Interested in serving on a Wood Badge staff?  Here is some information for you.  

Staff members perform different roles during the course.  Wood Badge staff members volunteer their time, energy, and finances to deliver a top-level training experience.  Wood Badge Staff members are among the finest Trainers we have in the Council.  They must be excellent presenters who completely understand the Wood Badge curriculum.  They set a good example.  They are cheerful and they help each other, modelling Scouting’s character and leadership.  They must be selfless team members committed to the Scouting’s vision, mission, and values.


The Wood Badge Course Director, following the BSA Wood Badge Administrative Manual, is responsible for selecting and recruiting the Wood Badge course staff.

Staff Qualifications
Course Directors select potential staff members and seek to build a diverse staff from Maryland, DC, and Virginia who represent the different program areas -Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting- and who are involved in Training at the Unit, District, and Council levels.  To the greatest extent possible, the staff should represent the cultural diversity of the communities from which the participants are drawn.  NCAC Course Directors use Wood Badge course rosters to help identify potential staff members and seek recommendations of previous Course Directors and other Council and District training staff.

How To Be Invited
A Course Director has many considerations in building a Council-wide diverse staff for a course, and most Course Directors find there are people they really wanted to have on staff but whom they couldn’t ask and still fulfill these considerations.  The number of staff positions is limited but, at a minimum, one-third of staff must be first timers.  Significant consideration is given to an individual’s skill as a trainer and facilitator, more so than one’s Scouting experience.  The best way to be recognized and invited to staff Wood Badge is by developing your skills as a Trainer while teaching at District and Council events.

What Is Expected of Staff
Staffing Wood Badge is a very significant time commitment.  Every staff member is expected to participate and perform enthusiastically at his or her best, arrive promptly for all staff development and course activities, be prepared, be cheerful, wear uniforms correctly, and do whatever is necessary to support the success of the course.  Staff Members are expected to:

Make Wood Badge A Priority.  Most of us wear several Scouting hats.  Because Wood Badge training is a BSA National Training Course administered at the Council level, staff is held to the highest standards.  During your limited term as a Wood Badge staffer, you are expected to make course responsibilities your primary priority.  The course participants deserve no less.  The Course Director expects the highest level of commitment from every staffer.  

Participate In All The Staff Development Sessions.  Staff development takes approximately 35-40 hours spread over multiple sessions.  These Staff Development sessions start about six months before the course.  They may be at the Council office, at the camp where the course will be held, or at other locations that are conducive to having a training event.  Usually, staff teams will arrange to have additional meetings to work on their deliverables for the course.  The staff also goes to camp a day or two before participants arrive to prep for Weekend #1 and Weekend #2.  You must be able to commit to attending ALL the Staff Development sessions and participate enthusiastically.

Prepare Your Presentations.  Wood Badge is the height of training for Scouters, and every presentation must be the best possible.  You must follow the Wood Badge curriculum for every presentation, prepare diligently, and practice, practice, practice.  

Recruit Participants.  Staff members are among the most important recruiters.  Each staff member will participate in recruiting participants.

Pay Staff Fees.  Staff fees cover food, camp facilities, insurance, and training materials.  Staff members need to be in full official BSA field uniform on the course.  Most staff members also incur some other expenses in the preparation or on course.   If this cost would be a problem, talk to the Course Director about it before you agree to be on staff.