2025 Wood Badge Training Course

Wood Badge is Scouting's premier training course. It's the ultimate leadership training experience designed to meet the leadership needs for all Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scout and Exploring leaders as well as council and district leaders and Scouting professionals.

Lord Baden-Powell originally designed it so that Scouters could learn, in as practical a way possible, the skills and methods of Scouting. It is first and foremost, learning by doing.

Wood Badge has evolved into the core leadership skills training course for the BSA. The Wood Badge course focuses on strengthening every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults and is less focused on outdoor skills, which are more effectively addressed in other courses.

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending Wood Badge training, participants will do the following:

* Acquire an understanding that Scouting is a family of interrelated, values-based programs providing age-appropriate activities for youth.
* Appreciate that the course models good BSA programs and proven methods for helping young people grow to be responsible citizens.
* Experience the stages of team development and practice leadership approaches appropriate for those stages.
* Assess their own leadership knowledge and skill to consider the strengths and preferences in their own leadership style.
* Understand how Scouting’s methods uniquely meet the needs and preferred learning styles of youth. This understanding helps develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that prepare youth to be successful adults and active citizens, with the character and sense of personal responsibility that ensures leadership for the future of our nation.
* Have a great deal of fun in the company of interesting, talented, and diverse adults who care about the learning and growth of young people.
* Develop a renewed commitment to provide Scouting with the best possible leadership.
* Curriculum and Leadership Skills

Wood Badge training consists of two parts - a practical phase and an application phase. The practical phase is conducted as a troop in a camping setting. Here leadership skills can be learned and practiced as part of life in a troop. The application phase happens at the conclusion of the practical phase for a period of not more than 18 months. During both phases of the Wood Badge course, five central themes are developed:

Living the Values

Growing

Connecting

Guiding

Empowering

Course Delivery

The practical phase of the Wood Badge course reflects unit meetings and uses a unit camping activity as its delivery model. During the course the model Scouts BSA troop will serve as the foundation for training purposes. This is done for several reasons.

The Scouts BSA troop simulation provides a good framework in which to practice leadership skills introduced in the course.

Scouting provides a natural bridge between the various programs and leaders should understand the importance of transition.

It would be difficult, and most likely confusing, to simultaneously model Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Exploring in one course.

It should be noted that although this foundation is utilized, the course content and leadership principles introduced apply to Scouters in all leadership positions and will provide a common foundation of leadership skills to be used throughout all program areas.

Who May Attend Wood Badge

Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for anyone registered with the BSA and 18 years of age or older. This includes adult leaders in all of Scouting’s program areas - Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting and Exploring - as well as council and district leaders. This includes assistant leaders and committee members in all areas.

All leaders are encouraged to attend Wood Badge; there is no minimum tenure requirement.

Since it is advanced training, there are some important requirements. You must...

Be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Have completed the basic position-specific training courses for their Scouting role.

Have completed the outdoor skills training programs appropriate to your Scouting position.

Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment and have a BSA Annual Health and Medical Record - Parts A,B & C completed for this course.

Individuals who have attended Wood Badge, a different version of Wood Badge training, or who did not complete the course may attend Wood Badge again provided that (1) they agree to write and work a Wood Badge ticket; and (2) they agree not to wear Wood Badge beads while they are attending the course.

2025 Winter Wood Badge Course Director:
Matt Majchrzak, Sr. | winterwb2025@gmail.com | 586-524-8462

2025 Spring Wood Badge Course Director:
Jack Faas | cst9.780.25.2@gmail.com | 616-813-4580