Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost?

The cost of the course is $325.00; however, participants who register and pay in full by June 30, 2024 will receive a discounted price of $275.  A deposit of $75 is required with registration, and the full fee must be paid to secure your spot on course.  The fee covers food, course materials, participant notebooks, t-shirts, patch, the Wood Badge Award and more! Financial aid is available. Send completed forms to WB.2024.LHC@gmail.com. To Sign Up, CLICK HERE

Do I have to pay to register?

A deposit of $75 is required with the registration.  The full fee must be paid to secure your registration in the course.  To lock in your registration, pay your full fee at time of registration.  Financial aid is available. Send completed forms to WB.2024.LHC@gmail.com. To Sign Up, CLICK HERE

What are the requirments to attend?

To attend Wood Badge, you must meet the following requirements:

1 - Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.

2 - Be 18 years old or older.

3 - Be current with your Youth Protection Training through October 6, 2024.

4 - Complete basic training courses for your Scouting position.

5 - Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment - This requires you to bring a completed BSA Annual Health Form. Part C must be completed by a medical professional.

6 - Be able to attend BOTH weekends.

7 - Come ready to have FUN and Learn!

How do I find out what the basic training courses are I that I need to complete for my scouting position?

CLICK HERE to be redirected to a document on Scouting.org to show the required training for various Scouting Positions.  Most of this training is available online so you can do it at your convenience.  This is also available under the "Documents" section of the "Documents" page.

How many can attend the course?

We are able to accept 48 participants to attend the course.  The first 48 participants to register and pay their full course fee will be able to participate in the course.

What happens if the course fills up?

Once the course is full and cannot accept any more participants, the remaining Scouters who wish to register will be put on a wait list in case a spot opens up.  If a spot doesn't open up, their registration can be transferred to the next Wood Badge course which should be in 2025.

What is expected of me?

Arrive for course in a complete BSA field uniform (shirt, pants, belt) with a positive attitude and a willingness to be exposed to new ideas.  It also helps if you are enthusiastic, can be flexible, and are a team player.  Be willing to share and apply what you learn on course in your unit and district.

Do I need to attend both weekends?

Yes, both weekends are required to complete the course.  

When do I need to show up?

The course starts early on September 13 and October 5.  Please plan to arrive at 7AM on both of these days.  There will be availability for participants to arrive the night before, if desired, so they are ready to go as each weekend starts.

Can I leave during the weekend for other commitments?

No.  The course is packed every day with presentations and activities.  For participants to complete Wood Badge, they must participate in the full program schedule during both weekends.

Can I bring my electronic devices to the course?

Participants are allowed to bring laptops, tablets, etc. to take notes during the course.  However, please note that you will NOT have access to receptacles to charge your devices while using them.  Please plan appropriately.  The course weekends have a very full schedule so there will be minimal time available to check in with personal or work commitments.  Please come prepared to provide your full attention to the course.  Please remember that this course occurs at our scout camps so there is no guarantee that WiFi or cellular signals will be available at either camp.

How can I be prepared for the course?

The best way to prepare for the course is to mentally make a commitment that you are going to attend Wood Badge - block it off on your calendar and discuss it with your family, employer, and unit.  Resolve that except for a "true emergency", you'll be there!  Talk with staffers and recent Wood Badge participants from your unit or district.  Read the promotional material and organize the gear you'll need to bring.  Once you've made your deposit and registered for the course, we'll provide more information, mainly by email.

How does the course operate?

The course will operate as a Cub Scout Pack and a Scouts BSA Troop.  Participants are placed in dens and patrols of no more than 6 individuals.  Also, there will be no more than 8 patrols, for a maximum of 48 participants.  Course will be all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the first weekend and all day Saturday and Sunday for the second weekend.  The first weekend you'll sleep indoors and attend indoor and outdoor activities.  The second weekend you'll sleep outdoors in tents as a patrol and attend indoor and outdoor activities.  The Course will have a Course Director (Scoutmaster), Staff Assistant Scoutmasters, Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Scribes, Quartermasters, Instructors, Health & Safety, and Troop Guides.  All staff members are knowledgeable, caring, and trusted resources for participants.  The course will operate according to a set schedule which will be published in the course newsletter, The Gilwell Gazette.

Why is is so important?

Wood Badge is important because it is the highest level of adult leadership training available to BSA councils.  Have you ever heard the expression, "every youth deserves a trained leader"?  More high trained leaders will deliver a better program and a better experience for our youth; our youth will stay in scouting longer, accomplish more, and have more fun.  If you look at units in our council that are successful, you'll generally find the primary adult leaders are Wood Badge trained.  The converse is also true.  The units in our council that are not living up to their potential usually have a deficiency of trained leaders.

