Wood Badge

The Ultimate Training Program

Wood Badge is a premiere leadership training program for all registered Scout Leaders. You read that right — ALL Scout Leaders. Based around the operation of a troop and its patrols, Wood Badge utilizes contemporary leadership concepts utilized in the corporate world that are relevant to Scouting's values. Wood Badge will give you tools that you can not only take back to your unit, but also your job and home.

Wood Badge Pre-Course Orientation

This 30-minute online training will let you know what to expect from a Wood Badge course. This course can be taken by anyone looking to learn more and is a requirement if you're attending the course. (You will need to login at my.scouting.org to access the training through the button or search "Wood Badge" under the catalog in the BSA Learn Center.)

Take the Orientation Now

 

Who may attend?

All registered adult Scouters from Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts over age 18, who meet the following eligibility requirements may attend Wood Badge: 

  • Have completed the basic training courses for their Scouting position. 
  • Have completed the outdoor skills training programs appropriate for their Scouting positions. 
  • Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment.
  • A BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A, B, C) is required. 

Attend all sessions. There are no make-up opportunities. If an attendee has to miss any of the sessions, they will be dropped from the course and asked to return to attend the entire program. 

When is Wood Badge Offered?

Our program is on an eight month rotation with two training course opportunities in odd years and one training course opportunity in even years:

  • Winter 2025
  • Fall 2025
  • Spring 2026

A Wood Badge course leader leads a hike for a a class. Twenty-five or so participants are following in two lines.

Two older adult participants wearing the Scout uniform are playing a team-building game and laughing.

Financial Assistance

If finances are an obstacle for a volunteer considering Wood Badge, there are several sources for financial support. Please review the Wood Badge Financial Aid Application for information about these resources.

Financial Assistance Form

Employer Sponsorship for Wood Badge

Employers may be willing to financially support their employee's attendance at Wood Badge, as a workplace will also benefit from the leadership skills learned. Please share the Wood Badge Employer Letter with your employer to learn whether they might financially sponsor your Wood Badge attendance.

Employer Letter PDF         Employer Letter Word Doc

Become a Course Director

Our Wood Badge Courses are only made possible by our amazing volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please check out our options below to see which position is right for you:

 

Course Director Form        Serve on Course Staff

 

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Current Course    Past Courses

Contact Us

Lee Steffens

Council Wood Badge Coordinator
[email protected]

Dave Arola

Training and Advancement Director
612-261-2333