What is the purpose of Wood Badge?
The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units and America in achieving the mission of the Boy Scouts of America.
What is Wood Badge?
Wood Badge is an advanced, intense, experiential course on small-group leadership. There are presentations, team building activities and games, but there is no dead time – the games are all with a purpose. The course, and working your ticket afterwards, will help you make your Scouting unit stronger, and will also help you in your work, church, family, and everywhere else.
This is not a Troop leader training but is designed for Cub, Scout, Varsity, and Venturing leaders, all parts of the Scouting family. This course will help you better understand how all the Scouting programs tie together. It will provide you with many useful leadership tools to help enable our youth to have the best possible Scouting experience. There is no better time to attend a Wood Badge course and make a difference in your home unit.
Why Wood Badge?
Leadership for Scouting – Leadership for America
Some of the benefits of Wood Badge:
- Stronger units. You will make the Scouting unit you serve — and your sons’ and daughters’ units — stronger.
- What and why of Scouting. You will have a deeper understanding of what Scouting is and why we do it.
- Experience. You will learn and experience things that will stay with you in Scouting and the rest of your life.
- Fun. You will have fun and you will meet interesting people.
- Strengthen other team and groups. You will make your other groups, like work, church, even family, stronger.
Who May Attend Wood Badge?
To attend a Wood Badge course, individuals must:
- Be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America. (Youth 18 and older may attend as long as the appropriate Youth Protection guidelines are followed. They do not need to be registered in an adult leadership role.)
- Have completed the basic training courses for their Scouting position.
- Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. All participants are required to complete the Annual Health and Medical Record form.
Where will the course be held?
This mountaintop leadership development training course will be taking place at the National High Adventure Base, Summit Bechtel Reserve, Glen Jean, West Virginia. Home to the National and International Scout Jamboree.
What are the course dates?
This course takes place Monday, January 20 through Friday, January 24, 2025. All participants are requested to arrive at the Summit on January 19th prior to 6 PM. Dinner will be provided with a guest speaker giving an inspirational discussion that evening.
The course will conclude at approximately 5 PM on January 24, 2025. Participants will be released after the closing ceremony. Participants will be able to spend the night of January 24, 2025 at the Summit and travel home on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
What is the cost?
Course fees are set to meet the costs of the course while providing the best training environment for participants.
The course fee for SBR-24-1 Course is $700. A deposit of $150 is due at the time of registration, with the remainder of the fee due by 11/30/2024.
Refund Policy: Refunds are available up to, but not after, 60 days before the course starts. The only exception would be a family emergency, which would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
When registering online, a credit card payment must be used at the time of registration, this is the only method.
SBR Covid Policy:
Please click on the link for more information about the COVID protocols currently in place at the Summit at Bechtel Reserve. https://www.summitbsa.org/newnormal/
What can I expect while attending the course?
The course involves long days of leadership sessions, presentations and fun! You will be able to check in on family and work at quick intervals but you should not plan for long periods of down time.
Are there prerequisites for attending Wood Badge?
Yes. You must have completed Youth Protection training and the Basic Training course for your current Scouting position. Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters should also have completed the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills as this is required to be trained for your position. Other leaders are encouraged but not required to complete outdoor training appropriate to their position.
Where will I be sleeping?
Training will take place indoors at the new training facilities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. You will sleep in the new lodge bunkhouses. Bedding and towels will be provided by the Summit. Modern restrooms and hot showers will be available.
What about meals?
All meals are provided as part of your course fee. A great menu is planned for the course; prepared meals or ingredients are provided to your team. Your patrol will have the opportunity to prepare one dutch-oven meal towards the end of the course.
What if I need a special diet?
Let us know when you register by including this information in the “List any dietary, physical or other special needs” section of the registration form. We will do our best to work with you to meet the health or religious based dietary needs.
Are there any special medical requirements for this course?
You will need an Annual Health and Medical Record form, including parts A, B, & C (requires Doctor’s signature,) completed within one year of the last day of the course. You may download the form here. Please make the Course Director aware of any medical conditions or accommodations needed and include this information on the registration form where it asks for “dietary, physical, or other special needs.”
What gear do I need to bring?
A personal equipment list can be found here.
What are the uniform requirements?
You will need to wear the full BSA Field Uniform for your current position in Scouting. The field uniform consists of a Scout shirt with proper patches, Scout pants or shorts, Scout belt, and Scout socks. A course shirt and beanie will be provided, additional shirts or fleeces must be ordered before the event. More information will be provided as we get closer to the course.
What do I do with my medical form?
The Summit requires that you bring a paper copy with you and give it to them when you check in. They will shred it at the end of the week.
What if I still have questions?
Please contact your course director.
Gray (female) Troop: christyfreriks@hotmail.com
Orange (male) Troop: jeffery.mauldin@gmail.com