Frequently Asked Questions

I will update this with answers to your questions as they come in.

Q: How do I sign up for Wood Badge NE-IV-214?

A: Print a copy of the application form and send it in right away. There is a limit to the number of participants who can register so send in your application soon to hold your spot. Applications received after the course is filled will be held on a wait list and admitted in the order they were received if anyone has to drop out. A $50 refundable deposit will hold your spot on the course.

Q: When is Wood Badge at GPC this year (NE-IV-214)?

A: Wood Badge will occur on September 5-7 and September 26-28, 2008. The two 3-day weekends are all part of the same course. You need to attend both weekends.

Q: I'm awfully busy. is Wood Badge really worth it?

A: Yes.

Q: Okay, why is is worth it?

A: The history of Wood Badge is the history of Scouting. The first Wood Badge course was organized by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of all Scouting. He saw that no matter how talented, motivated, and dedicated the adult leaders of Scouting were, they would benefit from a consistent program of adult Scout leadership training. Wood Badge is that program.

So Wood Badge is worth it because it helps to prepare and develop better adult Scout leaders. There is more to it than just that (though that is probably enough!). Wood Badge provides a set of experiences, links, ideas, resources, and networks among Scout leaders that benefit all of the units they represent and thus all of the youth involved in Scouting.

Furthermore, since leadership skills are useful and valuable in almost every aspect of your life, including Scouts, your work, at home, in your community, in your church, and so forth, the personal benefits you get from Wood Badge are much, much greater than just  better Scout units. You will be surprised to find yourself using these skills everywhere in your daily life.

With all of that, the truth is that Wood Badge is also really a terrific amount of fun. Not only is that a worthwhile thing by itself, it is also an example of what the youth should be experiencing in your Scouting program.

Q: I'm just not sure I should go to Wood Badge.

A: Look at it this way, if you are already at your full potential as a Scout leader, then Wood Badge will be a tremendous amount of fun and a source of useful contacts. It's a reward for the great job you are doing.

If you are doing pretty well as a Scout leader but sometimes feel like things don't go as well as you would like, then Wood Badge offers you the opportunity to learn skills that have already been proven to work when they are used properly. In addition, you will have a chance to meet and talk to other leaders from all over the Council and pick their brains for ideas, and finally, you will have a really fun time that you will probably find is contagious when you go back to your home unit. 

Q: What about this "Ticket" thing I keep hearing about?

A: Ah, the Ticket. Scouters are by nature very busy people and are naturally concerned about taking on yet another project. I think it is important to note, first of all, that Wood Badge is not a "wash out" course. We want you to be successful. We are not trying to set you up to "almost" get your beads. The staff of NE-IV-214 in general, your Troop Guide and Home Ticket Counselor especially, and just about everyone you see walking around with beads around their necks are all eager to help you.

The Wood Badge Ticket is intended to be "do-able." During the weekends, you will gets lots of help and guidance in establishing your ticket to keep it do-able, even if it means reigning in your natural enthusiasm.

Put concretely, the Wood Badge Ticket is a set of five goals that you set for yourself to complete during the 18 months after the weekends are done in September. None of the goals are supposed to actually take 18 months, the idea is that you spread them out to make it easier on yourself. None of your Wood Badge Ticket goals should be to do things like cure cancer, solve the problem of homelessness, or establish world peace. The Ticket goals should be things that allow you to use some of the skills that you acquire during the weekends.

The goals are things that fit with your identified current primary position in Scouting. In other words, if you sat down and wrote up a plan for how you will do your job in Scouting in the coming year-and-a-half, how you intend to meet the responsibilities you have already agreed to take on in your position, you would probably have a rough draft of some ticket goals.

Again, throughout the course you will gets lots of information, support, and guidance in creating a Ticket. If you are managing to be active as a Scout leader then you can complete a Wood Badge Ticket.

Q: What are the requirements for someone to attend Wood Badge?

A: A list of the requirements and links to necessary forms.

Q: What should I pack for my fun-filled weekends at Twin Echo?

A: As a general rule, you should pack the stuff you would normally take for a weekend campout. You can find a more specific list of ideas for things to bring here.

Q: How can I send you a question?

A: You can click on the Contact Us link on the Home page and send in your question. You can also send an email directly to the Course Director for NE-IV-214 at: course.director(at)ne-iv-214.lrbp.org