Wood Badge
Leadership for Scouting - Leadership for America
EXPECTATIONS
You will have the opportunity to join with other Scouters to learn, share ideas, discuss challenges and locate resources. Attendees form new and lasting friendships during their Wood Badge experiences, as the spirit of Scouting spreads. For six days you will learn and apply the principles of leadership using the aims and methods of Scouting. You will live and work in the outdoors with fellow Scouters under the guidance an experienced Wood Badge Staff.
OUTCOMES
As the six day practical portion of the program draws to a close you will set some personal goals to practice your new knowledge and skills. In meeting your goals, you will strengthen both yourself and Scouting. You will have 18 months to reach these goals. By practicing your new knowledge and skills you will become a more effective leader. In addition to your own personal growth, the Scouts you serve will benefit most from your developmental commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Wood Badge?
- Why Should I Take It?
- When is Wood Badge?
- What does it cost?
- Is financial aid available?
- Who may attend Wood Badge?
- What is the required training that I must complete?
- How do I apply?
- Where do I find an application form?
- If I send in an application, does that guarantee me a slot on the course?
- I thought Wood Badge was only for Scoutmasters. I’m not a Scoutmaster. Can I attend?
- I hear people mentioning "tickets". What are tickets?
- I know what my ticket will be. Can I start it now?
- I took the "old Wood Badge". Can I take "Wood Badge for the 21st Century"?
- I'd like to help. What can I do?
- I'd like to be on a Wood Badge staff. How do I do that?
- How Do I Find Out More?
What is Wood Badge?
- Wood Badge is Scouting's PREMIER TRAINING PROGRAM for all adult leaders.
- Wood Badge is LEADERSHIP TRAINING, applicable to all scouting positions.
- Wood Badge is a TOOL FOR IMPROVING all scouting programs, including yours.
- Wood Badge is a six day course, conducted over two three day weekends.
- Wood Badge was started by Baden-Powell who recognized the need for trained leaders.
Topics include Managing Conflict, Communicating, Listening to Learn, Valuing People and Leveraging Diversity, Stages of Team Development, team and individual leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, Project Planning and much, much more.
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Why Should I Take It?
Every scout deserves trained leaders.- You will gain a better understanding of scouting’s programs.
- You will gain a better understanding and useful tools for the challenges you face as scout leader.
- You will set achievable goals in your primary scouting position.
- You will have fun, make new friends and enjoy your scouting job more.
Wood Badge is a MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE.
Many previous participants describe Wood Badge as one of the
most enjoyable and meaningful scouting experiences of their
lives. Quite likely, you will grow as a human being.
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When is Wood Badge?
The course is six days long and will be held Friday, February 22, Saturday, February 23, & Sunday, February 24 and Friday, March 22, Saturday, March 23, & Sunday, March 24, 2013.[Top]
What does it cost?
The course fee is $235.00. Paid in full by January 5, 2013.Early Bird rate is $210.00 if paid in full by November 1, 2012.
A $50 deposit is recommended to hold your spot and is part of the fee.
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Is financial aid available?
No one will be denied participation due to money. That said, there are limited scholarship funds available. I would ask that participants pursue all available resources. Can you find a sponsor? Will your employer pay? Could you ask a civic organization or union to help? Can you make a partial payment? Please feel free to contact the Course Director.
VFW Wood Badge Scholarship Application
AFL-CIO Wood Badge Scholarship Application
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Who may attend Wood Badge?
To attend a Wood Badge course, Scouters must:- Be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America. There is no minimum tenure!
- Have completed the basic training courses for their scouting positions (see What is the required training that I must complete?)
- Have completed the outdoor skills training programs appropriate for their scouting positions (see What is the required training that I must complete?)
- Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment.
- Successful completion of the BSA Health Form is required for all participants.
- Individuals who have attended Wood Badge prior to "Wood Badge for the 21st Century" may attend the "Wood Badge for the 21st Century" course. Certain conditions apply. Contact the Course Director for details.
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What is the required training that I must complete?
This may seem a little confusing, but the gist is that all leaders need to have taken the required training depends on your primary scouting position. As to Scouting's "Outdoor Skills Training", the only positions that require that are Scoutmasters, Asst Scoutmasters, and Varsity Coaches and Assistants.- Leader specific training for:
- Den leaders, Cubmasters, Webelos leaders, Tiger Cub leaders, Pack committee members, Troop committee members, Scoutmasters, Varsity coaches, Venturing leaders.
- Commissioner basic training for commissioners
- District committee training for district committee members
- Council committee training or executive board orientation for council volunteers
Note: "Assistants" take the same training as the primary. i.e Assistant Cubmaster takes Cubmaster training.
Note: Previous versions of leader training courses are acceptable prerequisites.
