# Wood Badge Alabama

> WoodBadgeAlabama.com promotes and supports Wood Badge training in the Greater Alabama Council of Scouting America and serves as a national resource for scouters learning about Wood Badge. The site covers current course information, Wood Badge history, symbols, participant and staff stories, tips, and recruiting content. It was created and is maintained by Shawn Wright, Graphic Designer and Wood Badge Scoutmaster S9-119. This site is not affiliated with the Greater Alabama Council or Scouting America.

## Pages

- [Home](https://woodbadgealabama.com/): The main landing page for Wood Badge Alabama, featuring current course information, featured posts, a countdown to the next course, and an overview of what Wood Badge is.
- [Current Course Information](https://woodbadgealabama.com/current-course-information/): Dates, location, cost, scoutmaster contact, and registration instructions for the current Wood Badge course in the Greater Alabama Council. Course WB14-126 (Fall 2026) is Scoutmaster Brandi Sherman, September 25–27 at Camp Comer and October 17–18 at Camp Sequoyah.
- [Resources for Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/current-course-information/resources-for-wood-badge/): Links and resources to help participants and staff prepare for a Wood Badge course.
- [Reasons To Join Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-you-should-join-wood-badge/): A page outlining the benefits of attending Wood Badge — skills applicable to scouting units, careers, and home life.
- [Wood Badge History](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-history/): An overview of the history of Wood Badge, from its founding by Robert Baden-Powell in 1919 to its present form.
- [GAC Courses](https://woodbadgealabama.com/courses/): A listing of Greater Alabama Council Wood Badge courses dating back to 2001, when the modern Wood Badge for the 21st Century syllabus was introduced.
- [Symbols of Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/symbols-of-woodbadge/): Descriptions and history of the symbols, totems, and critters associated with Wood Badge.
- [Wood Badge Timeline](https://woodbadgealabama.com/current-course-information/wood-badge-timeline/): A chronological timeline of Wood Badge history from its origins in England to the present.
- [Wood Badge Quiz](https://woodbadgealabama.com/quiz/wood-badge-quiz/): A 50-question interactive quiz testing knowledge of Wood Badge history, course content, and traditions.
- [Posts](https://woodbadgealabama.com/posts/): Full archive of all blog posts on WoodBadgeAlabama.com, covering course updates, participant stories, staff profiles, tips, recruiting, and Wood Badge history.

