American Wood Badge 70th Anniversary

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the first Wood Badge courses in the United States, the American Wood Badge Alumni has created a special service recognition that can only be earned during the Anniversary year. A commemorative certificate and special anniversary service patch will be available.

Wood Badgers will agree to and work a new ticket, if they can. To qualify for the award, individuals must complete five of the following nine requirements during the Anniversary Year between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018:

1. Register as member of the Scouting Alumni and Friends, at any level. 
2. Attend a district, council or national level training course either as a participant or staff member OR serve as staff on a Wood Badge course. 
3. Participate in a 70th Anniversary celebration in your Council such as a reception, reunion or other special acknowledgement at a Council wide event such as annual recognition or F.O.S. dinner. 
4. Recruit another individual to attend and volunteer at a Boy Scout training event or Wood Badge service activity. 
5. Share the values of Wood Badge and Scouting by recruiting an individual to take Wood Badge.  
6. Promote Wood Badge training at a unit, district, council area, region or national event. ​ 
7. Contribute $7 or $70 or whatever larger amount you can to your Council for Wood Badge scholarships.
8. Solicit another individual to join you in contributing $7 or $70 or whatever larger amount they can to your Council for Wood Badge scholarships.
9. Become a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America at the unit, district or Council level. Consider such opportunities for service as: district committee, commissioner, roundtable staff, Alumni or NESA committees and more. 

Both of the first two United States Wood Badge Courses were run by the Boy Scouts of America in 1948. The Scoutmaster for each was William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt. The curriculum was focused on Scout skills, Scoutcraft and pioneering. The structure was as it is today, the troop organization and patrols.

Course number one was conducted at Schiff Scout Reservation, July 31, 1948. Attendance was only by invitation of the Chief Scout Executive, Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell. Twenty-nine men accepted had arrived, by special invitation of the Chief Scout Executive in Mendham, N.J., from 12 states-all east of the Mississippi River.

Wood Badge course number two was initiated at Philmont on October 2, 1948. Thirty-five men from 19 states (all but five from the west) gathered at Waite Phillips former home – the Villa Philmonte, to begin the second American course. From there, they moved to Cimarroncito where the course was actually conducted. Philmont provided unique challenges of altitude (8,000 feet), in addition to rain, snow, sleet and cold.

American Wood Badge Alumni is an affinity group of Scouting Alumni and Friends of the Boy Scouts of America for individuals who have completed Wood Badge. It is dedicated to advancing Wood Badge and the B.S.A. through fellowship, service and support. Application is HERE.