Course Director's Letter

Letter from the Course Director

Dear Pack, Troop, or Crew Adult:

In 1911, the founder scouting, Lord Baden-Powell, took the first steps in training adults by organizing a series of lectures. He made great strides in the years that followed, culminating in 1919 with the establishment of Wood Badge training. Wood Badge recipients now number more than 100,000 Scouters around the world.

Wood Badge is intended for all registered adults in scouting—Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing, volunteer and professional. The focus is on leadership, not outdoor skills. The objective is to demonstrate the aims and methods of scouting through the presentation of leadership skills, organizational tools, and a variety of activities based on the best of scouting traditions and the latest in team-development theory. Additionally, participants enjoy the fellowship of sharing with other scouters, while having a great deal of fun.

If you are already Wood Badge trained, please share your experience with the other leaders in your unit and pass this information on to them. Participants must be trained to their current Scout position. There are ample opportunities to meet the training requirements needed to satisfy the prerequisite of being “trained to position”. The following are the required “trained to position” modules for attendance at Wood Badge:

Cub Scout Adults

• Youth Protection

• Leader Specific (by position)

Scouts BSA Adults

• Youth Protection

• Leader Specific (by position)

• Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (for Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmasters)

Venturing Adults

• Youth Protection

• Leader Specific (by position)

• Introduction to Outdoor Leaders Skills** (for crews with outdoor programs only)

If you are unsure if you are trained to position, contact your District Training Chair.

By participating in the upcoming Wood Badge course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Understand Scouting as a family of interrelated, values-based programs providing age-appropriate activities for youth,

• Recognize contemporary leadership concepts and discover how these concepts are relevant to our values-based movement,

• Apply the skills you learn from your participation as a member of a successful working team, and

• Revitalize your commitment to Scouting by sharing in an inspirational experience that helps to provide Scouting with renewed leadership to accomplish its mission.

Many scouters consider Wood Badge to be the peak training experience of their scouting careers. It has served as a source of training and inspiration to thousands. In return, Wood Badge participants have positively affected the lives of millions of America’s youth.

The next Mecklenburg County Council (MCC) course, Wood Badge 15-415-22, will be conducted over a total of 5 days at Belk Scout Camp in two sessions: one 3-day session and one 2-day session. The dates are Friday, September 16, 2022 - Sunday, September 18, 2022, and Saturday, October 8, 2022 - Sunday, October 9, 2022.

The cost of the course is $275, and course enrollment is limited to 48 participant on a first-come, first-served basis. Starting January 10, you can register for Wood Badge 15-415-22 by visiting the Mecklenburg County Council Wood Badge website. If you have any issues about attending due to cost or would like to seek an alternative payment schedule, please contact me.

I sincerely hope that you can participate. I am confident that you will enjoy Wood Badge and benefit from the sessions immensely. The Wood Badge experience will enable you to make an even greater contribution as you help to deliver the promise of Scouting.

Should you need more information, I am happy to talk with you. Please feel free to contact me via email: sm.1541522@gmail.com.

Yours in Scouting,

Bob Lang

Bob Lang

Course Director

Wood Badge 15-415-22