Online registration for this event closes two weeks before each session's start date.

Wood Badge is Scouting's premier training course. This leadership training experience is designed to meet the needs of 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 Scouting America. The Wood Badge course focuses on strengthening every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults. It 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 Scouting America 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 skills 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 youth build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to become successful adults and active citizens, with the character and sense of personal responsibility that will lead our nation's future.
* 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 occurs at the conclusion of the practical phase and lasts for no 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 for practicing the 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 model Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring simultaneously in one course.

Although this foundation is used, the course content and leadership principles introduced apply to Scouters in all leadership positions and 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 Scouting America 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 a registered member of Scouting America.

Have completed the basic position-specific training courses for your 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 Scouting America 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.

Winter Woodbadge Course 2027 Wood Badge at D-Bar-A Scout Ranch
 

This course is 2 weekends, Friday to Saturday, February 5-7, 2027, AND Saturday to Sunday, March 6-7, 2027

Both weekends will start at 7:00 AM and close at 5:00 PM.
Participants must attend BOTH weekends to complete training.

Woodbadge Course 2027 Wood Badge C2-780-27-2 at Gerber:

This course is 2 weekends: Friday - Saturday, April 23-25, 2027 AND Saturday - Sunday, May 15-16, 2027
Both weekends will have a start time of 7:00 AM and a closing time of 5:30 PM.
Participants must attend BOTH weekends to complete training.