## Posts

### Course Information & Updates

- [There is a lot of singing at Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/there-is-a-lot-of-singing-at-wood-badge/): A look at the Wood Badge songbooks — pocket-sized collections created by Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders — and the role singing plays in the course experience.
- [Wood Badge Reschedule For Fall 2020](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-reschedule-for-fall-2020/): Announcement that the spring 2020 course was postponed to fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, made by Scoutmaster Jimmy Sneddon and the Greater Alabama Council.
- [Wood Badge by the Numbers, 2019 course edition](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-by-the-numbers-2019-course-edition/): Statistics showing how the participants, staffers, and completed tickets from course S9-119 contributed to units, districts, and the council.
- [S9-114 Is In The Books](https://woodbadgealabama.com/s9-114-is-in-the-books/): Recap of Wood Badge course S9-114, noting that 34 of 38 participants completed their tickets over 18 months under Scoutmaster Elaine Zeigler.
- [Past Wood Badge Courses](https://woodbadgealabama.com/past-wood-badge-courses/): An overview of GAC Wood Badge course history starting in 2001, with context about the rewritten 21st Century syllabus.
- [Scenes from Weekend 1 Part 3](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scenes-weekend-1-part-3/): Photos and updates from the approach to Weekend 2 of course S9-114 at Camp Westmoreland.
- [Scenes From Weekend 1 Part 2](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scenes-weekend-1-part-2/): Additional photos from Weekend 1 of course S9-114.
- [Scenes From Weekend 1](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scenes-weekend-1/): Photo roundup from Weekend 1 of course S9-114 at Camp Westmoreland as Weekend 2 approached.
- [WoodBadgeAlabama.com S.M.A.R.T. Goals](https://woodbadgealabama.com/woodbadgealabama-com-s-m-r-t-goals/): The site's five S.M.A.R.T. goals written after Weekend 1 of course S9-114, modeling the same goal-writing process participants go through.
- [WoodBadgeAlabama.com Vision Statement](https://woodbadgealabama.com/woodbadgealabama-com-vision-statement/): The vision statement for WoodBadgeAlabama.com, written as a model ahead of course S9-114 beginning.
- [Team Development in a Bar Rescue](https://woodbadgealabama.com/team-development-bar-rescue/): A look at how the team development model taught at Wood Badge shows up in unexpected places — like the TV show Bar Rescue.
- [S9-113 Course Page Is Published](https://woodbadgealabama.com/s9-113-course-page-published/): Announcement that the course S9-113 page went live on the site after Weekend 2 concluded.
- [Wood Badge Works!](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-works/): A participant story about how a ticket item involving ILST planning and NYLT recruiting made a concrete impact on a scout troop.
- [S9-113 Wood Badgers receive their beads](https://woodbadgealabama.com/1234/): The story of Shawn Holcomb and Reed Carpenter from course S9-113 receiving their beads at a joint court of honor where Shawn's son also received his Eagle Scout award.
- [Are You Trained For Your Scouting Position?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/are-you-trained-for-your-scouting-position/): A post about the importance of position-specific training as a prerequisite for Wood Badge, emphasizing the "Every Scout Deserves A Trained Leader" principle.
- [You must be trained for your position to attend Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/must-trained-position-attend-wood-badge/): A reminder that position-specific training must be completed before registering for Wood Badge, with a timeline warning for course S9-115 applicants.
- [The BSA Vision Statement](https://woodbadgealabama.com/bsa-vision-statement/): A look at the BSA's official vision statement and how it connects to the personal vision statement writing that participants do at Wood Badge.

