Personal Development

"Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light. At the same time it is educative, and (like Mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receiveth." — BP

Steps to becoming a better Scouter

1. From your Group Commissioner or Group Committee get:
   • Progress Record for your role
   • Job description for your role
   • The Leader's Handbook for your Section
2. Choose a Coach…
   • Choose a coach who you can work with and who will work with you (Experienced Scouter, Service Team representative, Commissioner, etc). If you are a candidate for the Woodbadge, your selection of coach needs to be approved by the Area Commissioner or the DC's designate.
3. Assess and evaluate your current knowledge & skills.
   • Together with your coach, use the Progress Record — to the extent of your job description and the standards as outlined in the Leader's Handbook for that Section — to identify the knowledge and skills that you that need or want to develop.
4. Design Your Personal Development Plan!
   • With your Coach, identify specific skills that you want to develop in the coming months or year.
   • Plan strategies on how you will acquire the knowledge and skills that you have identified.
5. Check the Calendar
   • See what training opportunities are available to help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need. It can be found in the newsletter, online at the Area website or you can contact your Deputy Area Commissioner for Development.
6. Continue to assess and evaluate
   • Honestly reassess and evaluate your knowledge and skills so that you continue to provide a stimulating and exciting Scouting Adventure for our youth members!/li>
   • And we do all of this because the youth we serve deserve nothing less than the best we can offer them!/li>
   • Note: When a Woodbadge candidate successfully demonstrates all of the elements on the Progress Record, they have completed the requirements for the Woodbadge.

Progress Records

The Progress Records and the accompanying Learning Objectives can be found at the national website under "For leaders" and then "Forms" section as Woodbadge Basic and Advanced Learning Objectives.

Comments / Questions

Contact the Deputy Area Commissioner for Development if you have any comments or questions regarding training and development.