KEVIN HANSEN AND LAURIE BECKETT
COMPLETE SCOUTING WOOD BADGE TRAINING

Wood Badge is a two weekend, six day course for adults involved in leading the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venture Scout programs in the Boy Scouts of America. This training course was instituted by Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting in 1919 and is the highest state of training that can be obtained by a volunteer Scouter. It is in effect in over 100 countries of the world and is considered a "mountain top experience" for Scouters. Most colleges and universities accept Wood Badge Training for credit as part of continuing education.

The participants are put into six person "patrols" and follow a course of study and outdoor activities that help them to bring quality programs to the youth involved in Scouting. Upon the completion of the six day training phase, they then must complete an application phase consisting of five items that they will complete to improve Scouting for their youth and also improve themselves. This is called "Working Their Ticket".

When they complete their training and "work their ticket" the only reward they receive is two wooden beads that they may wear with their uniform. They also can wear a special Scout neckerchief that is reserved for Wood Badge.

Kevin Hansen is a Bear Cub Scout Leader in Cub Scout Pack 525 in Sebastian, FL that is chartered to the Roseland United Methodist Church, and Laurie Beckett is an Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 599, also in Sebastian, and is chartered to the Sebastian Lodge of Elks. They were both participants in Wood Badge Course SR 819. Kevin was a member of the Eagle Patrol and Laurie was a member of the Bobwhite Patrol.

They both were awarded their Wood Badge Beads and Neckerchiefs at a ceremony that was held at the Indian River District Adult Awards night on February 11, 2008. The Scoutmaster of Course SR 819, Mary Ann Cain conducted the ceremony. They were all then joined in celebration by 22 Scouters from Indian River District who have also attended Wood Badge at other times.