### Recruiting & Why Attend

- [Planning Ahead for Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/planning-ahead-for-wood-badge/): Practical advice on how to prepare to attend Wood Badge — addressing cost, time off work, and registration timing.
- [Wood Badge Scoutmaster Prep Work](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scoutmaster-prep-work/): Shawn Wright's prep process as Scoutmaster for course S9-119.
- [How to pay for Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/how-to-pay-for-wood-badge/): Practical strategies for covering the $250 course fee, including scholarships and payment plans.
- [Wood Badge costs $20 a month if you start saving now](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-costs-20-a-month-if-you-start-saving-now/): A simple savings framing to make the Wood Badge fee feel manageable over time.
- [Why You Should Attend A Wood Badge Course](https://woodbadgealabama.com/attend-wood-badge-course/): A video post featuring four Wood Badge staffers making the case for attending course S9-114.
- [Have you been putting off Wood Badge Training until the time is right?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/putting-wood-badge-training-time-right/): A recruiting push ahead of course S9-114 — the only GAC course for 2014.
- [Wood Badge and the Patrol Method](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-and-the-patrol-method/): How Wood Badge uses the patrol method to teach leadership, and why it matters for scouters at every experience level.
- [Who can you ask about Wood Badge?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/who-can-you-ask-about-wood-badge/): Guidance on how to find real answers about Wood Badge from staffers and alumni in your area.
- [Attending Wood Badge Out of Council](https://woodbadgealabama.com/attending-wood-badge-out-of-council/): Information for scouters from neighboring councils who want to attend a GAC Wood Badge course.
- [National Youth Leadership Training – Wood Badge for Youth](https://woodbadgealabama.com/national-youth-leadership-training-wood-badge-for-youth/): An overview of NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) and how it mirrors Wood Badge for youth leaders.
- [Wood Badge By The Numbers](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-by-the-numbers/): An early video post showing how the cumulative impact of Wood Badge tickets adds up across units, districts, and councils.
- [Wood Badge By The Numbers (2)](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-by-the-numbers-2/): A follow-up video for course S9-113, updating the numbers to reflect that course's staffing and participation.
- [The Digital Eagle Sidebar – Guest Edition](https://woodbadgealabama.com/digital-eagle-sidebar-guest-edition/): Shawn Wright was featured in the GAC's Digital Eagle newsletter ahead of course S9-115, sharing his story and promoting the course.
- [Is being a scout leader Easy Hard or Hard Easy?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/is-being-a-scout-leader-hard-easy-or-easy-hard/): A reflection on the challenge and reward of scout leadership, drawing on Mark Miller and Ken Blanchard's leadership writing.
- [Coming home on Saturday](https://woodbadgealabama.com/coming-home-on-saturday/): A personal analogy comparing a family trip to Chattanooga with the Wood Badge weekend experience.
- [Camp Sequoyah is a Cool Camp according to Scouting Magazine](https://woodbadgealabama.com/camp-sequoyah-is-a-cool-camp-according-to-scouting-magazine/): A post celebrating Camp Sequoyah being named a "Cool Camp" by Scouting Magazine, highlighting the lake activities, conservation projects, and merit badge opportunities at the site.
- [Start the Countdown Clock](https://woodbadgealabama.com/start-the-countdown-clock/): Marking six months until the first day of course S9-113 and building anticipation for participants.
- [You're home from Wood Badge before Sunday](https://woodbadgealabama.com/youre-home-from-wood-badge-before-sunday/): Explains the GAC two-weekend course format and why the schedule works for leaders who can't take a full week away.
- [Your first step to Wood Badge could be at University of Scouting](https://woodbadgealabama.com/your-first-step-to-wood-badge-could-be-at-university-of-scouting/): A post encouraging scouters to attend the GAC University of Scouting at Jefferson State Community College as a starting point toward Wood Badge.
- [ScoutFest 2014 Is One Year From Today](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scoutfest-2014-one-year-today/): A post marking the one-year countdown to ScoutFest 2014 at Point Mallard Park, including a Wood Badge Reunion.
- [Who's going to the National Scout Jamboree this year?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/whos-going-to-the-national-scout-jamboree-this-year/): A reflection on the National Scout Jamboree and its connection to the broader scouting experience.

### Tips & Practical Advice

- [MacLaren Tartan Fabric for Wood Badge Projects](https://woodbadgealabama.com/maclaren-tartan-fabric-for-wood-badge-projects/): Originally posted on Critter-Life.com — how to source authentic MacLaren tartan fabric for the decorative Scoutmaster's table used during Wood Badge courses.
- [The Boondoggle](https://woodbadgealabama.com/the-boondoggle/): The history and meaning of the word "boondoggle" and how it connects to the leather craft activity done at Wood Badge.
- [You can earn the Wood Badge 70th Anniversary Award](https://woodbadgealabama.com/you-can-earn-the-wood-badge-70th-anniversary-award/): Information about the special 70th Anniversary Award commemorating the first American Wood Badge course held at Schiff Scout Reservation on July 31, 1948.
- [Another use for the Kudu Horn](https://woodbadgealabama.com/another-use-for-the-kudu-horn/): A lighthearted post from Shawn Wright on finding a creative use for the Kudu Horn while preparing for course S9-119.
- [Wood Badge Christmas Cards](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-christmas-cards/): A post about Wood Badge-themed Christmas cards available through the quartermaster's store.
- [Is your Annual Health and Medical Record Up-To-Date?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/is-your-annual-health-and-medical-record-up-to-date/): An explanation of the BSA's Annual Health and Medical Record requirements (Parts A, B, and C) for Wood Badge participants and staff.
- [This is a tent. You need one.](https://woodbadgealabama.com/this-is-a-tent-you-need-one/): Gear advice for incoming participants of course S9-113 regarding tent requirements at Camp Sequoyah's first weekend location.
- [There will be singing at Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/there-will-be-singing-at-wood-badge/): An early, pre-course warning — you will sing at Wood Badge, a lot, and you will probably end up enjoying it.
- [Rocket Boys and Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/rocket-boys-and-wood-badge/): A post about the tradition of watching the film *October Sky* (based on *Rocket Boys*) during Wood Badge and what it means to the course experience.

