Wood Badge 2024

Register Today for Wood Badge 2024!

Weekend 1 - January 13-15 at Camp Edgewood (Dequincy, LA)

Weekend 2 - March 23-24 at Camp Edgewood (DeQuincy, LA)

Wood Badge is the premier adult leadership development course for the Boy Scouts of America. The ultimate purpose of Wood Badge is to help adult leaders deliver the highest quality Scouting program to young people to help them achieve their highest potential.

The course builds on all that has come before it, starting in 1919 with Robert Baden-Powell’s "learn by doing." In rewriting the program, nationally famous training professionals and volunteers took the best of the traditions and experiences of Wood Badge, brought them forward and embellished the course to be enjoyed by today’s participants. Building on the past, understanding the present, and looking to the future, Wood Badge stands ready to provide leadership for Scouting and leadership for America. It draws from a wide range of sources within and beyond the bounds of Scouting to model the best techniques for developing leadership and teamwork among both young people and adults.

How is the course conducted?
Wood Badge teaches contemporary leadership and team-building skills in a comfortable outdoor and indoor setting, where participants begin their experience as Cub Scouts, bridge over into Boy Scouts and form patrols. Participants take part in numerous presentations, discussions, and activities that explore and advance a wide range of leadership philosophies and tools. A key area of exploration is the process of team development. By recognizing the stages through which developing teams must pass, participants will learn to apply appropriate leadership strategies that enable teams to reach their highest levels of performance.

How will Wood Badge help me?
Wood Badge will teach you outdoor skills and leadership techniques in a ‘living,’ hands-on environment, and you will be able to apply all you learn to your Scouting involvement and your personal life. You’ll develop a Ticket, which is a written agreement outlining how you will apply your newly learned skills as you continue your involvement in Scouting. Development of your Ticket is an exercise in goal-setting and includes creating a personal vision and mission statement and outlining individual steps to personal success.

As a result of attending Wood Badge, participants will be able to:

  1. View Scouting globally, as a family of interrelated, values-based programs that provide age-appropriate activities for youth.
  2. Recognize the contemporary leadership concepts utilized in corporate America and leading government organizations that are relevant to our values-based movement.
  3. Revitalize your 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.
  4. Apply the skills you will learn from your participation as a member of a successful working team.

Who can attend Wood Badge training?    
All Adult Scouters: 

  • Cub Scout Leaders
  • Boy Scouts Leaders
  • Venturing Leaders
  • District and Council Leaders
  • Professional Scouters
  • Venturing Youth* age 18+

*Venturing Youth, at least 18 years of age, may attend when recommended by their adult leaders. The Venturing Youth must have completed the Introduction to Leadership Skills Course (ILSC) and Youth Protection Training for Venturing.

What are the qualifications?  
It's NOT just for Scoutmasters. Here are the pre-requisites:

  • Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America
  • Complete basic training courses for your primary Scouting position (see below)
  • Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment
  • Successfully pass the BSA Health & Medical form and bring a copy of this form signed by medical staff to the course

Graduates of previous Wood Badge courses are eligible to participate in the NEW Wood Badge program. 

How much time will Wood Badge take?
Wood Badge is conducted over two weekends scheduled about a month apart. Your patrol will have one or two meetings scheduled at your convenience between weekend sessions.

Where is Wood Badge held?
The course will be held at Camp Edgewood for the first weekend.  We are exploring possibilities in the Three Rivers Council for the second weekend, which is a back country adventure!

What will I need for the course?
You will need personal camping gear, a field (Class A) uniform and a completed current BSA Health & Medical Form Part A, B and C. 

What are the training prerequisites?
You must have completed Youth Protection Training and the basic training requirements for your primary Scouting position. For basic requirements go to: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/Trained_Leader_Positions.pdf

How do I earn my beads?
You will write a Wood Badge Ticket which will be your commitment to complete a set of personal goals relating to your position in Scouting. Upon completing your ticket, some of your Wood Badge staff members will present you with your Wood Badge beads, a tan neckerchief with the MacLaren tartan, a leather “woggle” (neckerchief slide) and a Wood Badge certificate.

Cost? $220 per participant if you register before November 1st.  Regular price is $245.  Late price starts January 1, 2024 @ $260.  It only requires a $50 deposit to save your spot and you can make payments until January 1st for the 2024 course.

Click below to register and please remember that you must attend both weekends in full for course credit.