Wood Badge FAQ

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 next in a partnership with Patriot's Path Council.

What are the course dates?
The next course will be held in 2025

What is the cost?
Course fees are set to meet the costs of the course while providing the best training environment for participants.

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 at our camp using both indoor and outdoor facilities. You will be sleeping in tents at the camp.  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.

What if I need a special diet?
Let us know as soon as possible using the Personal Resource Questionnaire that will be sent to you several months before the course. We will do our best to work with you to meet 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, completed within one year of the last day of the course. Please make the Course Director aware of any medical conditions or accommodations needed.

What gear do I need to bring?
A personal equipment list will be provided on the resource link. Experience has shown you should need little to no personal gear you do not already own or could borrow regardless of your experience level in Scouting.

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 hat will be provided, additional shirts or fleeces may be ordered at a future date if you would like purchase.

What if I still have questions?
Please contact your course director.