### Behind the Scenes & Staff Perspectives

- [So you want to staff a wood badge course](https://woodbadgealabama.com/so-you-want-to-staff-a-wood-badge-course/): Shawn Wright's experience being asked to serve as Scoutmaster for course S9-119, and what staffing a Wood Badge course involves.
- [The Wood Badge Quiz Is Live!](https://woodbadgealabama.com/the-wood-badge-quiz-is-live/): Announcement of the 50-question Wood Badge knowledge quiz on the site.
- [Leading Change in Scouting](https://woodbadgealabama.com/leading-change-in-scouting/): A reflection on the LDS church's 2019 decision to end its BSA partnership and what that change means for scouting units and leadership.
- [The Woods of Wood Badge S9-113](https://woodbadgealabama.com/woods-wood-badge-s9-113/): A post from the quartermaster about the native southeastern woods sourced for course S9-113, cut in forests near Huntsville and Albertville, Alabama.
- [Back To The Real World](https://woodbadgealabama.com/back-real-world/): Shawn Wright's post-course reflection after returning from Wood Badge S9-113, exhausted but humming "Back to Gilwell."
- [We've Got A New Header](https://woodbadgealabama.com/weve-got-new-header/): A site update announcing a new banner header for WoodBadgeAlabama.com.
- [It's a Wild Weekend at Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wild-weekend-wood-badge/): A live update from Wood Badge S9-113 Weekend 1, directing followers to the course's Facebook page for real-time updates.
- [Follow the Wood Badge Course This Week](https://woodbadgealabama.com/follow-wood-badge-course-week/): Instructions for friends and family of participants to follow along with course S9-113 via the course Facebook page.
- [The Staff Met For A Camp Sequoyah Walkthrough](https://woodbadgealabama.com/the-staff-met-for-a-camp-sequoyah-walkthrough/): A recap of the senior staff walkthrough at Camp Sequoyah six months before course S9-113.
- [Staff orientation weekend is in the books](https://woodbadgealabama.com/staff-orientation-weekend-is-in-the-books/): Recap of the S9-113 staff's first group meeting at the Scout Hut in Mentone, including a trip to Camp Comer to recruit Cub Scout leaders at the OA Pow-Wow.
- [Prior Wood Badge course information is online](https://woodbadgealabama.com/prior-wood-badge-course-information-is-online/): An announcement that course history pages going back to the earliest Greater Alabama Council Wood Badge courses are now available on the site.
- [Leading When You Have Doubt](https://woodbadgealabama.com/leading-doubt/): A reflection on the challenge of leading when you lack confidence, and how Wood Badge addresses the gap between ability and skill.
- [How Has Wood Badge Helped You In Your Career?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-helped-career/): Stories of how Wood Badge leadership skills transfer directly to professional careers — skills that companies otherwise spend thousands to teach.
- [It takes a Quartermaster to build a Wood Badge course](https://woodbadgealabama.com/it-takes-a-quartermaster-to-build-a-wood-badge-course/): A behind-the-scenes look at the quartermaster role and the enormous logistical effort required to set up a Wood Badge course before participants arrive.
- [You won't forget your Troop Guide from Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/you-wont-forget-your-troop-guide-from-wood-badge/): An overview of the Troop Guide role — the staff members who guide participant patrols through the course and follow up on ticket completion for 18 months afterward.
- [The Venture Crew is ready to help](https://woodbadgealabama.com/the-venture-crew-is-ready-to-help/): An appreciation of the youth Venturing crew members who volunteer to help staff the second weekend of each Wood Badge course.
- [What Made You Go To Wood Badge?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/made-go-wood-badge/): Shawn Wright's personal story of how he first discovered Wood Badge through a flyer at a BALOO training event.
- [Happy Father's Day to all our Scout Dads](https://woodbadgealabama.com/happy-fathers-day-to-all-our-scout-dads/): A Father's Day reflection thanking scout dads who stepped up to lead without having scouting backgrounds themselves.

