Please share with your districts that information and the online registration for the fall 2011 Wood Badge course is now available (Click Here). 

Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for all Scouters! It is conducted as a two-step process, beginning with six days of practical experiences, consisting of three days focused primarily on indoor experience followed by another three days of outdoor experience. Those participating are exposed to leadership and team-building skills as they apply primarily to adults; but the training parallels the same skills and terminology taught by the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) known within NCAC as Impeesa. Through living in a Scouting atmosphere for an extended period of time, Wood Badge Scouters develop a deeper understanding of the Scouting program, its leadership skills and its methods. They learn that when these skills are applied, along with BSA values, that they can have a profound influence on the lives of the youths in our communities.

To demonstrate an understanding of the leadership skills taught at the course, each participant writes a contract outlining how they will apply the leadership lessons learned in their specific role in Scouting after the practical experience. This contract is called a ticket.

The outdoor experience is followed by a period of up to eighteen months during which the Scouter applies the skills learned during the practical experience in his or her Scouting position – at the unit, district, or council level. Through this period, each Scouter is assigned a counselor who acts as a resource, evaluator, and Scouting mentor to assist the participant in putting into action those points discussed during the course. This is demonstrated by the process known as working your ticket.

Once the ticket is completed to the mutual satisfaction of the participant and the counselor, the Wood Badge Award is presented.

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact me or Mike Meenehan. Staff members for the Fall course may be contacting your Roundtable Commissioner about making a presentation at an upcoming Roundtable.

Typically, NCAC Wood Badge courses fill to capacity with waiting lists - please encourage your districts to register early.

Yours in Scouting Service,
Danielle Ballantine
Course Director
Wood Badge for the 21st Century
N6-82-11-2 Fall 2011 (NCAC Course 82-101)

Page Updated: 08/04/2011