What is Wood Badge?

Wood Badge is the advanced leadership training in the Scouting America Training Continuum. It is for registered adults in all areas of Scouting: Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Commissioners, District volunteers, and Council members. The only requirements are basic training for your registered position and the desire to learn and have fun.

The course is designed to help you become the best leader you can be — at home, at church, in your community, at work, and, of course, in Scouting. You will gain skills you can use your entire life. We expect the best from our Scouts and they have the right to expect the same from us. Your Scouts need your help now to become the leaders of tomorrow. Wood Badge is a great way to ensure that you are ready to show them the way.

Why Take Wood Badge? 

Wood Badge is designed primarily to further the training of adult leaders in Scouting America.  By continuing the training of these adult leaders, Wood Badge enhances the overall program offered to the youth members in Scouting America and facilitates our goals of youth leadership development.  Participants learn techniques that make them better leaders, and they learn how to lead groups to achieve objectives.  

Who Should Attend?

Wood Badge is high-powered leadership training for adult leaders in all Scouting America programs – Cub Scouting,  Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting – as well as Council and District leaders.  This includes all assistants and committee members.

There are no minimum tenure requirements.  In fact, leaders are encouraged to attend Wood Badge as early in their Scouting careers as they can, preferably within two years of becoming involved.  But long-time Scouters will benefit equally.

Participants must have completed the basic training requirements for their Scouting position. Click here to get additional information on what the basic requirements are.

Spots are very limited. Only 48 of the W. D. Boyce Council’s  hundreds of Scout leaders can be accommodated in each class.