Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, directed the first Wood Badge course in 1919 and gave each of the participants one of the beads. Thus did the course name develop, for its symbol was literally a badge of wood.
Wood Badge is Scouting's premier training course. Baden-Powell designed it so that Scouters could learn, in as practical a way possible, the skills and methods of Scouting. It is first and foremost, learning by doing. The members of the course are formed into patrols and these into a troop. The entire troop lives in the out-of-doors for part of the course, camping, cooking their own meals, and practicing Scout skills.
Course 9-440-24
Firelands Scout Reservation
July 26 - 28 & August 10 - 11, 2024
Wood Badge is an advanced, national leadership course open to Scouting volunteers and professionals.
Scouters from Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Explorers, and Service Area and Council Scouters all are welcome and belong at Wood Badge.
Contact
Stephen Roos, Course Director
Jessica Weaver, Staff Advisor
Steve Ott, Wood Badge Chair
WOOD BADGE / NYLT SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST
Lakewood High School
Saturday, March 9, 2024
The proceeds from this event prove the sole source of funding for the Wood Badge/NYLT Scholarship Fund. This find provides scholarships for Wood Badge and National Youth Leadership Training participants taking these two top leadership development courses. The only way that many people are able to attend these valuable courses is with the assistance provided by our scholarships.
Contact
Linda Gray, Event Team Lead
Jessica Weaver, Staff Advisor
More about Wood Badge
Why do you want to go?
You want to participate in a Wood Badge course because of things you will learn and do. Here are some of the benefits:
Stronger units. You will make your Scouting unit — and your sons' and daughters' units — stronger.
What and why of Scouting. You will have a deeper understanding of what Scouting is and why we do it.
Experience. You will learn and experience things that will stay with you in Scouting and the rest of your life.
Fun. You will have fun and you will meet interesting people.
Other groups. You will make your other groups, like work, church, even family, stronger.
What do we see on course?
We do many things on course, like:
Listening
Managing conflict
Leading change
Stages of team development
Coaching & Mentoring
Leadership for different stages
Servant leadership
Project planning
And more!
These come to you in presentations, games, discussions, activities, and other methods.
How would you like to attend a training that takes you far beyond your Basic Leader Training? Would you like to build your skills in communication, conflict management and teaching methods? How about a leadership course that rivals many corporate level trainings?
Wood Badge is here for you. This is not just for Troop leaders, but is also designed for Pack, Crew, and Ship leaders as well. This course will help you better understand how all the Scouting programs tie together. It will provide you with many useful leadership tools to help enable our youth to have the best possible Scouting experience. There is no better time to attend a Wood Badge course and make a difference in your unit !
Tickets
Have you heard of "The Ticket" and wondered what it is? The ticket is a group of five goals you set for yourself to do after course, to improve your unit. You learn more about this on the course.
Purpose of Wood Badge
The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units in achieving the mission of the Boy Scouts of America.
When we accomplish the mission of Scouting, we do it in the units. Therefore, the short form of the purpose is, the purpose of Wood Badge is to strengthen units.
Although the course is different today, what Baden-Powell said in 1919 still applies:
One of the purposes of Wood Badge training is to get Scouters to think about the practice of Scouting, to meet together, to exchange experiences, and to live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath.
