Wood Badge 2023
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is Scouting's premier training course. It's the ultimate leadership training experience designed to meet the leadership needs for all Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing leaders as well as Council and District leaders and Scouting professionals.
Lord Baden-Powell originally 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.
Wood Badge has evolved into the core leadership skills training course for the BSA. The Wood Badge course focuses on strengthening every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults and is less focused on outdoor skills, which are more effectively addressed in other courses.
History of Wood Badge
Baden-Powell took the first steps in the training of Scouters by organizing a series of lectures for Scouters in 1911. He made great strides by devising and instituting Wood Badge Training in 1919. Wood Badge recipients now number more than 100,000 throughout the world.
The object of the Wood Badge course is to demonstrate, as practically as possible, the aims and methods of Scouting. Upon successful completion of the course the participant receives a certificate and the Wood Badge - two wooden beads worn on a leather thong around the neck. These beads replicate the beads found by Baden-Powell during a campaign in Africa in 1888. They belonged to Dinizulu, an African chieftain. In searching for a suitable recognition for those who completed the first course in 1919, Baden-Powell remembered the beads and decided to present a bead to each participant. At that time, the course was called Wood Badge.
The Wood Badge may be worn only with the official field uniform of the BSA. The Scouter to whom it has been awarded may also wear the tan neckerchief with its patch of MacLaren tartan at the back. The Wood Badge neckerchief may only be worn with the accompanying leather neckerchief slide or woggle.
Learning Objectives
As a result of attending Wood Badge training, participants will be able to
View Scouting as a family of interrelated, values-based programs providing age-appropriate activities for youth.
Assess their own leadership knowledge and skills to consider the strengths and preferences in their own leadership style
Understand how Scouting’s methods uniquely meet the needs and preferred learning style of youth. This understanding helps develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that prepare youth to be successful adults and active citizens, with the character and sense of personal responsibility that ensures leadership for the future of our nation.
Develop a renewed commitment to provide Scouting with the best possible leadership.
Wood Badge participants must have a valid Annual Health and Medical Report form, part A, B and C, at the time of the course. Medical Form Here