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Origins
Origins
Soon after founding the Scout movement, Robert Baden-Powell saw the need for leader training. Early Scoutmaster training camps were held in London and Yorkshire. Baden-Powell wanted practical training in the outdoors in campsites. World War I delayed the development of leadership training, so the first formal Wood Badge course was not offered until 1919. Gilwell Park, just outside London, was purchased specifically to provide a venue for the course and the Opening Ceremonies were held on July 26, 1919.
Soon after founding the Scout movement, Robert Baden-Powell saw the need for leader training. Early Scoutmaster training camps were held in London and Yorkshire. Baden-Powell wanted practical training in the outdoors in campsites. World War I delayed the development of leadership training, so the first formal Wood Badge course was not offered until 1919. Gilwell Park, just outside London, was purchased specifically to provide a venue for the course and the Opening Ceremonies were held on July 26, 1919.
Francis Gidney, the first Camp Chief at Gilwell Park, conducted the first Wood Badge course there from September 8–19, 1919. It was produced by Percy Everett, the Commissioner of Training, and Baden-Powell himself gave lectures. The course was attended by 18 participants and other lecturers. After this first course, Wood Badge training continued at Gilwell Park, and it became the home of leadership training in the Scout movement.
Francis Gidney, the first Camp Chief at Gilwell Park, conducted the first Wood Badge course there from September 8–19, 1919. It was produced by Percy Everett, the Commissioner of Training, and Baden-Powell himself gave lectures. The course was attended by 18 participants and other lecturers. After this first course, Wood Badge training continued at Gilwell Park, and it became the home of leadership training in the Scout movement.
Insignia
Insignia
Woggle
Woggle
The Gilwell woggle is a two-strand version of a Turk's head knot, which has no beginning and no end, and symbolizes the commitment of a Wood Badger to Scouting. The woggle was first created in the early 1920s by Bill Shankley, a member of the Gilwell staff. He produced a two-strand Turk’s head slide which was adopted as the official woggle.
The Gilwell woggle is a two-strand version of a Turk's head knot, which has no beginning and no end, and symbolizes the commitment of a Wood Badger to Scouting. The woggle was first created in the early 1920s by Bill Shankley, a member of the Gilwell staff. He produced a two-strand Turk’s head slide which was adopted as the official woggle.
During the training phase of your Wood Badge course, you will learn to make a woggle using paracord provided by your Course Director.
During the training phase of your Wood Badge course, you will learn to make a woggle using paracord provided by your Course Director.
Beads
Beads
The beads were first presented at the initial leadership course in September 1919 at Gilwell Park.
The beads were first presented at the initial leadership course in September 1919 at Gilwell Park.
The origins of Wood Badge beads can be traced back to 1888, when Baden-Powell was on a military campaign in Zululand (now part of South Africa). He pursued Dinuzulu, son of Cetshwayo, a Zulu king, for some time, but never managed to catch up with him. Dinuzulu was said to have had a 12-foot (4 m)-long necklace with more than a thousand acacia beads. Baden-Powell is claimed to have found the necklace when he came to Dinuzulu's deserted mountain stronghold. Such necklaces were known as iziQu in Zulu and were presented to brave warrior leaders.
The origins of Wood Badge beads can be traced back to 1888, when Baden-Powell was on a military campaign in Zululand (now part of South Africa). He pursued Dinuzulu, son of Cetshwayo, a Zulu king, for some time, but never managed to catch up with him. Dinuzulu was said to have had a 12-foot (4 m)-long necklace with more than a thousand acacia beads. Baden-Powell is claimed to have found the necklace when he came to Dinuzulu's deserted mountain stronghold. Such necklaces were known as iziQu in Zulu and were presented to brave warrior leaders.
Much later, Baden-Powell sought a distinctive award for the participants in the first Gilwell course. He constructed the first award using two beads from the necklace he had recovered and threaded them onto a leather thong given to him by an elderly South African in Mafeking, calling it the Wood Badge.
