Wood Badge
Woodbadge For the 21st Century
Brochure for 2010 Wood Badge Course
• What is Wood Badge? What is Wood Badge?
• Why Should I Take It?
• When is Wood Badge?
• Do I have my choice of weekends?
• 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 spot 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"?
• How Do I Find Out More?
• 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.
Why Should I Take It?
Every scout deserves trained leaders.
• You will gain a better understanding of scouting's programs.
• You will get a MUCH better understanding of leadership 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.
When is Wood Badge?
It is a Centennial Course- in 2010: April 30-May 2 and
May 15-17 2010
Do I have my choice of weekends?
No! Wood Badge is a 6 day course spread out over 2, 3 full day ‘weekends'. Note that the first half is at Camp Royaneh and starts Friday morning at 7:30AM and gets out Sunday at about 5PM. The second half is at Camp Los Mochos and begins Sat. morning at about 7:15AM and finishes Monday afternoon at about 4PM.
What does it cost?
The course fee is $250 but if you register and pay in full before Jan. 1, 2010 then you pay the discounted fee of only $215. If you pay after March 1. 2010 the late registration fee is $275. The fees include all camping fees, materials, all food the first weekend and some food the second weekend; a hat and neckerchief...
Is financial aid available?
No one will be denied participation due to money. That said, there are limited scholarship funds available. Participants can first pursue all available resources. Can you find a sponsor for example your committee or charter organization? Will your employer pay? Please feel free to contact the Course Director to pursue Wood Badge funded scholarships. These are usually matching funds with you paying part.
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. Current BSA Medical form and current physical is required for all participants. Accommodations can be made to meet the needs of most folks.
• 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.
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 to earn your trained strip for your current primary scouting position. As to "Scouting's Outdoors Skills Training", the only positions that require that are Scoutmasters and Varsity Coaches (and their assistants).
• Scouting's Basis Leader Training Courses:
Leader specific training for:
- Den leaders, Cub Masters, 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 Cub Master takes Cub Master training.
Note: Previous versions of leader training courses are acceptable prerequisites.
How do I apply?
Fill out an application form and send it to the council. Wood Badge SFBAC 1001 Davis Street San Leandro, CA. 94577-1514. You will also be able to apply online.
Where do I find an application form?
Application forms will be available from many sources. These include the council website, the SFBAC office brochure rack; you can also request an electronic version by emailing the Course Director, or pick up an application form at most Round Tables.
If I send in an application, does that guarantee me a spot in the course?
No. The process is as follows. We may only have a maximum of 48 people in the course. The first 48 with a deposit or fully paid AND the training prerequisites completed get in. Scouters with incomplete training, or no deposit, or apply when we are over the 48 limit are wait listed. Don't worry however, we WANT you to be able to take Wood Badge and will let you know if you have a spot, update any wait listed folks, and also refer you to another council's course if need be. But we welcome you and want you!
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. It is not a scout craft course. 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!
I thought Wood Badge was only for Scoutmasters. I'm not a Scoutmaster. Can I attend?
YES! 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".
A word from the Course Director: I personally took Wood Badge as a Cub Scout Leader and not only had a blast but used the skills learned to make huge and lasting differences in my pack and am still using the skills as a Boy Scout Leader and in my family and professional life!
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 and the fact that we are ALL Leaders. 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 and many others are not limited to Scoutmasters. Also these skills and concepts are not limited to scouting!
I hear people mentioning "tickets". What are tickets?
Participants in the course will be asked to "write a ticket". 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. It is your vision for leadership success, in your position, in your unit. You write 5 goals (called ticket items) to get you to the successful completion of your vision. You use the leadership skills learned in Wood Badge to complete your goals and you have 18 months to do it in. This is practical application of what you learned. This is a tangible benefit. There will be a lot of discussion about this during the course.
I know what my ticket will be. Can I start it now?
Respectfully, you do not know what your ticket will be yet. How can you; you have not taken the course! People mess themselves up coming with preconceived opinions. Trust me on this! Your ticket will be developed as part of taking the Wood Badge course. 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.
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. Janis Tipton-King, woodbadge@earthlink.net
How do I find out more? Click for Brochure - page 1 - page 2
Send the course director an E-mail with any questions: Janis Tipton-King woodbadge@earthlink.net