses our Qualified Youth Leader and Youth In Adult Programs Handbooks and goes into: 

• Mountaineer Specific Youth Policies
• Education Tools for Youth
• Supervision of Youth
• Board Youth Policies

You need to score at least 80% on the training quiz to pass the Qualified Youth Leader training. You will be directed to a Background Check Authorization form. You must agree to complete a background check in order to become a Qualified Youth Leader. If you choose not to complete a background check, it will not affect anything about your Mountaineers membership or status, you simply will not be able to become a Qualified Youth Leader.

Once you complete the content questionnaire and the Background Check Authorization form, you will receive an email from SterlingOne or TalentWise, with "pre-employment screening" in the subject line. This is NOT SPAM—this is your background check. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

If you pass your background check, you'll be issued a "Qualified Youth Leader" Badge and sent a hard copy of our youth manual for you  to reference at any time. The badge is good for 3 years, at which time you'll need to renew.

Third: Complete Program Specific Trainings

Once you have passed the QYL General  and Youth In Adult Programs Training, you can choose the activity specific training and complete that module. You need to score at least 80% on the training quiz to pass each section. Program specific Skill Badges will be awarded upon successfully completion of each module. Click on the links below for specifics on each training.

• Family Activities
• Teen Clubs (Mountaineers Adventure Clubs)
• Kids Clubs (Junior MAC, Explorers, Nomads, Pathfinders)
• Mountain Workshop Outreach Programs
• Camps (Summer Camp, Break Camp, After School)

Where can I help volunteer with youth?

Volunteer Opportunities