| Q. What is Wood Badge? |
| A.
Wood Badge is the premier adult leadership-training program for the Boy
Scouts of America. It teaches
contemporary leadership and team development skills in an outdoor setting.
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| Q. Why Wood Badge for the 21st Century? |
|
A. Times have changed since Lord Robert Baden Powell assembled the first Wood Badge course in 1919. Over the years, the teaching methods and instructional tools have been updated to meet the needs of contemporary leaders. What has not changed is the primary focus of Wood Badge, which is Leadership Training.
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| Q. Why should I go to Wood Badge and how will I benefit from this training? |
|
A. Wood Badge helps you become a better leader, it's fun, it's rewarding and it helps you meet new friends. Here are some comments from recent Wood Badge participants: "I learned a great deal about myself . . ." "I feel the program has given me the tools to make positive changes at my pack." "The experience was beyond words." "The leadership information presented . . . was priceless." "I learned how important my role is and how much influence I have on the boys and their families." "It challenged me to give my best to the Scouting program." "I am reminded of the importance of group dynamics in the attempt to work as a team."
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| Q. Who may attend? |
|
A. While once designed to meet the needs of specific groups of BSA leaders, Wood Badge for the 21st Century is open to ALL adult leaders who have completed the basic training requirement for their position. Boy Scout, Cub Scout, Varsity, and Venturing leaders will benefit equally from attendance.
|
| Q. What is the basic training requirement for my position? |
| A.
In general, the basic training requirement is met when a leader attends
Fast Start, New Leader Essentials and the Position Specific Training for their
position. In addition, Scoutmasters,
Assistant Scoutmasters and certain other positions require Introduction to
Outdoor Leader Skills. For further
information, please contact your District Training Team.
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| Q. When should I attend Wood Badge? |
| A.
You should attend Wood Badge as soon as possible after completing your
basic training. The sooner you
attend Wood Badge the sooner you can begin to apply the leadership skills and
techniques in your unit, district or council.
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| Q. I'm a new to Scouting and my unit leader says that it's best for me to wait a couple of years before I go to Wood Badge. Why should I go now? |
| A.
Wood Badge helps new leaders build a framework for their future growth in
Scouting. Leaders who take advanced
training early in their Scouting careers are better prepared to serve the youth
in their units.
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| Q. I’ve been a Scoutmaster for years and have a very successful program, why should I go to Wood Badge? |
| A.
There are two primary reasons. The
first is that everyone has the capacity to learn new skills and improve upon
existing ones. Wood Badge offers the
latest training on contemporary leadership and team development models.
The second reason is that experienced leaders help enrich the Wood Badge
experience for newer leaders by sharing their expertise and passion for the
program.
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| Q. Are the leadership skills taught specific to Scouting? |
| A.
Although taught in a Scouting framework, the skills taught in Wood Badge
can be applied universally. Participants
have found their Wood Badge training to help them at work and in other
non-Scouting volunteer activities.
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| Q. I received my Wood Badge Training Award through an earlier Wood Badge program; may I attend Wood Badge for the 21st Century? |
| A.
In general the answer is no, but exceptions are possible.
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| Q. How much time is required? |
| A.
The practical portion of Wood Badge requires six full days of
instruction. This is accomplished
through two three-day weekends. The
weekend course also requires a patrol meetings between the weekend sessions.
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| Q. Is overnight camping required? |
| A.
Yes, during the second weekend, course participants will sleep in tents.
A total of two nights will be spent in tents during the second weekend.
Participants will be assisted in getting the necessary gear if necessary.
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| Q. What about outdoor skills? |
| A.
Even though Wood Badge is taught in an outdoor setting and some camping
is a part of the program, the need for extensive outdoor skills has been
minimized. There will be experienced
campers on staff and among the participants, which creates an excellent learning
environment for leaders unfamiliar with Scout camping. Often, leaders attend an
outdoor skills program (Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, BALOO or Webelos
Outdoor Leader Training) prior to attending Wood Badge.
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| Q. What exactly do you teach in Wood Badge? |
| A.
While not exactly a secret, the impact of many sessions will be lessened
if a participant has too much advance information.
Wood Badge has always taught leadership skills. 21st Century Wood Badge
focuses on contemporary leadership skills and issues and integrates scouting’s
value-based philosophy. A variety of
learning opportunities, including lecture, demonstration, group discussion and
hands-on exercises offer participants insight into contemporary leadership
theory while providing them with specific skills that will enable them to put
what they learn to use immediately in their units.
Many participants have found they can apply what they’ve learned in
their personal and professional lives equally effectively. And while learning is
the focus of Wood Badge, fun is an important component!
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| Q. What is the Wood Badge Ticket? |
| A.
The Ticket is a series of projects or activities that each Wood Badge
participant works on after they complete the practical (or outdoor) portion of
the course. Typically a Ticket
consists of several goals that are directed towards the participants’ primary
scouting role. “Working the
Ticket” helps the leader apply the skills they just learned and it helps
strengthen the program in the unit, district and council. Participants will
develop their tickets during the practical portion of the course, but will have
up to 18 months to complete it.
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| Q. How much does it cost to attend Wood Badge? |
| A.
The course fee for a weekend course has been running about $185.
For that fee the participant receives all instructional material, all
food for the first weekend, a course shirt and a course cap.
Other "out of pocket" expenses will include food for the second
weekend and a small expense for patrol project materials.
Photos and other course memorabilia are available for purchase on a
strictly optional basis.
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| Q. Do I need a uniform for Wood Badge? |
| A.
Yes!
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| Q. What is the proper uniform for Wood Badge? |
| A.
Participants will wear a combination of their field uniform or a course
activity uniform. The field (or
Class-A) uniform is the uniform that the participant would normally wear as a
volunteer. The activity uniform
consists of the course shirt and uniform pants or shorts.
Further details will be provided with the welcome letter.
It will not be necessary to wear a “stripped shirt” as was the
requirement in earlier programs.
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| Q. Who should I contact? |
| A. You may contact the Pushmataha Area Council at 662-328-7228. |