### Staff Profiles (S9-113)

- [Meet the Staff — Dana Rice, Venturing Advisor](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-dana-rice-venturing-advisor/): Profile of Dana Rice, Cubmaster and Venturing Advisor on Wood Badge course S9-113.
- [Meet the Staff — Karen Fowler, Venturing Advisor](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-karen-fowler-venturing-advisor/): Profile of Karen Fowler, Troop Committee Chair and BALOO Course Director on course S9-113.
- [Meet the Staff — Cindy Perry, Grub Staff](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-cindy-perry-grub-staff/): Profile of Cindy Perry, Cheaha Training Chair and Philmont Ambassador, serving on the grub (kitchen) staff for S9-113.
- [Meet the Staff – Brian Godsy, Troop Guide](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-brian-godsy-troop-guide/): Profile of Brian Godsy, Advancement Chair and Order of the Arrow Brotherhood member, serving as a Troop Guide for S9-113.
- [Meet the Staff – Donna Jackson, Troop Guide](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-donna-jackson-troop-guide/): Profile of Donna Jackson, Committee Member and ASM for Troop 27, serving as a Troop Guide for S9-113.
- [Meet the Staff — David Posey](https://woodbadgealabama.com/meet-the-staff-david-posey/): Profile of David Posey, recently retired Cubmaster, serving on course S9-113.
- [Wanted: Venturing Crew to serve on course S9-114](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wanted-venturing-crew-serve-course-s9-114/): A call for a Venturing Crew to volunteer for the second weekend of course S9-114.

### Participant Stories & "Why I Attended"

- [Thank You to our healthcare workers](https://woodbadgealabama.com/thank-you-to-our-healthcare-workers/): S9-119 participant Ken Newton adapted his Wood Badge ticket goals after COVID-19 disrupted his plans, choosing to honor healthcare workers and first responders.
- [Cotton Pickin' Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/cotton-pickin-wood-badge/): Stories of how the participants from course S9-114 and their completed tickets made an impact in scouting units and communities across the council.
- [Wood Badge: For Scouting & Beyond!](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-scouting-beyond/): A participant's story of how Wood Badge leadership skills carried over into a professional genetics conference where they volunteered as a roundtable moderator.
- [Everyone needs to go – A Wood Badge testimonial](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-testimonial/): A first-hand testimonial from a participant just back from Weekend 1 of course S9-115.
- [Funny things happen due to Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/funny-things-happen-due-to-wood-badge/): A story following the unexpected chain of events — from a diversity ticket to community leadership — set in motion by attending Wood Badge.
- [Why Did You Go To Wood Badge?](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-did-you-go-to-wood-badge/): A call for Wood Badge alumni to share their reasons for attending, with responses collected from participants over the years.
- [Why I went to Wood Badge – A Mother's perspective](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-i-went-to-wood-badge-a-mothers-perspective/): A "Why I Attended" story from a mother who came to scouting without a youth scouting background and found Wood Badge transformative.
- [Why I went to Wood Badge – UK edition](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-i-went-to-wood-badge-uk-edition/): A Wood Badge story from a scouter who joined UK Scouting as a Wolf Cub in 1962, eventually finding his way to an American Wood Badge course decades later.
- [Why I went to Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-i-went-to-wood-badge/): Shawn Wright's personal story of why he attended Wood Badge for the first time.
- [Why Join](https://woodbadgealabama.com/why-join/): Another "Why I Attended" perspective from a scouter who went through scouting as a youth and came back to lead.
- [Why I Attended Wood Badge](https://woodbadgealabama.com/reason-ellis/): A participant's testimonial about how their troop's leadership situation led them to seek out Wood Badge training.

