Here you will find answers to the most common questions about Wood Badge course content and benefits. Also available is information about dietary accommodations, special physical accommodations during the course, time commitments for Wood Badge, and much more.

What is Wood Badge?

21^st Century Wood Badge is the premier adult leadership development course for the Boy Scouts of America.  Incorporating leadership concepts that are used in the best of corporate America, the course teaches participants the essentials of listening, communicating, valuing people, team development, situational leadership, problem solving, and managing conflict.

We heartily encourage you to learn more about Wood Badge by reviewing our Wood Badge Overview, Themes, and Objectives resources which you can find here.

What is the purpose of Wood Badge?

The ultimate purpose of Wood Badge is to help adult leaders deliver the highest quality Scouting program to young people. The goal is to assist youth in achieving their highest potential. Wood Badge instills in it's participants the very best techniques for developing leadership and teamwork among both young people and adults. You can learn much more about the purpose and benefits of Wood Badge here.

How much time will Wood Badge take?

The first Wood Badge meeting is on Saturday, July 28^th at Hampton Park Christian Church from 11:00 am to mid-afternoon. There are also two, three-day weekends which occur three weeks apart. The first weekend is Friday, August 24^th, through Sunday, August 26^th at Camp Miakonda. The second weekend is Saturday, September 22^th, through Monday, September 24^th at Camp Frontier. Your patrol will have two meetings between the weekend sessions which you scheduled at your convenience.

How much does Wood Badge cost?

The cost of this course is $220 per person. A deposit of $50 is due with the reservation. Full payment is due by July 7, 2007. The cost of this course covers meals, program supplies, and recognition items. The course is limited to forty-eight paid participants.

Please do not let cost deter you from attending Wood Badge. Scholarships are available to those who need a hand. Our Scoutmaster has a variety of sources for scholarship assistance, making assistance available to all Scouters without respect to the council in which you are registered. Should you be interested in scholarship assistance, please contact Course Director Andy Hudec. All inquiries will be held in the strictest of confidence.

Where is Wood Badge?

The July 29^th one-day meeting is in Toledo at Hampton Park Christian Church. The August weekend meeting is at Camp Miakonda, just west of Toledo in Sylvania. The September weekend meeting is at Camp Frontier, which is in Williams County west of Pioneer, Ohio.

How will Wood Badge help me?

Wood Badge will teach you leadership techniques in a "living," hands-on environment. You will be able to apply all you learn to the position you hold in Scouting, as well as your personal life. You will develop a "ticket", which is a written outline of how you will apply your newly learned skills as you continue your involvement in Scouting and your community. Each participant develops her/his own ticket. Developing a ticket is an exercise in goal-setting and outlining the individual steps to personal success. As you complete your ticket you will enhance your leadership skills, as well undertake significant service to Scouting, community, and self.

How do I get my beads?

You will have eighteen months from the end of the practical phase of the course to complete your ticket. When you successfully complete your ticket, your Wood Badge staff members will present you with your Wood Badge beads, a tan neckerchief with the famed MacLaren tartan, a leather "woggle" (neckerchief slide) and a Wood Badge certificate at a special ceremony, which is called a Bead Ceremony.

What will I eat?

Meals are prepared in a variety of ways. On some occassions meals are prepared by our friendly Quartermaster Staff. On other occassions you and your patrol will prepare meals in your campsite. Should you have any special dietary requirements, please tell Course Director Andy Hudec before the first meeting in July. The Quartermaster Staff will be happy to accommodate your requirements.

What do I wear?

Participants will wear a full and proper BSA Class A Boy Scout summer uniform. The BSA official summer uniform consists of a short sleeve uniform shirt, uniform shorts, web or leather Scout belt, and Scout socks (knee socks highly preferred). Please contact Course Director Andy Hudec should you have a medical condition or hold a religious belief which gives rise to concerns regarding uniforms.

Can I be reached at camp in the event of an emergency?

Participants will be advised of emergency contact phone numbers for each of our Wood Badge weekends.

What if I require special physical accommodations?

Wood Badge, as does all of Scouting, makes every possible effort to accommodate those with special needs. Wood Badge may not be for everyone. Wood Badge is, by its very nature, an activity which is conducted primarily out-of-doors. Wood Badge is conducted at a time of the year when it can be hot and humid outside. At times during the course Wood Badge participants will conduct activities in wooded areas, which might affect those with certain allergies. At other times participants will be in open grasslands, which might affect those who are affected by heat. While your Wood Badge staff can provide transportation from one activity area and another, there is little which can be done to alleviate pollen or the summer heat. A BSA Class 3 physical is required for all participants. Your physician must certify that you are in sufficiently good health to participate in Wood Badge. Again, every effort will be made to accommodate those with special needs. Should you have any questions with respect to the physical demands of Wood Badge, please contact Course Director Andy Hudec.

Who are the staff members?

Course Director Andy Hudec has assembled a staff of highly skilled and exceptionally well qualified Scouters who are ready to take you on one of the most incredible journeys in Scouting. You can learn more about this great staff here.

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