Wood Badge - Prerequisites or position requirements?

[kimberbakos]

I was very interested in the Wood Badge course when I was a den leader for Tigers and Wolves, but at that time it was only offered as a week long course and I didn't have that much vacation time available. Then life got more complicated and I stopped being a leader in my son's pack.
Now he has moved up to Scouts, and I see the Wood Badge is being offered as a two weekend course here in September. However, other than Merit Badge counsellor, I'm not in any leadership position with my son's troop. I will be going to summer camp as one of our adult leaders in July. Would I be permitted to take the Wood Badge course, or do I need to be in a higher leadership position in our troop? And would I benefit from it if I don't go into it with lots of experience? I'd love your thoughts on this as more experienced Scouters.
PS - I'm female, if that makes any difference in recommendations.

[wagionvigil]

I believe you must have the training for your registered position and MBC is not included in that. You could get on the COmmittee or as a ASM etc. Being female has nothing to do with it. My wife took WB in 1991

[WVBeaver05]

As a relatively recent (2005) attendee at Wood Badge (that would be Wood Badge for the 21st Century - usually referred to as "the new Wood Badge"), I strongly recommend that you consider attending.

It is also my understanding that you need to be in a registered position. Not sure, but I doubt that MBC alone would count. I am ceratin that there requirement is to be have completed the training required for your current position.

Experience level, Scouting program (Cubs, Boy Scouts, Varsity, Venturing) does not matter. Male or female does not matter. In fact, diversity in a variety of aspects is at least encouraged.

Just one clarification. Wood Badge is a leadership development course, not a Scout skills course. And, IMHO, it is an EXCELLENT one, at that. So, I would certainly say that you would benefit.

Additionally, expect to spend some (!!) quality time with other adults who share interests in supporting Scouts and Scouting. My course was the 2 weekend one in 2005 and I have had numerous discussions since of the pros and cons of the week long and the 2 weekend course since, but there are reasons (including only needing 2 days off from work) that I prefer the 2 weekend one.

So, again, let me say that I strongly recommend that you (and anyone else who has an interest) register and take the course. I don't see how you can avoid learning a lot and you will certainly have FUN! (Would you guess that I am a strong advocate of the course?)

YiS

[cballman]

different troops have different needs. start out small try to become a committie member first. My wife and best part went to woodbadge before me. I wanted her to experiance the course without me. she did great even having a car wreck and breaking her foot between weekends. the worst part of the course for her was that she is not one of the bigger and best animals. she is a lowly bobwhite. now the best part I am a BEAR and I had a ball at my woodbadge course. so otherwise jump in feet first swim 100 yards and hope that you to can be one of the few the proud the BEARS.

[WVBeaver05]

Of course, you really meant BEAVER, not BEAR, right?

[RWSmith]

Kimber,

IMHO, from what you've told us, you could get on your son's Troop committee (as suggested earlier), take your position-specific training (YPT, FS, NLE and TCC--all online or classroom, no over-nighters), and be able to take Wood Badge.

YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!

P.S. "If you ain't a Bear, you're just a meal."

Wood Badge

History of Wood Badge

In 1911, four years after Scouting began in Great Britain, Lord Baden-Powell began training Scouters through a series of lectures. This led to the first Wood Badge training course for Scoutmasters, held eight years later at Gilwell Park near London. In 1936, an experimental Wood Badge course was conducted in the United States at the Schiff Scout Reservation. Then, in 1948, the first American Wood Badge course was introduced in the United States as advanced training for trainers of Boy Scout leaders. Later, the program was extended to include troop committee members, commissioners, and Explorer leaders.

Experiments began in the late 1960s with a leadership development Wood Badge course emphasizing 11 leadership skills or "competencies." This program was launched in 1972 in support of a major revision of the Boy Scout phase of the program. In 1978, an evaluation of the Boy Scout Leader Wood Badge course revealed a need for greater emphasis on the practical aspects of good troop operation. The result was the development of a course that would provide a blend of Scoutcraft skills and practical troop operation, mixed with a variety of leadership exercises..

