Wood Badge for the 21st Century

The Objectives of Wood Badge

Wood Badge has four specific objectives: As a result of attending Wood Badge, participants will be able to:

• View Scouting globally, as a family of interrelated, values-based programs that provide age-appropriate activities for youth.

• Recognize the contemporary leadership concepts utilized in corporate America and leading government organizations that are relevant to our values-based movement.

• Apply the skills they learn from their participation as a member of a successful working team.

• Revitalize their commitment by sharing in an overall inspirational experience that helps provide Scouting with the leadership it needs to accomplish its mission on an ongoing basis.

Wood Badge Five Central Themes

The themes that follow encapsulate the course content of Wood Badge for the Twenty-First Century.

1. Living the Values
   —Values, Mission, and Vision
   —Aims and Methods
    

2. Bringing the Vision to Life
   —Listening to Learn
   —Communicating
   —Giving and Receiving Feedback
   —Valuing People and Leveraging Diversity
   —Coaching and Mentoring
    

3. Models for Success
   —Team Development Model
   —Situational Leadership
    

4. Tools of the Trade
   —Project Planning
   —Problem Solving
   —Managing Conflict
   —Assessing Team Performance
   —Managing Change
   —Celebrating Team Success
    

5. Leading to Make a Difference
   —Leaving a Legacy
   —Learning the Greatest Leadership Secret

Wood Badge Overview and Delivery

Course Overview:

Wood Badge for the 21st century may be delivered to all Scout leaders. It has been developed for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Venturing leaders, as well as council and district leaders. Its focus is on leadership, not out-of-door skills. The following information is designed to provide you with key information and to help your council roll out the new course

Course Delivery:

The first part of the new Wood Badge course reflects unit meetings, while the second part of the course uses a unit camping activity as its delivery model.During Wood Badge, the model Boy Scout troop will serve as a laboratory for training purposes. This is done for several reasons:

• The Boy Scout troop simulation provides a good framework in which to practice the leadership skills introduced in the course.

• Boy Scouting provides a natural bridge between the various programs in Scouting, and leaders should understand the importance of transition.

• It would be difficult and most likely confusing to simultaneously model Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing in one course.

What is a Wood Badge Ticket?

During the years preceding Scouting, British soldiers who were stationed overseas had to earn their passage or ticket home after their term of service was complete. This is why it is called a TICKET, but just what is it?

A ticket is a contract between you and a member of the staff usually referred to as a Troop Guide or Ticket Counselor. This contract is your commitment to practice using the Leadership Skills taught at Wood Badge in the performance of your Scouting job.

Purpose of a Ticket

The purpose of a Wood Badge Ticket is to help you realize your personal vision of your role in Scouting. Ideally, you will write your ticket around your primary job in Scouting.
 

Parts of a Ticket

A Ticket Consists of Four Parts:

• A list of your personal values

• A description of your Scouting role or job

• A statement of your vision of success

• A mission composed of five significant goals that can be attained within 18 months.

How do I answer those questions?

-You will be given at some point the following questions to answer to -help you focus and develop your Scouting vision.
-Set aside time to think seriously about the following questions.
-Answer the questions as fully and honestly as you can.
-Write down your answers and bring them to the Wood Badge course. You will find them to be a helpful reference
-Don't worry about what the "right" answers are or about satisfying someone else's idea of how you should respond. No one except you will see what you write.

The questions:

1. What do I feel are my greatest strengths?

2. What strengths do others notice in me?

3. What do I most enjoy doing?

4. What qualities of character do I most admire in others?

5. Who is a person who has made a positive impact on my life?

6. Why was that person able to have such significant impact?

7. What have been my happiest moments in life?

8. Why were they happy?

9. If I had unlimited time and resources, what would I choose to do?

10. When I daydream, what do I see myself doing?

11. What are the three or four most important things to me?

12. When I look at my work life, what activities do I consider of greatest worth?

13. What can I do best that would be of worth to others?

14. What talents do I have that no one else really knows about?

15. If there are things I feel I really should do, what are they?

16. What are my important roles in life?

17. In each of those roles, what are my most important lifetime goals?

18. In five years, what role do I see for myself in Scouting?

19. What would I really like to be and to do in my life?

20. What are the most important values I use to guide and motivate my actions?

Realization of your vision

You should not expect that you will realize your vision immediately upon completion of the five goals; reaching your goals is an initial part of a long-term work in progress.

Diversity

At least one goal must address increasing diversity within the Boy Scouts of America.
 

Evaluating Ticket Items

All ticket items should be S M A R T. The preceding acronym may be used by you and your Troop Guide or Ticket Counselor to evaluate a good workable ticket item. Hopefully these questions will help you to evaluate the items you might select for your ticket.

“SMART”(specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely)

Specific - Describe this Ticket Goal in enough detail so that you and your ticket counselor now specifically what is to be done; how it is important, or how it will have an impact on the program. Is it challenging?
Measurable - Describe how this Ticket Goal is Measurable. How will you know when the goal has been accomplished?

Attainable - Describe how this Ticket Goal is Attainable. Can it be accomplished?
Relevant - Describe how this Ticket Goal is Relevant. How does it relate to your Scouting job?
Timely - Describe how this Ticket Goal is Timely. Can it be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time? “A Goal Without a Deadline is Only a Dream!”
 

Application of Leadership Skills

Remember the old saying "Practice Makes Perfect?"  Well that applies to your Wood Badge Ticket too.  If you look at your ticket as the opportunity to practice using the Skills of Leadership presented at Wood Badge then there is a much higher chance that they will become a part of your leadership style.

Think of how you could use the Team Development Model to build a new Pack or Troop Committee.  Hey that's a ticket item!

In writing your ticket it will help if you list the skills you can use to accomplish your goals. It is not required that you incorporate all of the skills presented during the course into your goals.