Connecting the Dots

This past weekend my wife and I attended our Scouting America? council’s Wood Badge Association dinner. It was a perfect night for food, fellowship, and fundraising around the campfire. This annual event brings together participants from past Wood Badge courses with the purpose of funding scholarships for adults who need help paying their course fee. We never want finances to be a reason one of our volunteer leaders doesn’t attend the highest level of adult leadership training provided in the global scouting movement.

?As the upcoming director for Crossroads of America Council’s National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course, I was asked to comment on the connection between NYLT and Wood Badge. Wanting to be brief, I spoke about how the course content allows youth and adults to speak a similar language. However, the connection goes much deeper. Both courses utilize methods that are used in the actual program. These methods are impactful not just in a scouting context, but also in “the real world”.

First, both programs are centered around the ideals of the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Outdoor Code. Everyone agrees to a code of conduct centered around these concepts. The Scout Oath reminds us to strive for a servant leadership mindset by helping others and keeping ourselves fit to serve. The Scout Law outlines behavior traits that one will find on any published list of leadership characteristics. The Outdoor Code helps set a tone of respect for each other, our resources, and the camp.

The next method is what Baden-Powell called “the only method of scouting” and that is the concept of the patrol. Participants from Wood Badge and NYLT are assigned to patrols of 4-6. In Wood Badge, patrols start as dens since the first day has a Cub Scout focus. The use of the patrol method delivers a small group feel, provides actual leadership opportunities, and allows the group to make decisions about their experience. Wood Badgers create their own patrol flag, totem, and call which is used throughout the 6-day course experience. For NYLT, youth patrols are provided flags of pre-assigned colors but are encouraged to develop a patrol call and an alliterative patrol name (who doesn’t love Purple Pancakes?) Both adults and youth select a daily leader who is accountable for relaying information provided by course staff. In both courses, patrols are encouraged to experience as much as possible together. This propinquity throughout the course helps the patrol develop as a team and prepares them for their outdoor experience.

The outdoor program is an essential method which is utilized in both Wood Badge and NYLT. Patrols plan and execute an overnight camping experience which includes at least one meal they must prepare in their campsite. In NYLT, carrying all their gear on their backs, patrols utilize a GPS receiver and assigned waypoints to locate their assigned campsite. Wood Badge participants must account for extra guests for two of their meals. This experience occurs unless there is dangerous weather forecasted. These small challenges provide a glimpse of what a unit camping experience is like in a Scouts BSA unit and allows participants to recognize their personal resiliency.

Personal growth is a method utilized in several parts of both programs. Participants take place in self-reflective activities like a values exercise, a session on ethics, and an interfaith worship service. They are also encouraged to “do a good turn” by donating to the World Friendship Fund which provides assistance to scouting organizations in need across the globe.

Finally, the method of leadership development is central to Wood Badge and NYLT. Both courses utilize a detailed syllabus which has been crafted using the latest in leadership theory and tools.? Several sessions on communication are included. In NYLT, a session on communicating with adults prepares youth leaders to engage with their Wood Badge trained adults who learned about creating a culture of coaching and mentoring. Stages of team development and the use of EDGE (explain, demonstrate, guide, enable) are intertwined to provide both youth and adults insight into situational leadership. In addition, all receive content on planning, problem solving, and managing change.

"Train them, Trust them, Let them Lead" - William "Green Bar Bill" Harcourt

All content is delivered in an experiential way through the use of games and activities including an impactful exercise for adults called “Know the Territory”. You’ll have to attend Wood Badge to learn more about that one. Let’s just say that it must be experienced without prior knowledge to truly be transformational.

There is no doubt that these courses were designed to be interwoven. They’re age and position appropriate but are built on the same core methods which align with the aims of scouting: character development, citizenship training, personal fitness, and leadership development. Having had the privilege to experience them both as a staff member has provided me with a much better grasp of their importance in developing our leaders (young and young at heart) both for scouting and for America.

Yours in Scouting.

MP

The above article reflects my personal perspective and is not affiliated, endorsed, or representative of Scouting America?