Wood Badge

This month I had the amazing opportunity to attend Wood Badge. It is a 6-day training course for scout leaders. Our course was split into two weekends (Th-F-S). We slept in tents up at Mutual Dell camp in American Fork Canyon. The participants were divided into patrols of six, each with a Troop Guide.
I had the fortunate experience of being assigned to the Owl Patrol--the best group of men and women you could ever find. We studied together, played together, sang together, ate together, stressed out together, and worked together. We learned first-hand the basics of communication, team development, conflict management, and leadership. In six short days we were transformed from a group of strangers to a group of life-long friends.
I learned a lot about myself during the Wood Badge course--my inadequacies, my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears . . . and that I could rely on the others around me to help. I had never achieved very much success with team-building before. In the past I usually ended up doing most of the work for a project and feeling shafted by the rest of the group. I now have a better understanding of sharing in the process and leading change.
I have a new set of goals to work on during the next year and am excited to accomplish those and receive my Wood Badge beads in August 2010. The owl patrol preparing for an outdoor project.

Building a water rocket.

Launching the rocket.

The owl patrol with "Woody," the Wood Badge mascot. Left to right: Roger Bell, Hillary Braithwaite, Larry Veenker (troop guide), Chris Dexter, Jeff Cottle, Dennis Moss, and Julia Oldroyd.

In the lodge at Mutual Dell.

Some of the incredible Wood Badge staff, presenting Scoutmaster Dave Harding with the flag used during our course. I can't speak enough praise for this group of amazing people!