Wood Badge Training is leadership training for BSA volunteers. I attended this week long training in beautiful Pine Valley this past week. They ask that you leave all electronics at home even though the event was staged in the Dixie College Cabin which has all modern conveniences. I did take my laptop and cell phone as this week was payroll, and it had to be processed by Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to have the direct deposits made for our fabulous employees by Friday. In the end, I had problems with my laptop, and handled the payroll via cell phone, directing my dear Mr. Mom - B how to do it on the computer in front of him. Thanks B! Thank you for making it possible for me to attend this training.
I don't know where to begin with regards to the training. I wish they would have allowed me to use my laptop so I could simply upload my journal notes from the past week. There were many experiences worth noting... The camp is divided by day into 5 focus areas:
*Living the Vision
*Bringing the Vision to Life
*Models of Success
*Tools of the Trade
*Leading to Make a Difference
During the training, they model ideal BSA situations by creating first a Cub Scout Pack and participating in events common in that venue of scouting, and progressing through the families of scouting, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouting, and finally the Venturing program during the course of the week.
We had some 44+- participants attending, and we were taught by a staff of nineteen (yes 19!) amazing leaders who freely give of their time and talents to make great outstanding experiences like this happen! Thank you Wood Badge W7-591-6-09 Staff for a great week! I am honestly in awe of the caliber of the leaders who were there to share! Thank you!!!!
The group is divided into Patrols, and each assigned a Patrol name. I was assigned to the Bobwhite patrol with five other participants. There are a total of eight patrols currently used in Wood Badge courses. Each contained between 5-6 people. I can't begin to elaborate here the quality of people in those attending and leading this week long experience! I have long thought that when I was available to attend a week long training, I wanted to attend Philmont LDS week. I think this was better than that could have been! In that situation, the leadership would come from all over the nation to lead. This course was lead by countless leaders from Stake Presidencies who are professional people from our own council. In my patrol alone I was fortunate to rub shoulders this week with a Stake President and two counselors in the Stake Presidencies (different stakes). That is the flavor of the quality of the instruction that I have been fortunate to have been a part of this week! Five days with Gentlemen of the highest order, who are seeking to serve their Father, searching for eternal truths in the ways that our leadership (President Charles Dahlquist, YM and President Thomas S. Monson :)) encourage! Wow! It was an amazing week!
Among leadership skills expected (and common with the Covey model of 7 Habits which I am certified to teach to Teens) the training emphasises playing games with a purpose to learn. Each day included power point discussions, games, friendship, and patrol development in the form of patrol duties and individual leadership responsibilities within the Patrol. Yes, remember this is with strong priesthood holders. There were six women on our course total, two were on staff. These gentlemen treated us like queens! Thank you so much gentlemen!! Honestly, I can not pretend to summarize the week in this post! Over the course of time, I will share more of this fabulous experience!
I feel as Mormon did after having been taught by the Savior himself in 3 Nephi 26:6
"And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people." I make an attempt to record the miracles that are worked in my life, however in all those forms of recording (blogs, handwritten journal, notes, etc.) I am certain these recordings include not even a hundredth part of the miracles and lessons I am taught daily. Thank you for continuing to teach me, mentoring me, coaching me along the trail back to the tree of life. I will continue to hold tight.
The last edition of the Gilwell Gazette printed for our week in camp read on the front page: "Life is not a set of random circumstances." To this I add my witness that our Heavenly Father orchestrates carefully every note in the music of life! I am so grateful for his guidance, promptings, tender love in my life! Thank you Father! I am indebted to my most outstanding family for their support as I disappeared to attend this training. There were many, many projects (as always) pending and in progress which they have continued to progress towards completion during the past week without my assistance. Thank you team! B, You're the BEST! I am thankful for the course leadership as mentioned above. I am also thankful for the other participants with whom I have shared over the past week memories which will influence my life and the life of my family in the years ahead! My friend J.D. said last week in anticipation of this training, "I consider my days at Wood Badge Training among the highlights of my life!"
I have participated on many teams working towards a common goal, and always when there is unity in purpose, there are bonds that form. I am thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow, and pray that I may apply the experiences of the past week in meaningful enriching ways in my life.
