General Information
Wood Badge is leadership training for all Scout Leaders who are involved in the programs of the Boy Scouts of America – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing, as well as council and district leaders, and professionals. This new contemporary training program focuses on leadership and “people” skills, and not Scoutcraft or outdoor skills. Participants will learn techniques to make them better leaders, and also how to lead groups to achieve objectives. The 21st Century Wood Badge incorporates the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience in addition to drawing upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country. Skills developed from Wood Badge training will help a volunteer leader do a better job in any BSA program or at any level of involvement.
Eligibility
To attend a Wood Badge Course, Scouters must:
The Course
Course participants begin their wood Badge experience as Cub Scouts, then bridge into Boy Scouting and form patrols for the remainder of the program. 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 theme’s of the 21st Century Wood Badge course: 1. Living the Values, 2. Bringing the Vision to Life, 3. Models for Success, 4. Tools of the Trade, and 5. Leading to Make a Difference. The first half of the course parallels three week’s of a Scout units meetings and activities with the second three day’s paralleling the experiences of a scout unit setting out on the fourth week of a month for an exciting and challenging outdoor experience.
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
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 training and leadership experience.
Schedule
