Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership programme and the related award for adult leaders in the programmes of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. Courses generally have a combined classroom and practical outdoors-based phase followed by a Wood Badge ticket, also known as the project phase. By "working the ticket", participants put their newly gained experience into practice to attain ticket goals aiding the Scouting movement. The first Wood Badge training was organized by Francis "Skipper" Gidney and lectured at by Robert Baden-Powell and others at Gilwell Park in September 1919. Wood Badge training has since spread across the world with international variations.
Wood Badge beads on top of the 1st Gilwell Scout Group neckerchief.
First Wood Badge training at Gilwell Park
Wood Badge neckerchief, set of three beads (training staff), and woggle
King Dinuzulu, wearing what is perhaps the necklace from which the original Wood Badge beads came
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth social movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports. Another widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social standing in a country and encouraging equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as merit badges and other patches.
Stone on Brownsea Island commemorating the first experimental Scout camp
A 2007 British fifty pence coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Scout Movement
Cairn remembering the 1908 Lookwide camp at Fourstones near Humshaugh, the first proper Scout Camp
Girl Guiding/Scouting pioneer Olave Baden-Powell