Can youth attend?

Wood Badge is an adult leader training and is open to any registered member of the BSA that is 18 years old or older.  The course will have some Youth Staffers that will assist on the second weekend.  Youth that want to further develop their leadership skills are encouraged to take National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).  NYLT is a leadership program for youth members of the BSA and is the youth version of Wood Badge. More info on the Lincoln Heritage Council NYLT courses can be found at https://lhcbsa.org/nylt/.

What is the age requirement?

Wood Badge is an adult leader training and is open to any registered member of the BSA that is 18 years old or older.  The course will have some Youth Staffers that will assist on the second weekend.  Youth that want to further develop their leadership skills are encouraged to take National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).  NYLT is a leadership program for youth members of the BSA and is the youth version of Wood Badge. More info on the Lincoln Heritage Council NYLT course can be found at https://lhcbsa.org/nylt/.

What will I learn?

Wood Badge is based on 5 themes and 14 leadership competencies.  The themes will cover Growing as an individual and leader, Connecting with others, Guiding and Empowering Scouts and other adult leaders, and Living the Values of Scouting.  The leadership competencies will cover Drive Vision, Mission, and Values; Know Thyself; Communicate Effectively; Include and Optimize Diverse Talent; Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn; Plan with a Bias for Action; Develop Individuals and Teams; Know the Territory; Apply Interpersonal Savvy; Manage Conversations; Coach and Mentor; Embrace and Lead Change; Create a Culture: "Train Them, Trust Them, Let Them Lead"; and Inspire the Heart.  These competencies will fill your "Toolbox" and provide you the needed "Tools" to improve your unit and become a better Servant Leader.  Additionally, you’ll learn a lot from the other participants and Staff. Most importantly, you’ll grow and develop into a more effective leader as you “Work Your Ticket”!

What should I bring?

See the Personal Equipment Lists on the "Documents" page for information on what you should bring to the course.  There is a document for the first weekend and one for the second weekend.  This info will also be sent to participants as we get closer to the actual start of the course.

Do I need to bring cash for the weekends?

All required items are covered by the course fee so you do not have to bring cash for the weekends.  However, you may want to bring some cash to purchase some course SWAG, patches, and other items at our trading post or make a donation to the World Friendship Fund during the Interfaith Worship Service.

Do I need to have a completed BSA health form to attend?

Yes, all participants and staff must submit a completed BSA Health Form including Parts A, B, & C.  Part C must be completed by a medical professional. The BSA Health Form can be found on the "Documents" page.

What precautions will the staff take to keep everyone safe?

The staff will be following all of the council's recommendations for all health and safety concerns.  We take the health and safety of everyone involved with course seriously and have a full time staff member dedicated to Health & Safety.  More information will be available and communicated as we get closer to the start of the first weekend.

What method of communication will the course use?

While the course will attempt to keep this website updated, the primary means of communication that the course will use will be email.  As course approaches, emails with info will be sent out to registered participants so it is important that you provide an email address that you monitor.  Once the course starts, your Troop Guide will be your primary point of contact for the course and also as you "work your ticket".

What is the course number?

The official BSA course number for our course is 14-205-24.  14 represents the national territory of the BSA where the council is located, 205 is the council number for Lincoln Heritage Council, and 24 is the 2 digit year the course occurs in.

What is the "Ticket" that I have heard about?

The purpose of the Wood Badge experience is to strengthen Scouting in our units, our District and our Council. The Wood Badge "ticket" represents each Participant’s self-directed commitment to complete a set of five personal goals relating to that individual's Scouting position. These goals will significantly strengthen the program in which the Participant is involved.  In addition, the Ticket gives participants an opportunity to practice and demonstrate a working knowledge of the leadership skills presented during the course. Participants should complete their Wood Badge ticket no later than 18 months after the course.  There will be a lot of discussion about tickets during the course.  You may want to talk to your youth and unit leaders about potential ideas for goals to improve your unit.  Please note, that your ticket goals have to be new items and not something you are already doing, so don't start working on it until your "ticket" is approved by your Troop Guide and you have finished the second weekend of course.

What if I have a question not listed here?

Please reach out to the Course Director/Scoutmaster, Ron "Sweetheart" Corbett, at WB.2024.LHC@gmail.comRon will be glad to answer any questions you may have.