The Traditions of Wood Badge

[SR540Beaver 116]

With all the Wood Badge threads going on now, I thought I'd throw a little bit of the "traditions" of Wood Badge in. Regardless of the various course content changes over the years, many of the traditions from the first 1948 course held at Schiff that Green Bar Bill helped write and was SM for still exist in WB21C.

 

From a 1990 printing of a BSA 1988 copyright of A History of Wood Badge in the United States.

 

http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Part1.pdf

 

The First US Wood Badge Course Schiff, 1948

 

Scoutmaster: William Hillcourt

 

The organization and working of the Wood Badge troop was strictly American. The Boy Scouts of America interpretation of the patrol method was used to its fullest extent. The patrol names picked were of birds and animals found in every state of the Union: Eagle, Bob White, Fox and Beaver. The patrols designed and made their own flags instead of depending on the store-bought variety. The use of patrol totems and signatures was introduced. So was the singing of the "Back to Gilwell" song with mention of each patrol. The participants, in turn, became patrol leaders for a day, and were installed at a proper installation ceremony. The patrol leaders' council met daily and conducted the daily inspection. The senior patrol leader assumed his function as the main troop leader. The "special assistants" handled historical and organizational subjects in short campfire talks. They also acted as game leaders and contest judges.

 

At one point or another, each of the basic Scout requirements was introduced. The handling of the U.S. flag and its history was covered in the morning, as a historical flag was hoisted next to the U.S. flag and the Gilwell flag-hence the three flagpoles of Wood Badge. Other Scout requirements were covered in learning-by-doing periods in the morning, followed by an afternoon climax event in the subject. The unsupervised patrol hike and overnight camp were made a major feature.

 

The patrols took turns acting as program patrol-with a kudu horn for its special designation- and service patrol-designated by a camp spade. After the staff had run an ideal troop meeting and an ideal campfire, the program patrol of the day was challenged to do an even better job. After the staff had policed the campsite and had laid a perfect campfire, the service patrol was to outdo the staff.

 

And there were other special American features: the cracker barrel after every evening event, during which the men could relax and talk over the day's happenings; the rotation of staff members as guests at meals that gave the staff an opportunity to know each of the men, who had answers for many of their questions; the Tenderfoot investiture and the First Class court of honor; the Wood Badge "feast" that became a gastronomical highlight; and the final ceremonial campfire with its high emotional impact.

[jhankins 10]

This is neat, thanks for sharing.

 

I wonder where the second part is.

[SR540Beaver 116]

http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Appendix.pdf

[jhankins 10]

Thanks!