Wood Badge training requires that participants outline five Ticket projects to return home to work on, utilizing the training we received. I actually wrote nine tickets as I tried to use projects already in progress for those goals. They were rejected because they are already in process, forcing me to find other goals to work towards. Learning, Growing, Climbing towards my goals!
I don't know where to begin with regards to the training. I wish they would have allowed me to use my laptop so I could simply upload my journal notes from the past week. There were many experiences worth noting... The camp is divided by day into 5 focus areas:
*Living the Vision
*Bringing the Vision to Life
*Models of Success
*Tools of the Trade
*Leading to Make a Difference
During the training, they model ideal BSA situations by creating first a Cub Scout Pack and participating in events common in that venue of scouting, and progressing through the families of scouting, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouting, and finally the Venturing program during the course of the week.
We had some 44+- participants attending, and we were taught by a staff of nineteen (yes 19!) amazing leaders who freely give of their time and talents to make great outstanding experiences like this happen! Thank you Wood Badge W7-591-6-09 Staff for a great week! I am honestly in awe of the caliber of the leaders who were there to share! Thank you!!!!
The group is divided into Patrols, and each assigned a Patrol name. I was assigned to the Bobwhite patrol with five other participants. There are a total of eight patrols currently used in Wood Badge courses. Each contained between 5-6 people. I can't begin to elaborate here the quality of people in those attending and leading this week long experience! I have long thought that when I was available to attend a week long training, I wanted to attend Philmont LDS week. I think this was better than that could have been! In that situation, the leadership would come from all over the nation to lead. This course was lead by countless leaders from Stake Presidencies who are professional people from our own council. In my patrol alone I was fortunate to rub shoulders this week with a Stake President and two counselors in the Stake Presidencies (different stakes). That is the flavor of the quality of the instruction that I have been fortunate to have been a part of this week! Five days with Gentlemen of the highest order, who are seeking to serve their Father, searching for eternal truths in the ways that our leadership (President Charles Dahlquist, YM and President Thomas S. Monson :)) encourage! Wow! It was an amazing week!
Among leadership skills expected (and common with the Covey model of 7 Habits which I am certified to teach to Teens) the training emphasises playing games with a purpose to learn. Each day included power point discussions, games, friendship, and patrol development in the form of patrol duties and individual leadership responsibilities within the Patrol. Yes, remember this is with strong priesthood holders. There were six women on our course total, two were on staff. These gentlemen treated us like queens! Thank you so much gentlemen!! Honestly, I can not pretend to summarize the week in this post! Over the course of time, I will share more of this fabulous experience!
I feel as Mormon did after having been taught by the Savior himself in 3 Nephi 26:6
"And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people." I make an attempt to record the miracles that are worked in my life, however in all those forms of recording (blogs, handwritten journal, notes, etc.) I am certain these recordings include not even a hundredth part of the miracles and lessons I am taught daily. Thank you for continuing to teach me, mentoring me, coaching me along the trail back to the tree of life. I will continue to hold tight.
The last edition of the Gilwell Gazette printed for our week in camp read on the front page: "Life is not a set of random circumstances." To this I add my witness that our Heavenly Father orchestrates carefully every note in the music of life! I am so grateful for his guidance, promptings, tender love in my life! Thank you Father! I am indebted to my most outstanding family for their support as I disappeared to attend this training. There were many, many projects (as always) pending and in progress which they have continued to progress towards completion during the past week without my assistance. Thank you team! B, You're the BEST! I am thankful for the course leadership as mentioned above. I am also thankful for the other participants with whom I have shared over the past week memories which will influence my life and the life of my family in the years ahead! My friend J.D. said last week in anticipation of this training, "I consider my days at Wood Badge Training among the highlights of my life!"
I have participated on many teams working towards a common goal, and always when there is unity in purpose, there are bonds that form. I am thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow, and pray that I may apply the experiences of the past week in meaningful enriching ways in my life.
Wood Badge training requires that participants outline five Ticket projects to return home to work on, utilizing the training we received. I actually wrote nine tickets as I tried to use projects already in progress for those goals. They were rejected because they are already in process, forcing me to find other goals to work towards. Learning, Growing, Climbing towards my goals!