Wood Badge isn’t just another training course. In fact, it’s the best training course, according to Scouters who’ve taken it.
And registration for the next national course — the first since 2022 — is now open.
Wood Badge is Scouting America’s advanced, national leadership course open to Scouting volunteers and professionals who have competed their position-specific training. The course is slated for Nov. 7-12, 2027, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. You can expect the experience to be life-changing.
“Come for the training; leave with a renewed vision, stronger connections and a shared experience that lasts a lifetime,” says Kaleen Deatherage, the national course director and a member of Scouting America’s National Executive Board. “You’ll learn alongside Scouting leaders, gaining perspectives and building relationships few Scouters experience firsthand.”
Why take Wood Badge?
Wood Badge is a unique opportunity to connect with Scouters from around the country while sharing and discovering how to fulfill the mission of Scouting in your unit.
Participants are divided into patrols, and they work together to strengthen their teamwork, communication, project-planning and leadership skills. They leave the course with “a ticket”—five goals designed to help them realize their personal vision of their role in Scouting.
“This is more than time away,” says Deatherage, who’s served on staff for four Wood Badge courses. “It’s time well spent, focused on becoming the kind of leader who builds healthy, thriving units and creates lasting impact.”
Wood Badge basics
One of the biggest takeaways many Scouters report after Wood Badge is that there’s not just one way to do Scouting. Learning from others opens the door for new ideas and better solutions, thus building better programs locally.
At Wood Badge courses, you’ll learn:
- Effective communication and active listening
- Conflict management and team development
- Project planning and how to lead change
- How to understand generational differences and build inclusive teams
- How to lead with vision and purpose
- How to shape stronger teams, stronger units and stronger futures for the Scouts you serve
“Seeing different approaches broadens your perspective and helps you bring new ideas back to your own unit,” Deatherage says. “You’ll leave with the confidence to adapt what works best for your Scouts.”
Added benefits
This won’t just be networking over a weekend — participants will be working together for a week, sharing ideas and building friendships, all in a beautiful part of the country.
The Summit, one of Scouting America’s four high-adventure bases, sits on more than 14,000 acres nestled in West Virginia’s pristine wilderness. It’s also home to the 2026 National Jamboree, which takes place July 22-31.
“Taking Wood Badge at the Summit Bechtel Reserve adds an unforgettable dimension: an inspiring setting built for adventure, connection and growth,” Deatherage says.
To register to get more info, click or scan the QR code.
