Wood Badge History
On the morning of September 19, 1919, Lord Robert Baden-Powell blew a kudu horn at Gilwell Park on the edge of Epping Forest near London. Thus began the world's first Wood Badge course. Since that day, wherever Wood Badge is held, it is on Gilwell Field. Over 100,052 people have attended Wood Badge in courses held around the world. Upon completion, a Scouter receives a certificate and two beads, and becomes a permanent member of Troop 1, Gilwell.
The two wooden beads replicate the beads obtained by Baden-Powell during a campaign in Africa in 1888. These originally belonged to Dinizulu, an African chieftain. In searching for a suitable recognition for the men who completed his first course, Baden-Powell remembered the beads and decided to present a bead to each participant. From then on, the course was called "Wood Badge."
The course first came to the United States in 1936. Held at the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey, it still had a strong British flavor, complete with menus heavy on foods that had been boiled for several hours. The Americans were less than enthusiastic. A war intervened and then in 1948, a revised American course was offered for the first time at Schiff. It was a major success in spite of rain on four of the nine days of the course.
The first four patrol names, which are animals found all over the US, were introduced at the course--Eagle, Bobwhite (called quail around here), Fox and Beaver. The course featured a kudu horn like the original course and the tradition has continued for every course since as one of the respected symbols of Wood Badge. During the early years of Wood Badge through the end of the century, the course focused on scoutcraft, how to teach it to boys, and how to run training courses. The Wood Badge for the 21st Century course which was developed in 2001 now brings together leaders from all areas of Scouting--Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing to learn leadership skills within the spirit of the Scout Oath. Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, the course also draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country.
The two wooden beads replicate the beads obtained by Baden-Powell during a campaign in Africa in 1888. These originally belonged to Dinizulu, an African chieftain. In searching for a suitable recognition for the men who completed his first course, Baden-Powell remembered the beads and decided to present a bead to each participant. From then on, the course was called "Wood Badge."
The course first came to the United States in 1936. Held at the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey, it still had a strong British flavor, complete with menus heavy on foods that had been boiled for several hours. The Americans were less than enthusiastic. A war intervened and then in 1948, a revised American course was offered for the first time at Schiff. It was a major success in spite of rain on four of the nine days of the course.
The first four patrol names, which are animals found all over the US, were introduced at the course--Eagle, Bobwhite (called quail around here), Fox and Beaver. The course featured a kudu horn like the original course and the tradition has continued for every course since as one of the respected symbols of Wood Badge. During the early years of Wood Badge through the end of the century, the course focused on scoutcraft, how to teach it to boys, and how to run training courses. The Wood Badge for the 21st Century course which was developed in 2001 now brings together leaders from all areas of Scouting--Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing to learn leadership skills within the spirit of the Scout Oath. Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, the course also draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country.
