Wood Badge SR-602-7-13

May 16, 2013Course Debrief

Start-Stop-Continue Notes

Brad Nesheim, Staff Adviser

  1. Continue
  1. Following the syllabus with no shortcuts
  2. Using daily matrices. I love ‘em, can’t live without ‘em
  3. Attending all staff meetings. The staff adviser learns much by engaging as a full member of the staff
  4. Promoting Wood Badge attendance with all Scouting volunteers. There is always the next course and each volunteer will benefit regardless of position or tenure
  5. Utilizing both of the council’s great camps for the two weekends
  6. Build the course budget with the course director a full year in advance of the course following the activity budget and cash handling procedures of the council
  7. Utilizing the Scout Service Center for much of the printing needs for the course as far in advance as possible
  8. Securing a dedicated copier machine for on-site use for SDM-3 and the two weekends
  9. The excellent email communication between course director and staff and course director and participants.
  10. Collecting course fees, health forms and insurance forms well in advance
  11. Requiring that all staff rehearse their troop presentations to a small group and the entire staff. This was incredibly helpful.
  12. Arranging for the snowfall. It added a special touch to the course.
  1. Start
  1. Communicate better with the trading post scribe and the assistant course director for stuff the course budget and the council’s procedures and requirements for the handling of money, receipts, credit and debit card payments, inventory, use of council purchase orders, and the progress toward a balanced budget
  2. Identifying Scouters with diversity to attend Wood Badge training.
  3. Recruiting Scouters with diversity to serve on Wood Badge staff.
  4. Consider moving the interfaith worship service from Day 6 to Day 5
  1. Stop.
  1. For SDM3 and Weekend # 1, all staff need a more effective bathing arrangement.
  2. Serving such large food portions for Weekend #1. Food was great but too plentiful!
  1. Comments

Serving as a member of the staff of this course was among the best experiences I have had in my professional Scouting career! I cannot imagine a Wood Badge course or any other training experience being any more effective and expertly conducted. I am grateful to each member of this great staff for their hard work, preparation, enthusiasm, professionalism, and Scouting Spirit. Interacting with the 56 course participants was special and I am convinced that they all had a great experience that will result in a great program for our youth members. That’s what this was and is always about-the youth.

I just don’t think that very much needs to change.