White Stag Leadership Development Program - Program Phases and Levels

Program Phases and Levels

Based on Béla Bánáthy's original work, the program is still organized into three phases, each consisting of a candidate, youth staff, and an adult staff level. This structure allows youth to develop their leadership skills over several years through gradually more intense and more advanced levels of instruction. Each level is tailored to the needs of youth at specific ages and maturity levels.

**Program Phase Structure**
Phase	Phase 1 — Patrol Member Development	Phase 2 — Patrol Leader Development	Phase 3 — Troop Leader Development
Purpose	Teaches group membership skills.	Teaches group leadership skills	Teaches leaders to lead group leaders
Candidate Levels	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Recommended pre-requisites	For youth ages 11–13 (or have completed 5th grade)†	For youth ages 13–14† Completed Level 1‡	For youth ages 15–17† Completed Level 2‡
Learning activities	Participants learn basic camping and team member skills Experience how the dynamics of membership in a dynamic, tight-knit team Taught entry-level skills of team membership and leadership Includes a one-night backpacking trip	Participants learn the skills of a leader of a small dynamic teams Participants take turns acting as a team leader Taught advanced skills of team leadership Includes a two-night backpacking trip	Participants learn leadership of two or more small teams Participants earn opportunity to lead several small teams One participant is chosen by youth staff each day to lead the entire level Taught advanced skills of multi-team leadership Taught how to teach others leadership skills Includes a three-night backpacking trip
Likely roles at home	School band section leader Troop patrol leader 4-H club officer Class vice-president or other officer	Troop senior patrol leader Vice-president 4-H School class vice-president	Troop senior patrol counselor School class president School band president Athletic team captain Church leadership role Club president
Youth Staff Levels	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6
Recommended pre-requisites	For youth age 14–15† Completed Level 2	For youth age 15–16† Completed Level 2 or 3 Served on youth staff level 4	For youth age 16–20† Completed Level 2 or 3 Served on youth staff level 4 or 5
Adult Staff Levels	Level 7	Level 8	Level 9
Adult Staff Recommended Pre-requisites	Completed one or more Levels 1–3 Served on one or more youth staff Levels 4–6 Phase advisers (age 21+; minimum 3 years as asst. phase advisor) Assistant phase advisers (age 18+; minimum 3 years serving in Levels 4–6)
Program Leadership	Camp Director \| Program Director Administrative Committees \| Operational Committees
Support Staff	The Camp Director and Program Director must have served for at least five years on adult staff levels 7–9. They must meet National BSA Scout and Venturing Program requirements. Committees are composed of interested parents and adult alumni who fulfill critical support roles including registration, treasury, commissary, quartermaster, evaluation, marketing, and medical roles during the year and at summer camp.
Notes	† The age levels are not absolute, but for guidance in placing participants in the phase most suitable to their needs. ‡ Prior attendance of earlier levels is encouraged, but not necessarily required.

The youth staff develop each summer camp's program during the preceding nine months in a series of leadership development training and planning events. They are ultimately responsible for the entire leadership program's content.

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