Wood Badge
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Wood Badge is considered the top training available for adult leaders in
Scouting. It traces its roots to Baden-Powell's first training of adult
leaders at Gilwell Park in England. Wood Badge participants receive a
special neckerchief (MacLaren tartan) while they are going through Wood
Badge, and upon completion of all elements, receive a separate
neckerchief (tan with tartan) and two wooden beads, to be worn around
the neck.
Wood Badge recently changed its entire syllabus and emphasis, including
elements from Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity and Venturing, and
incorporating corporate-training-style sessions on group dynamics,
leading change, conflict resolution, mentoring, etc. This Wood Badge
for the 21st Century program works to ensure that unit leaders develop
effective leadership and that they understand Scouting's overall
program, values, aims, methods and purpose. It is informational as well
as inspirational and includes a lot of hands-on training via the patrol
method, games, and activities.
During Fall 2002, Doug K., Bill O., and Paul M. went through the
Northeast Georgia Council's first-ever Wood Badge for the 21st Century
course (our course number is SR-476). We completed six days of
training, camping, sessions, team-building activities, etc., and each of
us has worked with a ticket counselor to create a list of five
different ticket items that will help benefit our troop, Scouting, and
ourselves. Upon completion of this ticket, we will have completed our
Wood Badge course and will receive our beads. We are working to do so
within the next year, though we have up to 18 months.
We will be sharing with the troop many of the goals and plans we have
come up with, and look forward to your feedback on their usefulness and
direction. We encourage other adult leaders who have completed adult
leader basic training and position-specific training to consider taking
Wood Badge in upcoming years.
The next Wood Badge Course will be held March 26-28, April 16-18, 2004. Jim Gallagher (Currahee District D.E.) is the advisor. He can be contacted at the Jefferson office at 1.800.699.8806. Earl Whatley is the Course Director.
| Candidate | Ticket | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Bill O. | # 1 | Develop and enhance a Mentoring program for older scouts to assist new and younger scouts with advancement and development of scouting values. |
| Bill O. | # 2 | To lead a crew of scouts and scouters on a backpacking trip to teach backpacking skills, Leave No Trace principles, and team development skills. |
| Bill O. | # 3 | To educate the Troop on Depression in adolescents to help them deal in a more supportive manner with scouts and peers with Depressive Illnesses. |
| Bill O. | # 4 | Teach Leave No Trace principles to scouts and to assist them in working on their LNT awards. |
| Bill O. | # 5 | Self-assessment to invite feedback from Scoutmaster, ASMs, and Troop Committee members on my effectiveness in various areas in my position as Troop Committee Chairman and as an adult volunteer in general. |
| Doug K. | # 1 | Reestablish and maintain the Cherokee District Listservs |
| Doug K. | # 2 | Provide orientation to Troop 149 adults |
| Doug K. | # 3 | Create and maintain website for the Cherokee District |
| Doug K. | # 4 | Take responsibility for maintenance of the NEGA Council's Learning For Life web site |
| Doug K. | # 5 | Compile information about how BSA creates opportunities for scouts with disabilities - put on web site, present information at Roundtable |
| Paul M. | # 1 | Work with the Chaplain's Aides to develop and use a worship-service notebook including nondenominational and nonsectarian resources |
| Paul M. | # 2 | Encourage the completion of conservation-related service projects by the troop |
| Paul M. | # 3 | Work on the Leave No Trace Awareness Award for myself and other Scouts and adults in the troop |
| Paul M. | # 4 | Work with the Assistant Scoutmasters to have them helping with specific areas such as logistics, high adventure, etc |
| Paul M. | # 5 | Invite feedback to the council high adventure director (and my ticket counselor) from troop committee members on how I'm doing in carrying out these tasks and as Scoutmaster in general |