Purpose:
Wood Badge is Scouting’s leadership training course for Scouters who are at least 18: Cub Scout/Boy Scout/Venturing leaders, Venturing youth (at least 18),  district and council volunteers, and professional Scouters.

The object of a Wood Badge course is to demonstrate as practically as possible the aims and methods of Scouting.  The six-day course is a multi-faceted presentation of leadership skills, organizational tools, and participatory activities based on the best of Scouting traditions and the latest team-development theory.  In addition, participants enjoy the fellowship of learning alongside many other volunteer and professional Scouters, and along the way will have a great deal of fun.

Because of your commitment to Scouting, you may be a candidate to participate in Wood Badge. This will be a tremendous opportunity for you to:


Many Scouters consider Wood Badge to be a peak experience of their Scouting careers.  Wood Badge has served as a source of training and inspiration to to thousands.  In return, Wood Badge participants  have had a profound, positive influence on  the lives of millions of America’s youth. 
Program:
The Wood Badge program consists of two parts: Practical Training and the Application Phase. 

The Practical Training is a 6-day outdoor experience where the Scouter lives as a member of a den/patrol, practices skills of leadership, and learns how these skills apply to a leader who is developing youth through the Scouting program. Through living in this setting for this extended period of time, they develop a Scouting spirit and zeal for the program that motivates them to do a  better job in the Scouting task they have accepted. 

During the Practical Training all participants develop a “Ticket.”  This Ticket will help you  develop a vision for your contribution to the mission of Scouting, and then help you develop  goals and execute a plan to achieve that vision. 

A Ticket Counselor from your council is appointed to provide assistance and guidance as this Ticket is worked. The “working of the ticket” is called the Application Phase of Wood Badge. 

Location and Time:
The Practical Training portion of the course is given at Alpine Scout Camp, Alpine, NJ over two three-day weekends. 

Two mandatory den/patrol meetings will be held between the two weekends. The time and place of the meetings will be decided by your den/patrol on the first weekend. 

The Application Phase is completed at home. Each participant has up to 18 months after the Practical Training to complete the Application Phase by meeting the goals they establish in their Ticket. 

Qualifications:
Each Scouter who participates in Wood Badge training must be registered in the BSA and have completed the training appropriate to their position in Scouting.  Because of the nature of the Wood Badge training, these requirements may not be waived.