Wood Badge - Part 1
Originally posted on 01/27/2018
Have you been through Wood Badge? Wood Badge is for Scouting leaders mostly, but anyone that wants premium leadership training should really go. I had never heard of it until Larry, my husband, told me about it several years ago. He had gone through, but because of some unfortunate events, he could be awarded his honor, known as beads. We were able to go buy them for him, and he was grateful to finally have them.
I was an Assistant Den Leader and Assistant Webelos Leader back in the late 1990's. I loved every minute of it! We had tons of fun helping the boys to earn their different awards and even the World Conservation Award. I was sad when I had to quit because I was getting ready to move. I didn't realize that I could have asked a local unit to volunteer my time with after the move. I did my leadership through my church, and thought that's how scouting was done.
Early in 2017, I found a paper regarding upcoming Wood Badge dates on the bulletin board in the teacher's lounge of my school. I was ecstatic to see there was an opportunity to go! The only problem was that I wasn't involved with the scouts in any way. I went to my Bishop, Larry by my side, and told him I had loved being involved with the Cub Scouts back in the day. He was very pleased to hear this, as it is difficult to get people who want to work with the Cub Scouts. Now, Larry had told me for years that he would never tell anyone about the fact that he had been in solved with Scouts years ago, hence the reason he was able to participate in Wood Badge in the 1990's. While we were talking with our Bishop, Larry mentioned that he loved going to Wood Badge... realizing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth, but the Bishop had already heard what he needed. :)
Fast forward to a week before the deadline to register for Wood Badge, and Larry and I were asked to be the Webelos Den Leaders. I immediately contacted the director for the course I wanted to take, telling him that it would be a short while before my paperwork went through, but that I wanted in the course. My spot was held and I prepared.
Larry and I love to be outdoors when the weather warms up. Here in Southeast Idaho it is bitterly cold in the winter, typically, so hiking and camping are not options for us. We are tent campers, and use really warm sleeping bags that Larry bought years ago. We actually had to buy a new tent last year. While looking through Walmart, we happened upon what looked to be a nice few tents, and determined that the less expensive one that was bigger than most was what we would try. It was perfect! From the outside it didn't look too roomy, but once we stepped inside, it felt like Mr. Weasley's borrowed tent in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" - plenty of space to set up a cot, had room on both sides of the tent so food bin went on one side and the luggage went on the other. It even has a spot to run an electrical cord outside if need be. It's not a tent that can be brought on a backpacking trip, because it is too heavy, but for us when we go camping, it is wonderful! There is a net at the highest spot that can hold small items such as a phone, that also has a small hook for a lantern. At the sides near where you sleep there are extra hanging pockets to hold personal items such as watches, phones, glasses, keys, etc. I'm very pleased with the purchase of this tent and definitely recommend it to those with multiple kids or couples such as ourselves.
The other thing I knew I would need for Wood Badge, is a good hiking backpack. Eventually we would like to go back country backpacking, so we invested in a sturdy one for me. One thing that I love about it is the number of pockets to put things in. I love stashing things, but the only problem with that is remembering where I stashed them! Haha! The backpack is a neutral gray color and the flap that keeps stuff from getting wet is also a pocket. It fits perfectly against my back, offering support in all the right places, and has a clasp at the chest area as well as the waist to help balance out the weight and support. When I had all of my clothing, mess kit, flashlights and more for Wood Badge tucked neatly away, the weight was relatively easy to manage for me. I have a few extra pounds that I need to get rid of, so I cannot carry too much extra, but this backpack helped me in all the places it needed to. I highly recommend it!
The day finally came for me to attend the Wood Badge course. August 2017 in Island Park, Idaho at the Island Park Scout Camp. I went up a day early so I would be able to settle in before it started first thing the next morning. The drive into the camp was an adventure in and of itself! It's a gravel road all the way in, with lots of potholes. Our Ford Taurus did a great job getting me in, even if I did only go 15 mph or less! When I got to where I thought I needed to go, I had gone to the wrong part. Family campers were parked with their RVs everywhere. So I turned back around and went in the other driveway. I grabbed up all my stuff, hiked into the camp and found my registration spot. They told me where I needed to go, but upon actually trying to find my way into our camp, I got turned around. I am my mother's daughter after all!
I finally found someone that knew where I needed to go. There were literally hundreds of people there at this camp. Many different scout leader camps were being held the same week there, as well as camps for youth and families. When we found the Wood Badge camp, I then had to find the director so I could know where to go from there. I brought a small backpacking tent with me, but it turned out they placed Scout tents up for each lady attending in one area, and the men in another area. When I finally got settled in a little, I took my little tent back to the car so it wouldn't get in the way. I found out there was to be a Beading Ceremony for one of the Troop Guides that evening. I was allowed to attend and it was so special to me, that when I complete my Ticket, which is a series of five goals, I want to go "Back to Gilwell" and have my ceremony there.