Much later, Baden-Powell sought a distinctive award for the participants in the first Gilwell course. He constructed the first award using two beads from the necklace he had recovered and threaded them onto a leather thong given to him by an elderly South African in Mafeking, calling it the Wood Badge.
Neckerchief
Neckerchief
At the beginning of the training, you will receive a plaid scarf with the Troop 1 number and ax and log totem. All staff and participants will wear this during the training phase of Wood Badge. Upon completion of Wood Badge requirements, you will be awarded the Mauve scarf and leather woggle.
At the beginning of the training, you will receive a plaid scarf with the Troop 1 number and ax and log totem. All staff and participants will wear this during the training phase of Wood Badge. Upon completion of Wood Badge requirements, you will be awarded the Mauve scarf and leather woggle.
The mauve scarf is a variation on the dove gray that was originally used back at the beginning of the courses. The outer light mauve is the color of humility while the inner warm red lining signifies warmth of feeling. A patch of Maclaren Tartan is on the point of the scarf.
The mauve scarf is a variation on the dove gray that was originally used back at the beginning of the courses. The outer light mauve is the color of humility while the inner warm red lining signifies warmth of feeling. A patch of Maclaren Tartan is on the point of the scarf.
McLaren Tartan
McLaren Tartan
William de Bois MacLaren donated money to purchase Gilwell Park, a 55-acre estate, to serve as a training center for Scouters and as a campsite for Scouts. He also donated money to repair the house on the property. When Maclaren died in 1921, the staff wore a plaid scarf made of the MacLaren tartan in his honor. Scouters who complete their Wood Badge ticket are automatically considered members of the MacLaren Clan.
William de Bois MacLaren donated money to purchase Gilwell Park, a 55-acre estate, to serve as a training center for Scouters and as a campsite for Scouts. He also donated money to repair the house on the property. When Maclaren died in 1921, the staff wore a plaid scarf made of the MacLaren tartan in his honor. Scouters who complete their Wood Badge ticket are automatically considered members of the MacLaren Clan.
Symbols
Symbols
Ax and Log Totem
Ax and Log Totem
The ax and log totem was conceived by the first Camp Chief, Francis Gidney, in the early 1920s to distinguish Gilwell Park from the Scout Headquarters. Gidney wanted to associate Gilwell Park with the outdoors and Scoutcraft rather than the business or administrative Headquarters offices. Scouters present at the original Wood Badge courses regularly saw ax blades masked for safety by being buried in a log. Seeing this, Gidney chose the ae and log as the totem of Gilwell Park.
The ax and log totem was conceived by the first Camp Chief, Francis Gidney, in the early 1920s to distinguish Gilwell Park from the Scout Headquarters. Gidney wanted to associate Gilwell Park with the outdoors and Scoutcraft rather than the business or administrative Headquarters offices. Scouters present at the original Wood Badge courses regularly saw ax blades masked for safety by being buried in a log. Seeing this, Gidney chose the ae and log as the totem of Gilwell Park.
Kudu Horn
Kudu Horn
The Kudu horn has long been a symbol of Scouting and of Wood Badge. The horn was used to summons the very first scouts at Brownsea Island in 1907 and you will hear it on your course as you are summoned to Gilwell.
The Kudu horn has long been a symbol of Scouting and of Wood Badge. The horn was used to summons the very first scouts at Brownsea Island in 1907 and you will hear it on your course as you are summoned to Gilwell.
Critters
Critters
Wood Badge participants are split up into patrols just like a scout troop. These patrols are given the names of the following “critters” and in the following order:
Wood Badge participants are split up into patrols just like a scout troop. These patrols are given the names of the following “critters” and in the following order:
Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, Fox, Owl, Bear, Buffalo, Antelope
Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, Fox, Owl, Bear, Buffalo, Antelope
Sources:
Symbols of Wood Badge. Wood Badge Alabama. (2018, March 16). Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://woodbadgealabama.com/symbols-of-woodbadge/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, November 25). Wood badge. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_Badge#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20Wood%20Badge,to%20catch%20up%20with%20him.
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