Wood Badge

The Wood Badge is the recognition received by adults in Scouting who have completed the Scoutmaster training program provided by their respective National Scout Association. Those who successfully complete the training receives recognition in the form of two wooden beads on bootlace. A Wood badge receipient is called as a Wood Badger or Gilwellian.

Additional beads are awarded to wood badgers who serves as part of their council's wood badge training team. One additional bead is awarded to Assistant Leader Trainers and two additional beads are awarded to Leader Trainers.

History

The training was first conducted by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, on September 8, 1919 in Gilwell. At the conclusion of the training he awarded each participant a wooden bead from a necklace he received from Dinizulu a Zulu chieftain. The supply of original beads has long been exhausted and only replicas are awarded today.