The 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 them advanced leadership skills.
The first Wood Badge training was organised by Francis Gidney and lectured by Robert Baden-Powell and others at Gilwell Park in the United Kingdom in September 1919.
On completion of the course, participants are awarded the Wood Badge beads to recognise significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people. The pair of small wooden beads, one on each end of a leather string, is worn around the neck as part of the Scout uniform. The beads are presented together with a taupe neckerchief bearing a tartan patch of the Maclaren clan, honouring William de Bois Maclaren who donated the £7 000 to purchase Gilwell Park in 1919, plus an additional £3 000 for improvements to the house that was on the estate. The neckerchief with the braided leather woggle (neckerchief slide) denotes the membership of the1st Gilwell Scout Group or Gilwell Troop 1.
Every year, on the first Saturday of September Scouters celebrate those who are awarded the badge. The event also becomes a reunion of Scouters who have received the badge, as well young cub scouts who can watch and learn from the proceedings. This year the celebration was held at the Gilwell Scout Training Centre on the banks of Florida Lake.
Region team coordinator Adult Support Gauteng, Gill Dickinson said many Scouters from around the country make the trip to the Gilwell centre as it is the only one in the country.
“Scouters who have been in the movement for three years start with the Warrant Course before moving on to the Wood Bagde course. It is done over two weekends with a lot of homework involved,” she said.
More than 100 scouters attended the event, which included the presentation of the Wood Badge and certificates, as well as a church service, planting a tree and a mountaineer talk. Afterwards they had dinner around the campfire.
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