Back to Gilwell, Happy Land!

If you don't get the reference in the title, this blog is for you.

If you are a member of ScoutsBSA and your leader is pushing you to your Eagle, this blog is for you.

If you get it, but know someone that might not, this blog is especially for you!


There, I think I have all bases covered. Shall we begin?

The Pony Express Council has a Wood Badge Course coming up this spring. The staff for the course was set up over the summer, and training has been ongoing for the last several months. How much training? There are sixteen members of the staff. A total of on site training is approaching over 300 total hours. This Saturday we are returning for an additional 100+ hours. Now mind you, this is the on site training. It does not include set up, take down, and individual preparations for the group meetings.

The course will be held at Camp Geiger in St. Joseph, MO. It comprises of two weekends. The first is April 5-7, Friday starting in the morning, through Sunday afternoon. The second is April 27-28, Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. That is when the course is held. Unlike those times where they lure you into scouting by telling you that it is an hour a week, I will mention that your commitment goes beyond those weekends if you want to complete the course, and get your second wooden bead. The good news is that work is on your own schedule, with a must be done date, and the work you do is the work you choose to complete.

The link is here. https://scoutingevent.com/311-WB2023

The Voice has tried very hard to always be honest and frank with those that read its words. I will do no less here. What is the bottom line? By March 5, we need to have 30 participants registered and paid. By that time, we will not only have had our February training, but also our final precourse training. If we do not have the minimum number of participants by that date, there will be no course.

The cost is $225.00 with a $100 deposit due at registration. If finances are a concern contact the Council Office, there may be assistance available through a variety of sources.

Let me now answer the statements that started this blog.

Gilwell was where Baden Powell held the first Wood Badge Course in Britain. Wherever Wood Badge is held, the facilities take on the name of Gilwell, The facilities at Camp Geiger will be known as Gilwell Hall (the Dining Hall) and Gilwell Field (the field just north of the parade ground). It is also the title of a very catchy tune which you learn as part of the course.

As a youth, I would encourage you to ask your leader what their critter is. If they are wearing the Wood Badge beads, they will no doubt tell you, with some fondness and pride. If they look at you not really knowing, and they proceed to tell you about what you need to get your Eagle, (a leader's responsibility, no doubt), ask them if they have taken Wood Badge, which is the highest level of  training for adult leaders for all branches of Scouting. If they haven't, I encourage you to encourage them to do that training. It is really that important.

Finally, to those of you well familiar with Gilwell, and are appreciative of the training you received (more on that training below), let me ask you, do you have any leaders in your unit, whether Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, or Venturing, that would benefit from Wood Badge? Forward the link to them, encourage them to at least inquire, and hopefully take the plunge.

How valuable is the Wood Badge training? I was in management in the Federal Aviation Administration for ten years. I was sent to training to the FAA's school, as well as other specialty training locations. Much of what is taught in Wood Badge is useful not just in Scouting, but in all facets of a professional career. The government literally spent thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars sending me to management training where much of what I learned in those courses, was taught to me in two weekends in Gilwell. St. Joseph, MO. Is it Scouting? Yes. But just like Scouting, it is for life.

A little long winded for me. Time is short to decide. If you can't, could you just share the post with someone that could benefit, and may be able to?

Philip Lovesee

Scribe 5-311-2024

C5-311-2020

Buffalo

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