Part 2 will feature the highlights of my experience during the next six days.
Have you been through Wood Badge? Wood Badge is for Scouting leaders mostly, but anyone that wants premium leadership training should really go. I had never heard of it until Larry, my husband, told me about it several years ago. He had gone through, but because of some unfortunate events, he could be awarded his honor, known as beads. We were able to go buy them for him, and he was grateful to finally have them.
I was an Assistant Den Leader and Assistant Webelos Leader back in the late 1990's. I loved every minute of it! We had tons of fun helping the boys to earn their different awards and even the World Conservation Award. I was sad when I had to quit because I was getting ready to move. I didn't realize that I could have asked a local unit to volunteer my time with after the move. I did my leadership through my church, and thought that's how scouting was done.
Early in 2017, I found a paper regarding upcoming Wood Badge dates on the bulletin board in the teacher's lounge of my school. I was ecstatic to see there was an opportunity to go! The only problem was that I wasn't involved with the scouts in any way. I went to my Bishop, Larry by my side, and told him I had loved being involved with the Cub Scouts back in the day. He was very pleased to hear this, as it is difficult to get people who want to work with the Cub Scouts. Now, Larry had told me for years that he would never tell anyone about the fact that he had been in solved with Scouts years ago, hence the reason he was able to participate in Wood Badge in the 1990's. While we were talking with our Bishop, Larry mentioned that he loved going to Wood Badge... realizing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth, but the Bishop had already heard what he needed. :)
Fast forward to a week before the deadline to register for Wood Badge, and Larry and I were asked to be the Webelos Den Leaders. I immediately contacted the director for the course I wanted to take, telling him that it would be a short while before my paperwork went through, but that I wanted in the course. My spot was held and I prepared.
Larry and I love to be outdoors when the weather warms up. Here in Southeast Idaho it is bitterly cold in the winter, typically, so hiking and camping are not options for us. We are tent campers, and use really warm sleeping bags that Larry bought years ago. We actually had to buy a new tent last year. While looking through Walmart, we happened upon what looked to be a nice few tents, and determined that the less expensive one that was bigger than most was what we would try. It was perfect! From the outside it didn't look too roomy, but once we stepped inside, it felt like Mr. Weasley's borrowed tent in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" - plenty of space to set up a cot, had room on both sides of the tent so food bin went on one side and the luggage went on the other. It even has a spot to run an electrical cord outside if need be. It's not a tent that can be brought on a backpacking trip, because it is too heavy, but for us when we go camping, it is wonderful! There is a net at the highest spot that can hold small items such as a phone, that also has a small hook for a lantern. At the sides near where you sleep there are extra hanging pockets to hold personal items such as watches, phones, glasses, keys, etc. I'm very pleased with the purchase of this tent and definitely recommend it to those with multiple kids or couples such as ourselves.
The other thing I knew I would need for Wood Badge, is a good hiking backpack. Eventually we would like to go back country backpacking, so we invested in a sturdy one for me. One thing that I love about it is the number of pockets to put things in. I love stashing things, but the only problem with that is remembering where I stashed them! Haha! The backpack is a neutral gray color and the flap that keeps stuff from getting wet is also a pocket. It fits perfectly against my back, offering support in all the right places, and has a clasp at the chest area as well as the waist to help balance out the weight and support. When I had all of my clothing, mess kit, flashlights and more for Wood Badge tucked neatly away, the weight was relatively easy to manage for me. I have a few extra pounds that I need to get rid of, so I cannot carry too much extra, but this backpack helped me in all the places it needed to. I highly recommend it!
The day finally came for me to attend the Wood Badge course. August 2017 in Island Park, Idaho at the Island Park Scout Camp. I went up a day early so I would be able to settle in before it started first thing the next morning. The drive into the camp was an adventure in and of itself! It's a gravel road all the way in, with lots of potholes. Our Ford Taurus did a great job getting me in, even if I did only go 15 mph or less! When I got to where I thought I needed to go, I had gone to the wrong part. Family campers were parked with their RVs everywhere. So I turned back around and went in the other driveway. I grabbed up all my stuff, hiked into the camp and found my registration spot. They told me where I needed to go, but upon actually trying to find my way into our camp, I got turned around. I am my mother's daughter after all!
I finally found someone that knew where I needed to go. There were literally hundreds of people there at this camp. Many different scout leader camps were being held the same week there, as well as camps for youth and families. When we found the Wood Badge camp, I then had to find the director so I could know where to go from there. I brought a small backpacking tent with me, but it turned out they placed Scout tents up for each lady attending in one area, and the men in another area. When I finally got settled in a little, I took my little tent back to the car so it wouldn't get in the way. I found out there was to be a Beading Ceremony for one of the Troop Guides that evening. I was allowed to attend and it was so special to me, that when I complete my Ticket, which is a series of five goals, I want to go "Back to Gilwell" and have my ceremony there.
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