Welcome to Mid-America Council Wood Badge!
Wood Badge is an adult training where you work with others to learn and practice leadership skills (as a member of a successful working team) and live the values of scouting.
21st Century Wood Badge is the ultimate leadership training experience for adult BSA leaders, conducted in an outdoor encampment, with the focus on application of leadership skills. These skills are conveyed through active learning sessions in an ideal Scout setting.
You will be able to use these lessons and experiences from Wood Badge outside of scouting to make every team a successful team, whether the team is at your work or is your family. Inspired in England by Lord Baden-Powell at Gilwell Camp, Wood Badge is today offered around the world. Upon completion, a Scouter receives a certificate, neckerchief, woggle, and beads, and becomes a permanent member of Troop 1, Gilwell.
History
On the morning of September 19, 1919, Lord Robert Baden-Powell blew a Kudu horn at Gilwell Park on the edge of Epping Forest near London. Thus began the world's first Wood Badge course. Since that day, wherever Wood Badge is held, it is on Gilwell Field. Over 100,000 people have attended Wood Badge in courses held around the world.
Two Wooden Beads
The two wooden beads replicate the beads obtained by Baden-Powell during a campaign in Africa in 1888. These originally belonged to Dinizulu, an African chieftain. In searching for a suitable recognition for the men who completed his first course, Baden-Powell remembers the beads and decided to present a bead to each participant. From then on, the course was called "Wood Badge."
Wood Badge Comes to the USA
The course first came to the United States in 1936. Held at the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey, it still had a strong British flavor, complete with menus heavy on foods that had been boiled for several hours. The Americans were less than enthusiastic, and a war intervened.
USA, Take Two
In 1948, a revised American course was offered for the first time at Schiff. It was a major success, in spite of rain on 4 of the 9 days. The first four patrol names, which are animals found all over the US, were introduced – Eagle, Bobwhite, Fox, and Beaver, and the course featured a kudu horn. As the years went by, the course focused on scout craft, how to teach it to boys, and/or how to run training courses. There have been courses for each of the major program areas – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity, and Exploring.
21st Century Wood Badge
The 21st Century Wood Badge course, revised in 2001, brings together leaders from all areas of Scouting – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and the professional area. Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, the course also draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country. You will live the magic of Scout leadership training as envisioned by the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell.
This course will help you understand the full values-based family of Scouting programs as well as discover ways to use the leadership skills to improve your personal and professional life.
Wood Badge gives leaders the skills they need to strengthen Scouting in meaningful ways and deliver a quality program to our youth.
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Course Description
Our goal as leaders is to bring the values of Scouting home to youth. We do this with an exciting program, challenging activities, and real adventure. Working together with the staff and your patrol members at Wood Badge, you will gain the vision, the experience, the fun, and the challenge to reach a higher standard and bring it home to the Scouts we all serve.
Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for adult leaders in all of Boy Scouting's program areas – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing – as well Council and District leaders. It teaches skills that are useful in Scouting, work, family, and other community service activities. The focus is on leadership and team-building, not outdoor skills.
Objectives of Wood Badge
To enable you to view Scouting globally, as a family of interrelated, values-based programs that provide age-appropriate activities.
To help you recognize contemporary leadership concepts that applies to our values-based movement.
- To apply the skills learned as a member of a successful working team.
- To revitalize your commitment to Scouting by sharing in an overall inspirational experience.
Course Organization
The Wood Badge experience is divided into two parts – a practical phase and an application phase.
Practical Phase
The practical phase consists of:
- Six days of instruction.
- During this time you will become a member of a group, share skills and knowledge, become an effective team and have a great experience while doing it.
Themes covered in the practical phase include:
- Living the Values (developing your personal mission and vision)
- Bringing the Vision to Life (communication skills, coaching and mentoring, leveraging diversity)
- Models for Success (how your style of leadership should relate to the skills of your team)
- Tools of the Trade (project planning, managing conflict, assessing team performance, managing change, celebrating team success)
- Leading to Make a Difference (leaving a legacy and secrets of leadership)
- With the help of a staffer, you will be able to develop a "ticket" by the end of the practical phase of the course. This is a set of 5 personal goals designed to significantly strengthen the program in which you are involved. The ticket provides a structure for the practice of the new skills you will learn.
Application Phase
The application phase is also known as "working your ticket". You will have 18 months to complete your ticket, which will allow you to become proficient in the leadership and team-building skills you have just learned.
Upon completion of the Wood Badge ticket, as certified by a ticket counselor and the Scout Executive, you will be presented with the Wood Badge certificate, neckerchief, woggle, and beads at an appropriate public ceremony.
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Eligibility
Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for adult leaders in all of Boy Scouting's program areas – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouting – as well as Council and District leaders. This includes assistant leaders, committee members, and "just parents" in all areas.
