The adult scout training program called Woodbadge program, what it is, and why you should participate.
Show Notes:
- About Woodbadge
- Why Woodbadge? – Scouting Magazine
- Wood Badge Critter Gear
- Woodbadge t-shirt
Transcript:
Wood Badge is an advanced, national leadership course for Adult Scouters.
The general goal of woodbadge is to give you the tools to go back to your unit as a resource that has a greater understanding of the program, of leadership and with a deeper connection to the scouting movement.
If you truly internalize your time at woodbadge they say you have drunk the cool aid, which is not a bad thing. It means you are passionate about the program for the betterment of scouting.
I took woodbadge a number of years ago, and I still keep in touch with my woodbadge patrol, that’s the group of scouters not unlike yourself who participate at the same time.
Woodbadge done right lets you form a deep connection to the others in your patrol, and let you really internalize the learning modules and tasks you undertake within the program.
Like anything you take on, you need to put your will and energy into it. If you don’t your experience will differ dramatically.
While my goal here is not to give away any of the “secrets” uncovered through the woodbadge process, I will outline the general program.
As I mentioned, when you join, you are placed in a patrol, and you get very attached to your patrol, the people and the critter you embody. I myself am a proud bobwhilte, which is sort of a small bird. The common critters include Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, Fox, Owl, Bear, Buffalo and Antelope, and good nature rivalries happen between the groups.
The program is set up for you to progress through the cub scout program, to graduate into the boy scout program and work through the boy scout program, as a general theme. Along the way there are learning sessions and practical sections, where you do service, cook, camp, and do a group project.
After the main program is over, you continue your journey though what is called a woodbadge ticket, which is a set of tasks under a general theme you decide on.
Once you complete your tasks, or ticket, you are awarded your woodbadge beads which signify your completion of the program. But many woodbadgers never complete their ticket, sure they finish, but will continuously work their ticket, after they have gotten their beads – improving the program.
I look back fondly on my woodbage experience, as many woodbadgers do, even years later. If you haven’t taken training, I would suggest you sign up. You can look at it as a very selfish thing to do, as most of the scouting program is aimed at the boys, and this is aimed at you. Sure you use the knowledge gained to improve the program, but in my opinion, that is a side benefit. But, this is what worked for me.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together. I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was a bit on woodbadge.