### History & Miscellaneous

- [The origin of the neckerchief color](https://woodbadgealabama.com/the-origin-of-the-neckerchief-color/): A look at the real history behind the color of the Wood Badge neckerchief, told by Scout Historian Colin Walker, with additional context about the beads.
- [ScouterWiki.com, a resource for Scouters](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scouterwiki-com-a-resource-for-scouters/): Announcement that Vulcan Wiki has been renamed and expanded to ScouterWiki.com as a broader resource for scouters across the Greater Alabama Council.
- [The LDS and BSA Celebrate 100 Years Together](https://woodbadgealabama.com/lds-bsa-celebrate-100-years-together/): A post tied to the Thursday-Saturday format of course S9-113, which accommodated LDS scouters, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the LDS-BSA partnership.
- [The Last Minute Ticket](https://woodbadgealabama.com/last-minute-ticket/): Shawn Wright's reflection on completing his own last-minute ticket item as Scribe for course S9-113 before Weekend 2.
- [Wood Badge Works!](https://woodbadgealabama.com/wood-badge-works/): A participant account of ticket items that directly improved their troop through ILST and NYLT recruiting.
- [Scoutmaster David Keith – Vulcan District Award of Merit Recipient](https://woodbadgealabama.com/scoutmaster-david-keith-vulcan-district-award-of-merit-recipient/): Congratulations to S9-113 Scoutmaster David Keith on receiving the Vulcan District Award of Merit, joined by two other Wood Badge alumni.
- [Congratulations to Hornaday Award Winner Thomas Dunn](https://woodbadgealabama.com/congratulations-to-hornaday-award-winner/): Recognition of Thomas Dunn's William T. Hornaday Award from the Greater Alabama Council for conservation work connected to Wood Badge goals.

## Categories

- [Course Information](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/course-information/): Posts about current and past Wood Badge courses in the Greater Alabama Council, including schedules, recaps, and participant statistics.
- [Behind The Scene](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/behind-the-scene/): Posts offering a look at staff preparation, site walkthroughs, quartermaster work, and the inner workings of presenting a Wood Badge course.
- [Staff](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/staff-2/): Staff profiles, staffing opportunities, and stories from people who have served on Wood Badge course staffs.
- [Participant Stories](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/participant-stories/): First-person stories from Wood Badge participants about how the course changed their scouting and professional lives.
- [Why I Attended](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/why-i-attended/): A collection of responses to the question "Why did you go to Wood Badge?" from participants across the country.
- [Tips](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/tips/): Practical advice for prospective and current Wood Badge participants and staff.
- [Recruiting](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/recruiting/): Posts aimed at encouraging scouters to sign up for Wood Badge, addressing common objections and highlighting the benefits.
- [Application](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/application/): Posts covering the application and registration process for Wood Badge, including prerequisites and payment.
- [Camp](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/camp/): Posts about the camp locations used for Wood Badge courses, primarily Camp Sequoyah and Camp Comer in the Greater Alabama Council.
- [Chartered Organization](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/chartered-organization/): Posts related to chartered organizations within Scouting America and their relationship to Wood Badge.
- [Miscellaneous](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/miscellaneous/): Posts that don't fit neatly into other categories — Wood Badge trivia, history tidbits, and cultural observations.
- [Work](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/work/): Posts about how Wood Badge leadership skills apply in professional and workplace settings.
- [Uncategorized](https://woodbadgealabama.com/category/uncategorized/): Miscellaneous posts without a specific category assignment.