Wood Badge

Since Sunday night I have been singing

"There are owls, owls, owls, eating paper towels in the store! ...

There are bears, bears, bears with curlers in their hair at the store! ...

There are beavers, beavers, beavers, wielding rusty cleavers! ...

There are bob, bob, bobwhites, wearing silken tights at the store! ... "

The song includes eight different animals. These are the kinds of things you learn at Wood Badge. Very useful, handy dandy things. Things like how to build a water rocket, how to play "Oh Deer!", how to cheat at catching candy in a bowl, and most importantly, how to stay awake during a class after lunch.

So what is Wood Badge? It's the ultimate Scout camp experience, for adults. It's the most fun you can jam-pack into 6 days, only to be out-funned if they were to add a live appearance by The Jonas Brothers. Only the elite and true Scouters attend. (Actually, anyone who has a Scouting position should attend.. don't wait to go, either!) Then you get to become one of the noble and great ones who get to wear those mysterious beads with their neckerchiefs.

Once you are there, you find out what animal patrol you represent. I am in the Antelope patrol, the noblest of the patrols you could be in. Antelopes are graceful, clean, strong, smart and beautiful. Unlike foxes, which stink up the den and are often mistaken for weasels. Other acceptable animals are Bears and Bobwhites, but only because the Antelope herd has a secret family alliance with them. The rest of the animals are, well, they're just there.One of the best parts, besides the food, games, and classes are the caliber of people you get to be around. I was glad to attend with one of my favorite people ever. We didn't have much spare time to complain together about the lack of spare time, but we did enjoy harassing fellow Scouters together.It's one of the most fun outdoor experiences I've had, and I've had a lot. Shoot, I majored in the outdoors and got graded on camping, so this says a lot. I felt like I've never laughed so hard, had so much fun, or learned so much in such a short weekend. I'm excited that I get to back in a few weeks and do some more. I would recommend that anyone who does anything in anyway for Scouts attend Wood Badge. Don't have any boys? Don't have a Scouting position? Volunteer, adopt a son, make one up! You won't regret it. It's a memorable, fabulous experience and you'll be so glad you did.