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Why Do We Offer Wood Badge?

To build stronger Scout units. Wood Badge strengthens your Scouting unit - your child’s unit - by empowering you and your leadership team with the skills, vision, and energy needed to lead more effectively and deliver a truly impactful program.

To have fun and reignite your passion. Just as our youth grow through fun, challenging, and life-changing adventures, Wood Badge gives you the chance to do the same. It’s your turn to discover, laugh, reflect, and rediscover the spark that brought you to Scouting.

To connect with others. Wood Badge brings you together with Scouters from across the region, forming a valuable network of like-minded leaders. The relationships you build here will inspire and support you long after the course ends.

To understand the “What” and “Why” of Scouting. You’ll gain deeper insight into the purpose behind Scouting’s programs and methods - understanding not just how we do things, but why they matter in shaping the next generation.

To gain lifelong skills and perspective. From communication and conflict resolution to servant leadership and team development, Wood Badge provides practical, real-world tools that stay with you - for Scouting and beyond.

To strengthen every group you lead. The lessons you take from Wood Badge will enrich not only your Scout unit, but also your workplace, your family, your faith community, and any team you serve.

Wood Badge is an immersive, hands-on leadership course that brings Scouting’s Aims and Methods to life through dynamic team development experiences in an active outdoor setting. Designed for adult leaders, it equips participants with the tools, insights, and confidence needed to deliver a high-quality program that empowers youth to grow into their full potential.

Partial scholarships are available to help offset the cost of the course. To learn more or to apply please contact Course Director Jess Medinger.

Registration for the 2025 popcorn sale is now live. As we did last year, kernel profiles from the previous sale were cleared, so everyone will need to make a new profile. They can use your same information as years past, you just need to select new user the first time around. Here are exact instructions with how to register:

Certified Angling Instructor Training is now available! Are you searching for programs that will lead to member recruitment, reactivation, and retention? Then we think we have just the Scouting America Supplemental Training course for you! Like many things in Scouting, the Scouting America Certified Angling Instructor (CAI) training course is designed to be fun with a purpose!

Mark your calendars! The 23rd annual Bay-Lakes Council Sporting Clay Shoot will be held on Friday, September 5th at Triple J Wing & Clay in Brillion, WI. Contact Kallee Kissling if you have any questions.

Have you been thinking about a Philmont Trek? Now is the time to sign up for the 2026 Bay Lakes Council Philmont Contingent!

What is it? Every year ,the council reserves a number of spots at Philmont. This means that your unit does not need to find a complete crew with adult leadership and hope to get assigned a crew in the yearly lottery. All you need is to sign up yourself, or yourself and a buddy or two, (with or without an adult leader). You will be assigned a crew with like-minded adventurers from around the council. An orientation meeting will be held in December for the entire contingent, and after that crews will hold monthly meetings to get to know each other, pick their itinerary, and prepare for the trek.

What is an itinerary? Philmont Scout Ranch covers 250,000 acres and it is impossible to see it all in one trip. Each crew chooses a specific itinerary that includes your route, campsites, and activities along the way. You will have a chance to explore the wonderful back country of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Cimarron, New Mexico. You will also have a chance to experience living history at the original lodges and homesteads on the property with staff in period dress. You will participate in Scouting activities beyond the confines of summer camp such as rock climbing in the mountains, horseback riding through meadows, blacksmithing before exploring a gold mine, or climbing high mountain peaks (up to 12,441 feet), and the list goes on.

When is it? The contingent will depart Saturday, July 11, 2026, to travel by coach bus, Amtrak train, and shuttle bus to base camp. You will spend 11 days and 10 nights at Philmont, then arrive back home on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Who can go? The Council contingent is open to registered male and female youth and adults. Youth must be at least 14 years of age or 13 and have completed 8th grade by the time their trek begins.

How much does it cost? The contingent budget is $2,345 which includes all travel, the Philmont fee, and (2) contingent class B quick dry t-shirts. A $500 deposit will secure your spot in the contingent, with remaining payments to be made in October, December, February and April.

Why sign up now? Spaces are currently available, but you will want to sign up soon in order to secure your spot in contingent. All spots will be filled on a first come basis, but unused spots may have to be turned in for other Councils to use. Philmont is truly “Scouting Paradise” -- an adventure you will not want to miss.

To sign up, complete the registration and mail your $500 deposit to the Council Service Center (PO BOX 267, Appleton WI 54912) and the Council coordinator will be in touch with you with further details. Adult leaders, please pass this on to youth and parents in your unit. If you have any questions please contact Corey Davis or Jerry Dold.

Scouting’s flagship event is one-of-a-kind. It’s a gathering of tens of thousands of Scouts, leaders, and Jamboree Service Team members that showcases everything that is great about the Boy Scouts of America. Over the course of 10 summer days, once every four years, the Boy Scouts of America gathers together. Scouts and Scouters who attend will explore all kinds of adventures—stadium shows, pioneer village, Mount Jack hikes, adventure sports and more—in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. With 10,000 acres at the Summit to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunities to build Scouting memories.

Summer is flying past and before you know it, we’ll be in the midst of fall recruiting. I don’t need to tell you how important our recruiting and retention efforts to our units and our Council. After all, without new and continuing Scouts we would simply cease to exist. We have lost too many units since the global pandemic and as is often the case with organizations, the losses are suffered one or two members at a time seemingly catching us off-guard when suddenly we get too small to function well. It is time we turn our undivided and united attention to strengthening our units, recruiting new Scouts, and building new units, both Packs and Troops in communities we have left and those we have never served.

Feedback: Have a thought or question? We'd love to hear from you. Please share your comments with us. It is easy; just reply to this email or send a message to guide@baylakesbsa.org.