Wood Badge will make you not just a better Scout leader but provide a dynamic management training experience that will make you more effective and productive in all areas of your life. Every Scout deserves a well-trained leader.
Many Scouters report that Wood Badge is one of the highlights – a mountaintop experience – in their Scouting careers. Don’t just take our word for it. Hear from some past attendees on the importance of Wood Badge Training.
The leadership skills developed in the Woodbadge program are applicable to virtually any role in the public or private sector where good leadership abilities are necessary. How do you train to be a great leader? What skills does a great leader have? While we all can think of someone who we felt was a great leader, we may not understand what qualities that leader possessed. The Woodbadge program unlocks those leadership mysteries and helps you develop a vision of future success for yourself. Not just in the Scouting program, but in your work career as well.
Alan Lohof, Scoutmaster Troop 23 in Billings, retired Billings Fire Department Captain and Fire Science Degree Program Director at MSU-Billings City College.
I would like to share my personal experiences when I participated in Wood Badge back in 2019.
My husband participated in Wood Badge at Grizzly Base in 2017. When he came home, he said it was (the kind of) experience that, when I could go, I needed to attend.
Fast forward to 2019 – Wood Badge was at K-M Scout Ranch and my schedule allowed for me to participate. I was very nervous and a bit overwhelmed. Once there, I was grouped with an amazing patrol, we worked well together off the get-go, learned a lot and had a lot of fun.
We also worked well with the other patrols, feeding off each other. You learn a lot and make lifetime-long friends that you can call on in (times of) need. And it has helped in normal daily life situations as well.
The staff members were helpful and make it fun … and help you to see things in a different light and out-of-the-box at times.
Wood Badge is a must when your schedule allows. You grow both in Scouting and personally.
Lianna Heimbigner, Big Sandy, MT
Wood Badge is the best training experience I have had since I became involved in Scouting. As someone who wasn’t a Scout as a youth, it put me into a Scout’s shoes and put Scouting into perspective.
LeRoy Wosoba W2-315-17-2
I attended Wood Badge during the summer of 2022 at K-M Scout Ranch. Not only was that my first time at K-M Scout Ranch but it was my first experience attending an extended, Scouter-led training. The standard of Wood Badge has shaped how I view every training experience.
Attending Wood Badge was a transformative experience for me. As a participant, I gained invaluable leadership skills and learned how to effectively communicate with others to achieve goals. The program’s learning approach allowed me to put these skills into practice in a supportive and collaborative environment, and I left feeling more confident in my ability to lead both within Scouting and in my personal life.
What sets Wood Badge apart from other leadership programs is its emphasis on creating a strong sense of community and connection among participants. Through team-building activities, small-group discussions, and shared experiences, I developed meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and gained a deeper appreciation for the power of teamwork.
Overall, attending Wood Badge was a truly enriching experience that has had a lasting impact on my life. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to develop their leadership skills and connect with a supportive community of like-minded Scouters. Every young Scout deserves a trained leader, and Wood Badge is the best way to provide that for them.
Blake Chase, District Executive, Helena. MT
All BSA leaders are invited to Montana Council’s 2023 Woodbadge, which will be held at the beautiful Camp Melita Island, on Flathead Lake, near Big Arm, Montana. This is the top leadership course in the BSA for both volunteers and professionals. You will have fun!
When: Aug. 9 – 11 & Sept. 7 – 8, 2024
Where: K-M Scout Ranch
