The Greater Western Reserve Council is offering a Wood Badge course in 2008. The Wood Badge training program is the premier advanced leader training, open to ALL registered Scouters in the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity and Venturing Programs. It highlights personal and unit level leadership development with team building and other useful skills. The course is held in attractive outdoor settings and some out-of-door skills will be taught and utilized. Wood Badge is a fun, challenging and inspirational Scouting experience. It emphasizes the following:
  • An up-to-date, contemporary training program for "new volunteers" as well as "veteran" Scouters.
  • An advanced leadership development program for all scouting positions.
  • Participants and staff drawn from Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, District and Council positions.
  • Maintains the spirit and traditions of the long history of Wood Badge courses.
  • Most of all – Simulating and Fun with Diversity of programs and individuals!
Objective of Wood Badge: The objective of Wood Badge is to strengthen Scouting in your unit, district, and council. It demonstrates the Aims and Methods of Scouting and is applicable to all Scouting programs. It takes you through a typical month of a Unit Program, encompassing all of the activities currently practiced by active units: Unit meetings, Pack, Troop and Crew organization, camping, service projects, recognition, high adventure, ceremonies, Scouts Own religious service, outdoor activity planning, youth leadership development and, above all - having fun.
Subjects Covered in the Course: Communications, Listening to Learn, Team Development, Valuing People, Planning, Managing Conflict & How to Lead Change, Coaching & Mentoring, Developing High Performance Teams, Project Planning, Problem Solving, Valuing & Leveraging Diversity and Leading to Make a Difference.

Who is eligible: ALL registered Scout leaders. The course content benefits Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing leaders as well as council and district leaders.

Pre-requisites: You must have completed New Leader Essential Training and the position specific training for your Scouting position. There is no minimum tenure requirement for your position.

Cost: See the application form available on this web page.

Uniform: You will wear the normal uniform for your registered position in accordance with the current BSA Insignia Guide. A course T-shirt and neckerchief will be provided.

Course Size: The course is limited to 56 participants on a first come basis. Register early!

First Weekend: The first three days of the course will be presented in a combination of outdoors sites and a learning center. The format is based on the Boy Scout Troop model with ties to Cub Scout Packs and Venture Crews. The Boy Scout Troop provides a natural bridge between the various programs in scouting and emphasizes the importance of transitions between the three programs. Participants will be housed in adirondacks, cabins (dormitory style) or allowed to tent if they wish. Separate accommodations for male and female participants will be provided in accordance with BSA policy. Staff will prepare the meals.

Weekend Two: The last three days of the course will be presented in an outdoor Troop / Crew camping experience setting. Participants will camp out in tents and practice low-impact camping techniques. Participants will prepare the meals (with food provided by the course).

Wood Badge Ticket: The Wood Badge "ticket" represents the commitment of each participant to complete a set of personal goals relating to their Scouting position. These goals will significantly strengthen the program in which the participant is involved back home. In addition, the ticket gives participants an opportunity to practice and demonstrate a working knowledge of the leadership skills presented during the course. Participants must complete their Wood Badge ticket no later than 18 months after the course.

Recognition: Upon successful completion of the Wood Badge ticket, each participant will be presented with the Wood Badge certificate, neckerchief, woggle and beads. This can be done at an appropriate public ceremony or Scouting event.

Course dates are as follows:

First weekend: August 1st to 3rd, 2008 at Camp Stigwandish

Second weekend: August 23rd to 25th, 2008 at Camp Stigwandish.

Rich Cook is the Scoutmaster/Course Director and his email address is :cookietr55@sbcglobal.net

For More Information: Contact Lynn Mekeel Email: shyfox99@juno.com at phone at 440-897-9043 or the GWRC office at 800-234-SCOUT or 330-898-8474.

Why take Wood Badge Training in the Greater Western Reserve Council?

Great Staff! All of the staff members are very experienced Scouters that have been successful with local units, districts and councils. All have served on many training courses. To provide a diverse and interesting experience, staff members have been selected from four different councils to give you the best Wood Badge Training possible.

Great Participants! That's you! We are encouraging Scouters from all programs, all districts and councils to join together in this unique experience. Diversity of participants fosters greater interests and sharing of ideas.

How To Become A Wood Badge Staffer Lots of people who take Wood Badge watch the staff in action and wonder what it’s like to be a part of a Wood Badge Staff. Let me tell you, it’s a blast! Like anything worthwhile, it requires knowledge, training, teamwork, a great attitude and a willingness to roll up your sleeves at pitch in. In other words, a typical experience in scouting. But Wood Badge is anything but typical! You’ll work among the best that training has to offer; not only in our council but in other councils as well. You’ll meet scouters from all over and truly experience the world brotherhood of scouting in a unique way.

So let me tell you how it works:
First you must take a 21st Century Wood Badge course and earn your beads. You must also attend Trainer Development Conference (offered once a year in March) and then get yourself on a District or Council Training staff. Get to know other trainers and hone your skills.
Once you accomplish those goals, then you’ll be placed on the GWRC Wood Badge Potential Staff list. We meet once a year to update the list and then it is made available to not only our council but to the surrounding ones as well. Being on the list doesn’t guarantee that the next Wood Badge Course Director will choose you for their staff, but you cannot be chosen if you are not on the list!

Intrigued? If you want to know more, feel free to contact me!

Contact Course Director Rich Cook at cookietr55@sbcglobal.net (or phone 330-534-5540)
Assistant Course Director Steve Stefanko at steve@skssolutions.com
or the GWRC Scout Office at 330-898-8474.

GWRC Wood Badge Course C-13-08 Registration

Information Flyer for Wood Badge

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