In 2001, the new Wood Badge for the 21st Century was introduced. It was developed for all Scouters: Cub Scout leaders, Boy Scout leaders, Venturing leaders, and council and district leaders. The focus is on leadership skills, not outdoor skills. The first part of the new Wood Badge course reflects unit meetings, while the second part of the course uses a troop camping activity as its delivery model.

The new Wood Badge course is administered nationally by the Boy Scout Division.

Purpose

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.
Curriculum

Wood Badge courses may be conducted as a weeklong experience, or over two weekends with patrol meetings between each session. Experience has shown that either format produces satisfactory results. A staff guide is provided with a conversion guide for a weekend or weeklong course. An administrative guidebook outlines the procedures for administering the program.

Qualifications

Each Scouter invited to participate in Wood Badge training must have completed the basic training courses for their Scout position and completed the outdoor skills training programs appropriate for their Scouting position.

Conducting the Training

Wood Badge courses are authorized by regional service centers. When a local council feels it can guarantee enough participants from its own ranks, it may apply to the region to conduct a local council Wood Badge course. In a local council course, all participants, staff, and support come from the local council.

Two or more local councils may cooperate in conducting a cluster-council Wood Badge course. With regional approval, one of the participating councils acts as the host council. The host council normally coordinates the advance preparation, invitation procedure, and staff selection, and provides a site and basic equipment. The course director will participate in the selection of staff from the participating councils.

A minimum of 30 course members must be registered, with full fees paid, 30 days before the opening day of the course. This will ensure good patrol operation, full participation, and financial success. For efficiency of operation, there should not be more than eight patrols.

Goals

The primary purpose of the Wood Badge experience is to strengthen Scouting in our units, districts, and local councils. 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.

Recognition

Upon successful completion of the ticket, the participant is entitled to receive the Wood Badge recognition. This consists of a parchment certificate, 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.

The Wood Badge recognition not only identifies a Scouter who has completed advanced training, but also reminds the wearer of an ongoing commitment to continued service to Scouting.

Summary

Since 1948, the Wood Badge course has served as a source of training and inspiration to thousands of leaders. These Scouters have affected the lives of millions of America's youth in a quality Boy Scout program of citizenship training, character development, and fitness.

Source: http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-539.html

[wagionvigil]

Losta of Bears running around in here
A'nt it Great

[riverwalk]

This "lowly" bobwhite will reinforce what the Beaver said. Anyone can go, from any of the programs. I haven't been to the new one yet, but hope to. BSA wants it's Scouters to go through this, so don't let anyone hold you back, if you have other attendance criteria met.

[9009scoutmaster]

This Beaver would say go for it. A member of my patrol wife talked him into going to Woodbadge as a good outing for them to spent together. Didnot work out that since they were in different patrols.

[mt_goodrich]

I've just signed up and sent my money to attend Wood Badge Course SR-837 this upcoming October. I'm looking forward to it.

[owl scouter]

I'm a little late for this post, but want to add my two cents. First, this wise old OWL agrees with everyone else that you should take Wood Badge if at all postible. I completed mine in 1999 and I'm going through the one week course next week. Why? If you want to be on staff for the 21st Century version you must comeplete the new program. This requirement just changed in the last couple years. Wouldn't you know I took it during the last year of the old one. It will still allow me to see the different ways things are done. We did scout skills in the old program, but not in this one. This is leadership.
I'm sure you would like to go through with those from your council, but remember that is not a requirement. If you can make it to another council that has the two weekend program it still counts. Just another option if you need it.
You may want to ask your boss for time off without leave since you are attending excellent leadership training.
I'm getting the whole week off, but if I was staff I would have to take leave. This goes for anyone else out there that works for the US Government.
And remember Wood Badge is a "safe haven" so no more picking on the Bobwhites!

John
I used to be an Owl, C-9-99 (and soon C-30-07)

[riverwalk]

This bobwhite thanks you, haha. Can someone clear this up for me? When asked to surrender the previously owned beads, does this mean simply not to wear them until re-earned?

[dg98adams]

If you aren't big enough to be a BUFFALO, then theres always the other SMALLER critters!