Woodbadge
The Woodbadge is a badge used in the Boy Scout movement , which consists of two elongated wooden beads on a leather cord with a diamond knot . Usually it is a sand-colored Gilwell- kerchief on which a piece of fabric with the MacLaren - Tartan is sewn, and added a braided ring bandana leather.
In the member associations of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the Woodbadge is awarded if you have attended a Woodbadge or Gilwell course of the respective association. When designing their courses, many associations differentiate according to the age group in which the course participant is active. The meaning and reputation of the badge differ greatly from association to association.
Conception of the Woodbadge training
The core of the Woodbadge training or Gilwell courses is the examination of the goals, values and methods of the scout movement. This usually happens in a seminar phase . Based on this consideration of the scout method, the participants develop their own projects that are intended to provide impetus for work in the respective association. The project phase is concluded with the implementation of these projects . This is followed by the documentation of the project, combined with a reflection of the goals set and what has been achieved. Based on this documentation, the Woodbadge representatives of an association then decide on the award of the Woodbadge, whereby as a rule it is not the successful implementation of the project but its presentation that is decisive.
The guidelines for Woodbadge training are set internationally in the "Adults in Scouting" strategy adopted by WOSM in 1993. The courses that build on this are called Woodbadge courses or Gilwell courses in German-speaking countries .
history
The first Woodbadge course was held in 1919 by Robert Baden-Powell in Gilwell Park , England . At the end of the course, BP presented each participant with two wooden beads from a chain made of acacia wood that Baden-Powell had found in a hut belonging to the Zulu King Dinuzulu . As the course was a great success, it was repeated in the following years. Due to the limited supply of original pearls, these were soon replaced by beech pearls at the award ceremony.
Until WOSM was founded, only the director of Gilwell Park had the right to award the Woodbadge. Since then, numerous national member associations have also held their own Woodbadge courses.
The actual name of the course would be Gilwell Course, as the courses were initially only held in Gilwell Park. The real sign of the course is the award of the scarf. The piece of fabric sewn onto the scarf with the check pattern of the Scottish MacLaren tartan is an expression of the memory of the founder of Gilwell Park, William De Bois MacLaren. The scarf symbolizes membership in the 1st Gilwell Parc Scout Group.
Originally, the wooden beads were only intended as a reminder of the course. However, they quickly caught on as a symbol of the Gilwell Course.
Special forms
In addition to the normal wood badge with two wooden beads, there are other shapes that indicate functions performed in the wood badge training:
- Experienced employees in Woodbadge training wear three pearls (assistant leader trainer; in Austria, after participating in three Woodbadge courses in a team).
- Four pearls are worn by the leader of the Woodbadge training (leader trainer; in Austria after participating in six Woodbadge courses in a team and an international training seminar).
- In some countries, the national person responsible for Woodbadge training wears five pearls. This is not common in Germany and Austria. The deputy managers of Gilwell Park also wear five pearls.
- The director of Gilwell Park owns six pearls, but in recognition of Robert Baden-Powell as the only “World Chief Scout” these are not worn around the neck.
Wölflingsführer initially wore a wolf's tooth as a sign that they had completed the highest training. Akela "Leader Trainer" wore two wolf teeth. The name for this special form was "Akela Badge". Since 1925, Wölflingsführer have also received the "normal" Woodbadge.
Web links
- History of Woodbadge Education - English
- Wood Badge - advanced training for Scout Leaders - English
- Woodbadge training from the BdP. Archived from the original on June 15, 2004 ; accessed on November 14, 2014 .
- Woodbadge conception of the VCP
- Woodbadge training in the DPSG
- Gilwell courses in the PBS
- Woodbadge courses at the PPÖ