Wood Badge FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What does 15-415-xx mean?

This is the course number. The 15 signifies the number of the National Service Territory (NST) of the Boy Scouts of America in which the Wood Badge course is presented. Mecklenburg County Council is located in the territory whose number is 15. The number 415 is the council number assigned to Mecklenburg County Council. The xx represents the last 2 digits of the calendar year in which a Wood Badge course is conducted.

  1. Who may attend a Wood Badge course?

Wood Badge is open to all registered adults in Scouting - Cub Scouts, Scouts, BSA, and Venturing, volunteer and professional.

However, to attend a Wood Badge course you must:

  • Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. There is no tenure requirement.

  • Be trained to your current registered position. The Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) course is required for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. All other participants are strongly encouraged to attend the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) course prior to attending Wood Badge, but it is not required.

  • Be capable of functioning safely in an outdoor environment. A completed BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A and B) is required prior to attending the course.

Because of the advanced nature of this training, the above requirements may not be waived. It is strongly recommended that participants have at least some camping experience. Please contact your Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Venture Crew Adviser if you are interested in attending Wood Badge.

  1. Ticket, ticket, ticket! What is this ticket I keep hearing about?

The Wood Badge ticket is a list of personal goals that participants create for themselves during the course. These goals focus on implementing what the participant learns during Wood Badge to improve scouting over a period of up to eighteen months. Don't worry, you should NOT have a ticket with you when you come to Wood Badge! Your ticket is written while on the course with the help of your troop guide and course staff.

  1. How can I find out what patrol I will be in? Can I choose?

Much of Wood Badge is about the patrol method. It is the forum for practicing the leadership and scout skills on course. Patrols are assigned by the Course Director based on multiple criteria, including balancing the experience and background of the participants and distributing people from the same district or units to different patrols. The Course Director rarely, if ever, honors specific requests. It is best to focus on learning the patrol method, not the Wood Badge critters.

  1. Are both sessions of Wood Badge required?

Participants must attend all of the course activities in order to complete the practical phase of the training. The course activities include 1 3-day weekend session and 1 2-day weekend session, as well as at least 2 interim patrol meetings between Session I and Session II. The number of interim patrol meetings is determined and scheduled by the individual patrols.

  1. What do I wear while at Wood Badge?

Participants are required to wear their full field uniform (Class A). An official course hat and neckerchief are provided and must be worn.

  1. What does it cost to attend Wood Badge?

Currently, the fee for the Wood Badge training experience is $275.00. If cost is an issue, please contact the Course Director.

  1. What time does a Wood Badge course start?

Day 1 of a Wood Badge course starts with check-in at 7:00 AM at the dining hall.

  1. Where do I park my car while at Wood Badge?

Participants should park their cars in the dining hall parking lot while attending Wood Badge. For Session I, participants must bring and place all of their gear at the dining hall after parking their cars. For Session II, instructions related to personal and patrol gear are provided during Session I.