Wood Badge 2019
N5-690-19

May 18-20, 2019
Pine Hill Scout Reservation

June 8-10, 2019
Roosevelt Scout Reservation

Questions? Contact...
Course Director: Denise Blain (dmblain@yahoo.com)
Staff Advisor: Mike Perry (michael.perry@scouting.org)

Register Online

Wood Badge is leadership training for all Scout Leaders and Scouters who are involved in the programs of the Boy Scouts of America: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing, as well as council and district leaders, and professionals.

This contemporary training program focuses on leadership and “people” skills, not Scoutcraft or outdoor skills. Participants will learn techniques to make them better leaders, and also how to lead groups to achieve objectives. The Wood Badge course incorporates the best of over 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 the participant do a better job in any BSA program - at any level of involvement.  Skills learned at Wood Badge can be used in other aspects of their life as well.

Eligibility

• Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. There are no minimum tenure requirements. Youth older than 18 many attend.

• Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. Successful completion of the Annual Health & Medical Form (Parts A, B and C) is required for all participants.

• Have completed, or is signed up for, the basic training courses for their registered Scouting positions.

• Have completed the outdoor skills training programs required for their Scouting positions. This would be Introduction to Outdoor Leaders Skills for Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and Venturing Advisors.

If you previously completed a Wood Badge course, agree not to wear your regalia until your new ticket is complete.

Course Format

Wood Badge is a 6-Day Course that we are offering over two 3-day weekends: two Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays separated by three weeks.

The first weekend, May 18 ^th-20^th, is scheduled at Pine Hill Scout Reservation. We will use the Parade Field outside of the OA Lodge for morning and closing Colors, our Quartermaster Staff will cook and serve all meals out of the Dining Hall, and participants will camp at one of the two lean-to sites.  Please feel free to bring your own tent or hammock if you prefer.

For the second weekend, June 8^th-10^th, the course will move to Roosevelt Scout Reservation where patrols will be assigned a lean-to campsite.  This time patrols will cook their own meals but on the last day we will gather for a pot luck patrol feast!

Between the two weekends, participants will be required to attend one or two interim patrol meetings. The meeting times and locations will be determined by your patrol members.  You will use these meetings to prepare for the second weekend.

The Course

Wood Badge focuses on contemporary leadership skills and issues while integrating Scouting value-based philosophy. Wood Badge uses a variety of learning opportunities: lecture, demonstration, group discussion, and hands-on exercises that offer participants insight into contemporary leadership theory while providing them with specific skills to enable them to immediately put what they learned to use in their units. Many participants have found that they can apply what they've learned in their personal and professional lives equally effectively. While learning is the focus of Wood Badge, fun is an important component in this course.

There are five central themes of the Wood Badge course:

• Living the Values

• Bringing the Vision to Life

• Models for Success

• Tools of the Trade

• Leading to Make a Difference

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.  The ticket is a list of five significant goals that will allow participants to use their newly-acquired leadership skills in ways to strengthen Scouting in their home units, districts and councils. The ticket will include their personal values, role in Scouting, vision of success, and a mission (those five goals).  They then have 18 months to work towards achieving their goals and completing their ticket. But they won’t be working alone because we will assign them a Ticket Counselor – another Scouter who is there to answer questions, help them work through obstacles, and provide support along the 18-month journey. Overall the ticket will be meaningful and enable the participant to practice the skills learned in the course. Troop Guides and other Staffers will assist participants in writing their tickets. 

Recognition

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

Application

You can register for this course by visiting the event on the online calendar or by clicking here.  You can also stop by the Rowan or Riggins offices to submit your application in person.  The course fee is $260, but if you register before January 31st,  you qualify for the Early Bird $25 discount.  A deposit of $100.00 is needed with your application to secure your position on the course, and all balances due by April 30, 2019.  Each participant will receive one course t-shirt, additional shirts can be ordered in advance of the course for $10 each.

Professional Development Credit

With Wood Badge being a premiere leadership course, units, chartered organizations and a number of employers may partially or completely underwrite necessary fees for a Scouter to attend. Please inquire with your employer prior to applying for council scholarships. We have provided a letter that you can give to your employer explaining the Wood Badge program.  You can find a copy of the letter below.  Feel free to print or email to your employer.  Your employer can also contact the Course Director or Staff Advisor with any questions.

Qualified Scouters may 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. Guidelines are as follows.

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. Guidelines are as follows.