Wood Badge

It is our pleasure to extend a personal invitation to you to participate in the Wood Badge training experience, where you will have an opportunity to share Scouting while developing your group leadership and team-building skills.

 

If you have been looking for a way to take your adult leadership skills to the next level, this is it! This is not outdoor skills training, this is developing your personal skills of group leadership. The Wood Badge course is only offered every two years and the training team is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality BSA training and personal growth experiences, using Wood Lake Scout Reservation and Camp Topenebee as our bases.

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Wood Badge
2025 Dates:  September 26, 27, 28 and October 11,12.

**** Participants must attend both weekends in order to receive credit for this course ***

The first weeknd of training is September 26-28 and will be held at Camp Tamarack in Jones, Michigan. 

• Training will begin on Friday at 8:00am and finish on Sunday by 5pm. 

The second weekend of training is October 11-12 will be at Camp Topenebee in Michigan City, Indiana. 

• Training will begin on Saturday the 11th at 8:00am and finish on Sunday by 5pm. 

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2025 Event Costs:

Scouting America Members - $300 (includes $50 non-refundable deposit)

Staff - $150 

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Wood Badge is the BSA’s premiere leadership training for adults.

It provides six days of hands-on experience in the theory & practice, of skills appropriate for leading others, both within Scouting and in environments beyond the BSA.

Wood Badge is designed to deliver immediate value to leaders involved throughout the Scouting Program.

Your course will be facilitated by the best of the best. Proven leaders and experienced trainers, your staff will consist of men and women from all parts of scouting and from all walks of life. They are a diverse group of seasoned scouters.

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, you will receive your certificate and Wood Badge beads, neckerchief and woggle.

The Wood Badge experience has served as a source of inspiration and a practical guide to tens of thousands, who have earned their beads.

 

Who can attend?

To attend a Wood Badge course, you must:
1. Be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America. (Youth 18 and older may attend as long as the appropriate Youth Protection guidelines are followed.) 
2. Have completed the basic training courses for your Scouting position.  Required Training by position.
3. Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. All participants are required to complete the Annual Health and Medical Record form (available at www.scouting.org). Parts A, B, and C are required. Based on the stresses of the course, part C should always be used.

 

Purpose of Wood Badge

The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units in achieving the mission of the Scouting America.

When we accomplish the mission of Scouting, we do it in the units. Therefore, the short form of the purpose is, the purpose of Wood Badge is to strengthen units.

Although the course is different today, what Baden-Powell said in 1919 still applies:

One of the purposes of Wood Badge training is to get Scouters to think about the practice of Scouting, to meet together, to exchange experiences, and to live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath.

 

 

 

Staff Dates Will Include:

Staff Orientation: June 7, 8-12 Noon (at LaSalle Council Office)

First Weekend: July 11-13 (Camp Topenebee)

Second Weekend: August 15-17 (Camp Tamarack)