Course Information
April 11-13, 2025
and
May 3-4, 2025
Pipsico Scout Reservation
57 Pipsico Road
Spring Grove, VA 23881
Wood Badge is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide adult members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their Scouting positions and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Lord Baden-Powell originally designed it so that Scouters could learn, in as practical a way as possible, the skills and methods of Scouting. It is first and foremost, learning by doing.
Wood Badge has evolved over the years into the core leadership skills training course for Scout leaders. The Wood Badge course focuses on strengthening every volunteer’s ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults and is less focused on outdoor skills, which are more effectively addressed in other courses.
Why Wood Badge?
Wood Badge helps adult leaders learn how to effectively run their unit. Whether you are from Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Explorers, or district and council Scouters, all are welcome and belong here. Benefits of being Wood Badge Trained include:
- Stronger units. You will make your Scouting unit — and your sons’ and daughters’ units — stronger.
- What and why of Scouting. You will have a deeper understanding of what Scouting is and why we do it.
- Experience. You will learn and experience things that will stay with you in Scouting and the rest of your life.
- Fun. You will have fun and you will meet interesting people.
- Other groups. You will make your other groups, like work, church, even family, stronger.
- Connections. You will also get the great opportunity to connect with other new and experienced Scouters.
When to Take the Course
Scouters can take the Wood Badge Course at any time, provided they have completed the requirements.
Requirements to attend are:
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America and age 18 or older.
- Have completed the basic position-specific training courses for your Scouting role.
- Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. All participants are required to complete the Annual Health and Medical Record. Parts A, B, and C are required, including the physical.