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How do I apply?
Fill out an application form and send it to the address on the form.[Top]
Where do I find an application form?
Application forms are available from many sources. These include the Gulf Stream Council website, the Gulf Stream Council office. You can also request an electronic version by emailing the Course Director.[Top]
If I send in an application, does that guarantee me a slot on the course?
No. The process is as follows. You send a completed application to the Course Director. The Course Director will send you an invitation that includes an “Acceptance of Invitation letter”. You are then encouraged to fill out the “Acceptance of Invitation questionnaire” and send it with a $50.00 deposit to the council office. A condition of acceptance is that you complete any required position-specific training prior to the course. It is OK if you have not completed that training, but you must complete it prior to the course. The $50.00 deposit and commitment to complete your training holds you a slot on the course. Final acceptance is contingent upon full payment and completed training.[Top]
I am only in my second year as a scout leader
and did not do scouts as a youth so I was concerned about having a lack of experience as compared with the other people who would be taking the course. Is that a problem?On the contrary, I wish every new leader would take Wood Badge as early as possible. Wood Badge is leadership training. Wood Badge will help you understand what this scouting movement is all about, how the different scouting programs tie together, how you can make a real difference and will provide you with many important and useful leadership tools.
The result that will come is that you will understand your job better. You will be better at your job, which means you will enjoy it more. Since you will be better at your job and enjoy it more, your scouting program will be improved. The better program we offer, the longer the scouts remain scouts. What a great concept!
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I thought Wood Badge was only for Scoutmasters. I’m not a Scoutmaster. Can I attend?
I cannot emphasize it enough…Wood Badge is for ALL scout leaders in ALL positions. The national syllabus was updated in 2001 to reflect the latest business models for leadership training. We call the course "Wood Badge for the 21st Century".There is still a lingering perception that Wood Badge is a "Scoutmaster Course". The "old Wood Badge" was primarily aimed at Scoutmasters. "Wood Badge for the 21st Century" is predicated on the position that we all participate in teams. We are members of teams; we lead teams. Some are long term teams and some are short-lived single purpose teams. How do teams develop? What leadership style is best used at the various stages of a team's development? What characteristics do the best performing teams have? Clearly, these concepts are not limited to Scoutmasters.
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I hear people mentioning "tickets". What are tickets?
Participants in the course will be asked to "write a ticket". In this context, a ticket is a set of (5) goals related to your primary scouting position. Each participant will create a “Vision”, a picture of future success, and choose (5) goals that lead towards that vision. You will be given 18 months to complete your ticket. There will be a lot of discussion about this during the course.[Top]
I know what my ticket will be. Can I start it now?
Respectfully, you do not know what your ticket will be yet. Your ticket will be developed as part of taking the Wood Badge course. Please trust me. Writing a meaningful, effective ticket is a major element of the Wood Badge course. Your ticket will be greatly affected by what you hear, learn and experience at the course. You can take no credit for any work "towards your ticket" prior to having your ticket approved at the course.[Top]
I took the "old Wood Badge".
Can I take "Wood Badge for the 21st Century"?Yes. Beginning in 2006, individuals who have attended Wood Badge in the past may attend "Wood Badge for the 21st Century". Certain conditions apply. Contact the Course Director for details.
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I’d like to help. What can I do?
Help can come in many forms.Recruit, recruit, recruit.
Let’s fill our courses every year. The quality and future of our scouting movement
depends on it.
Can you sponsor someone? Big help!
Can you offer to be on a support staff? Contact the Course Director. (Limited)
Do you have access to equipment, services or other resources? (Keeps costs down.)
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I’d like to be on a Wood Badge staff. How do I do that?
Wood Badge is scouting's premier training program. The staff members are held to extremely high standards. The staff is recommended by the Course Director and requires the approval of both the Gulf Stream Council and the Southern Region.
Staff Qualifications:
To serve on a Wood Badge staff, a Scouter must:
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America and a strong supporter of the local council
- Have received their Wood Badge beads.
- Have taken or been on staff of "Wood Badge for the 21st Century".
- Have participated in a Trainer's EDGE Training within three years of the appointment.
- There are other qualifications related to being a role model, exemplifying scouting's ideals and demonstrating other leadership skills.
If you see yourself as someone who meets these requirements and exemplifies these standards, contact the Course Directorand let that person know of your desire to serve. Future Course Directors will be informed of your interest.
There are steps you can take to better prepare yourself to be considered for a staff position in the future.
- Take the Trainer's EDGE Training.
- Volunteer for training staffs in your district and council.
- Take on positions of increasing responsibility in your unit, district or council.
- Be a positive role model.
- If you took "old Wood Badge", take "Wood Badge for the 21st Century".
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