scouting

Wood Badge is the Boy Scouts of America’s ultimate leadership training designed to meet the advanced leadership needs of Scouters in all aspects of the BSA, whether unit, district, or council level – from assistant den leaders to Scoutmasters, from Cubmasters to Venturing Advisors, from committee members to commissioners. It is a fun, energetic and inspiring course guaranteed to infuse your unit with fun and meaning – all designed to fulfill the mission of the BSA, and ensure our youth is getting everything they are promised from the program.

Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, Wood Badge draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles and successful organizations throughout the country. Participants can expect to develop skills in many areas, including leadership theory, team building, problem-solving, communication, project planning and more.  These skills can be taken back to packs, troops, crews and ships to help leaders guide youth in dynamic Scouting programs.  Scouters will find these skills invaluable in their business and personal lives as well.

Wood Badge consists of two parts:

·         The first five full days is the initial group training, usually held over two weekends – the first weekend Friday through Sunday, and the second Saturday and Sunday.

·         The second part requires participants to apply the skills they learned by completing a 5-part plan (called a “ticket”) over the following 18 months, leading towards the individual participant’s vision of a better Scouting future.

As stated above, the course is held over two weekends. Both weekends are camping activities where the participants provide tents and other personal camping equipment. During the first weekend, all meals are provided.  During the second weekend, participants cook their own meals in smaller groups called patrols.

1.    Be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America and age 18 or older.

2.    Have completed the basic position-specific training courses for their Scouting role.

3.    Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. All participants are required to complete the Annual Health and Medical Record. Parts A, B, and C are required which includes a physical. Part C is required for everyone, including people who are not present for more than 72 hours.

1.    Participant pre-course assignment

2.    Participant personal resource questionnaire

3.    Dietary needs form

4.    Annual Health and Medical Record

A minimum (non-refundable) deposit is due with registration, and then full payment is due 45 days before the start of the course.  Each Wood Badge course is limited to 48 participants. Per national guidelines, any course not having 30 fully paid participants 30 days prior to the start of the course is subject to cancellation.

For information about specific courses, contact the Course Director listed on the registration page.

Course participants begin their Wood Badge experience by modeling the Cub Scout program, then bridge to Scouts BSA and form patrols for the remainder of the course.  Selected staff members interact with participants in the role of a Venturing crew.  Representing a month in the life of a Scout unit, Wood Badge participants assume leadership roles to plan and carry out an extended outdoor experience.

Within this framework, participants take part in numerous presentations, discussions, and activities that explore and advance a wide range of leadership philosophies and tools.  A key area is the process of team development, where participants learn to apply appropriate leadership strategies at varying stages of team development.  There are five central themes of the Wood Badge course:

1. Growing

2. Connecting

3. Guiding

4. Empowering

5. Living the Values

The first weekend of the course parallels three weeks of a Scout units meetings and activities with the second weekend paralleling the experiences of a Scout unit setting out on the fourth week of a month for an exciting and challenging outdoor experience.

During the Wood Badge course the participants will learn through presentations, campfire, games, song, camping and working together as a patrol on presentations of their own.  Each of these activities are tied to the themes of Wood Badge (see above) and model activities that you can take back to your units.

One of the requirements for taking Wood Badge is to complete the basic training requirements for your primary position prior to attending. These are the required courses:

• Den Leader – Den Leader Specific Training

• Pack Committee Chair or Member – Pack Committee Leader Specific Training

• Cubmaster – Cubmaster Leader Specific Training

• Scoutmaster – Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

• Troop Committee Chair or Member – Troop Committee Challenge

• Venturing Advisor – Venturing Leader Specific Training

• District or Council Committee – District Committee Training Workshop Unit

• Commissioners – Commissioner Basic Training

Outdoor Skills Training:  All participants are encouraged to complete the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) training before attending Wood Badge, but it is not required.

Venturing and Sea Scouts Youth (18-20 years of age): For the purpose of writing a ticket, the applicant should be an officer at the crew, ship, council, regional, or national level. Youth prerequisites: Youth Protection Training and Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) for Venturers or Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships (ILSS) for Sea Scouts.

What is the ticket?

One of the great traditions of Wood Badge is the ticket.  During the course each participant will be asked to develop a contract or ticket – a list of goals that will allow them to use their newly-learned leadership skills in ways to strengthen Scouting in their home units, districts and councils.  The ticket will include the participant’s personal values, roles in Scouting, vision of success, and a mission of five significant goals that can be attained within 18 months.  Overall the ticket will be meaningful and enable the participant to practice the skills learned in the course. Troop guides (ticket counselors) will assist participants in writing their tickets and approve them when complete.  The troop guide and the participant will mutually agree when all the items of the ticket have been fulfilled.

Recognition for the successful completion of Wood Badge (including the ticket) consists of the distinctive Wood Badge neckerchief, woggle, the Wood Badge – two wooden beads worn on a leather thong around the neck, and the certificate.  This regalia is recognized around the world as a symbol of training and leadership experience.

Wood Badge training was begun by Baden Powell in 1919 as a way to ensure that the leaders of Scout troops were properly trained.  Since then Wood Badge has been held worldwide, providing advanced leadership training to thousands of Scout leaders.

Wood badge builds upon the best traditions and experiences of the Boy Scouts of America and also draws from a wide range of courses within and beyond the bounds of Scouting to present the latest in leadership theory and team development.

A limited number of partial-fee financial assistance requests are available to apply toward the course fee.  This financial assistance is granted based on need.  Financial assistance can be requested from the NCAC Wood Badge Scholarship Fund. Financial assistance may be requested as soon as a person has registered for the course.  A copy of the email confirming the awarding of financial assistance must be attached to the application, along with the balance of the fee. Financial assistance is awarded in amounts up to 50% of the fee. The balance of the course fee is expected with the financial assistance request application.

Because Wood Badge is a premier leadership course, units, chartered organizations and a number of employers may also partially underwrite necessary fees for a Scouter to attend.  Please inquire prior to applying for council financial assistance.

 Qualified Scouters may also apply for these national Wood Badge scholarships:

•AFL-CIO Wood Badge Scholarship Program – The AFL-CIO offers a Wood Badge scholarship to assist selected union members in acquiring skills that will better equip them to serve the youth of their communities.

•VFW Wood Badge Scholarship Program – The VFW National headquarters offers Wood Badge scholarships to assist selected chapter members in acquiring skills that will better equip them to serve the youth of their communities.

•Council Wood Badge Financial Assistance Request