Training opportunities - Wood Badge

Wood Badge is the height of Boy Scout training for adult leaders. It's primary purpose is to strengthen Scouting in the units, districts & local councils, and it focuses on strengthening the adults' ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults.

From Scouting.org:

As a result of attending Wood Badge, participants will be able to

• View Scouting globally, as a family of interrelated, values-based programs that provide age-appropriate activities for youth.
• Recognize the contemporary leadership concepts utilized in corporate America and leading government organizations that are relevant to our values-based movement.
• Apply the skills they learn from their participation as a member of a successful working team.
• Revitalize their commitment by sharing in an overall inspirational experience that helps provide Scouting with the leadership it needs to accomplish its mission on an ongoing basis.

The Wood Badge course is conducted in either a week long session or in two weekend sessions with a break of about three weeks between. Whether done as a week session or two weekend sessions, there are two basic parts to it: the first part uses unit meetings as the delivery method, while the second part uses a troop camping activity as the delivery method. During the short time of about six days, the adults go through the same process that a boy might go through from Cub Scout to Venture, going through some of the same rituals the boys go through, while learning about effective leadership. Most of the time, however, is spent at the Boy Scout level, with the focus being on the Patrol Method and the process of helping the boys become leaders in their own right.

As the adult is taught various aspects on leading and working with others during the trainings and exercises, he or she will be working on creating a list of personal goals (referred to as the Wood Badge ticket) to complete after the Wood Badge course is over.

From Scouting.org:

The Wood Badge ticket represents the participant's commitment to complete a set of personal goals relating to that individual's Scouting position. These goals will significantly strengthen the program in which the participant is involved. In addition, the ticket gives participants an opportunity to practice and demonstrate a working knowledge of the leadership skills presented during the course. Participants should complete their Wood Badge ticket no later than 18 months after the course.

While it is a great opportunity to learn and internalize the BSA's ideals and methods for delivering those ideals, adult leaders cannot take advantage of it until they have completed Fast Start: Boy Scouting, New Leader Essentials, and Boy Scout Leader Specific Training with Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.

After successfully completing the Wood Badge ticket, the adult leader is entitled to receive and wear the Wood Badge regalia, which consists of the Wood Badge beads (two wooden beads on a leather thong), a tan neckerchief with a swatch of MacLaren tartan and a leather woggle or neckerchief slide. In addition to that, the adult will receive a parchment certificate of completion of the Wood Badge course.