There is no minimum tenure requirement, however, participants must be 18 years of age and must be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Training Requirements
Wood Badge is considered an advanced training course and there are some important requirements. You must:
- Have completed basic training for the position you currently hold. (Youth Protection and New Leader Essentials / This is Scouting)
| Position |
Course Name |
| Tiger Cub Den Leaders |
Tiger Cub Leader Specific Training |
| Wolf/Bear Den Leaders |
Den Leader Specific Training |
| Webelos Den Leaders |
Webelos Leader Specific Training |
Pack Committee Chairman & Pack
Committee Members |
Pack Committee Leader Specific Training |
| Cubmaster |
Cubmaster Leader Specific Training |
| Scoutmaster |
Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training |
| Troop Committee Chairman & Troop Committee Members |
Troop Committee Challenge |
| Varsity Coach |
Varsity Leader Specific Training |
| Venturing Advisor |
Venturing Leader Specific Training |
| District Committee |
District Committee Training Workshop |
| Commissioner, District & Council Volunteers |
Commissioner Basic Training |
Outdoor Skills Training
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is required for:
- Scoutmaster
- Assistant Scoutmaster
- Varsity Coaches
- Assistant Varsity Coaches
For those who have completed the "Old" Wood Badge Course
Some of you may have attended the old Wood Badge course. You may take 21st Century Wood Badge if you have earned your beads from the "old course".
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Participant Info
| WHEN: |
August 23-25, 2013 and September 13-15, 2013 (must attend both weekends), plus one mid-course meeting |
| WHERE: |
Camp Cedars, Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska |
| COST: |
$190; includes meals, lodging and materials for both weekends. A $50 deposit is required upon registration approval. Total fee must be paid in full by July 22, 2013. |
Uniform
A full, official uniform is required and consists of:
- Official BSA uniform shirt
- Official BSA uniform pants, shorts or skirt
- If skirts or shorts are worn, official BSA socks are required
- Official BSA web belt
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Registration, Scholarships and other forms
Register NOW for Wood Badge Course C5-326-13-1. Wood Badge applicants will find the following forms useful. All are provided in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader, you can download it for free from Adobe.
OR Download the Registration Form 
Courses fill up quickly! Register today!
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Meet the Staff
Course Director: Glenda Ackland
Hometown: Papillion, NE
Received Beads In: 2004
Patrol: Bear
Why I Love Wood Badge: There are so many reasons that I love Wood Badge. My experience as a participant started my love for the course. So many things made sense about the program after attending the course. The patrol method made sense to me because of my military upbringing and business life but the games had greater meaning to me and the subtle parts of Scouting suddenly weren't so subtle. Then there's the people I meet and I watch make the same discoveries that I made in 2004. Wood Badge keeps Scouting fresh and current for me. It allows me to help adults learn more, teach more and just be more present with the youth they work with. The greatest thing I can tell people about Wood Badge is that it isn't just about Scouting. The lessons you learn during the course can and should be applied to every aspect of your life. We all deal with planning, conflict, mentoring and coaching outside of Scouting - why not use the skills you know to make everything better!
Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop Guides: Deb Reinard
Hometown: Hinton, IA
Received Beads In: 2005 (C-44-03)
Patrol: Sleeping Eagles (there is a story of course!)
Why I Love Wood Badge: Every year I learn so much from the staff and participants and in turn I love to share what I have learned with everyone I meet!
1st Assistant Scoutmaster: Tommi Jones
Hometown: Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but have lived in Lincoln NE (Cornhusker Council) for 28 years.
Received Beads In: 2006 (C-33-06)
Patrol: Bobwhite
Why I Love Wood Badge: I love the Leadership skills that Wood Badge teaches and the change it brings about in people. Although we teach those skills to be used in Scouting, they really can be used in our daily lives to make our relationships with all types and ages of people better. Serving on Wood Badge staff allows me to give back to Scouting while teaching others the skills they need to become not just good, but Great Scout Leaders.
Senior Patrol Leader: George "Fritz" McMullin
Hometown: Bellevue, NE
Received Beads In: 2000 (C-15-99)
Patrol: Totally Hip Enthusiastic (T.H.E.) Owls
Why I Love Wood Badge: The greatest reward in Scouting is seeing the youngsters we serve grow into outstanding young adults. I've been blessed to serving as a Scoutmaster and see many boys achieve their goals. Some earned Eagle but all gained the valuable experiences that have made them fine young men. I love Wood Badge because it gives me the opportunity to help other Scouters better understand the Scouting program and how they can improve their delivery of the program to the youth they serve. Wood Badge multiplies my ability to positively impact the youth in Mid-America Council by helping their adult leaders have a positive impact on those youth.
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Reunion Dinner
All Wood Badge trained scouters and their guests to the Camp Cedars Dining Hall for the 2013 Wood Badge Reunion Dinner on August 10. Questions? Please contact Scott Zwick at scott.zwick@gmail.com or the Durham Scout Center at 402.431.9BSA
(402.431.9272) for more information.
Wood Badge Alums: If you haven't received an invitation to our annual Wood Badge dinner in the past, please contact Marsha Holbert at owlybear@cox.net to add your information to our distribution list. Include name, address, e-mail address (if you would like to receive our e-news 2-3 times a year), phone, course year and patrol.
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