About 10 years ago, I was a Cub Scout Wolf Den leader. I
showed up every week, worked on helping the boys complete all of the activities
in their books, went to Pack meeting, but that is where it ended.
I was encouraged to go to Round Table, Wood Badge, and more for training, but I must admit….I rolled my eyes and avoided all of those things like the plague!
I truly had very little understanding or appreciation of the purpose, methods and goals of scouting. I did the bare minimum and was not thrilled to be part of it. When my son earned his Wolf badge and moved up to Bears, I was ready to be done.
Looking back I wonder how much better of an experience it could have been for my boy and the other boys his age if I had gone to the training and learned the purpose behind what I thought was the madness. My attitude alone would have improved tremendously! What if I had gone to Round Table? What a huge difference even that would have made!
Since then, I have gone to Wood Badge training and Round Tables and University of Scouting. I have learned so many great things and have caught the Vision of what Scouting can do for the youth of the world. The boys are so excited to be cub scouts and it is such a great place to teach them and work with them to truly learn those values, skills, fun and adventure that scouting can teach.
Understanding the purpose makes me more willing to put in the effort it takes to make whatever I am doing better. I think a lot of people are like this!
I wish every Cub Scout leader and anyone who works with Scouts or youth would go to Wood Badge and learn they reason why behind all of the things that we do and catch the Vision of scouting and leadership.
So if you have any reason to work with the youth and children of the world, come to Wood Badge!
It will make all the difference!
