Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day Two

Day One

8 Days left. Are you ready?

With 8 days left you may have already started making piles of "stuff" that you'll want to take with you. I'm sure there may be a few questions floating around in your head such as, "Do I take this extra sock just in case one foot happens to be colder than the other?" Hopefully the following may quiet those voices you are hearing. If not, send me a message and we'll do our best to exorcise those questions with consecrated answers.

• You mention in today's email about the "questionnaire". It has about 24 questions on it and matches the "Personal Resource Questionnaire" on the Council's Wood Badge website. The Council's Wood Badge website also has a separate 20-question Pre-Course Assignment
  

  Yes, the questionnaire will help us know you and what your physical or dietary needs may be for course, so we like to have this prior in order to be prepared. The 20-questions should be prepared prior to attending, but it is for you only. We will not collect this form.
  

• The Wood Badge page from the Council indicates Snyder Mill Lodge and a latitude/longitude-based directional map (which puts it on Olympic Parkway near the Kimball Junction).
  

  It is directly below the Olympic Park. You will take the street on the right just after the Olympic Park road. There will be two driveways within a few feet of each other. Take the first. The campsite is actually owned by the LDS Canyon Rim Stake.
  

• What time are we to arrive on Thursday of the first week, and what time do you think we'll dismiss on Saturday.
  

  Check-in begins at 7:30am on May 8. Saturday we will finish up by 4pm, but may be able to get out a bit sooner. If, by chance, you have something that may require you to leave early, like a family reunion, arrangements can be made. You will need to speak with Vedel and I will probably need to meet your family. On one of the last family reunions I went to we played "Genealogy Bingo". If your reunions are worth cutting out for, I'll just swing by for some Jell-o salad and entertainment.
  

• I will bring nearly everything on the equipment list you sent out. If there is anything else we may need, please let me know.
  

  There really isn't much else you'll need, but if there is please let us know. The entire staff is dedicated to making your experience comfortable and enjoyable. Just don't sit in my chair at the campfire.
  

• I assume that we do not all need our own vehicles, and that carpooling will be okay.
  

  Carpooling is encouraged. In fact, after the first week you will have many new friends with which to pool cars.
  

  
  

• I am really looking forward to this experience. Do I have any say as to which patrol I will be a part of?
  

  Absolutely, you can say what patrol you'd like to be in and we'll say, "Good luck." There is actually a complex algorithm used that factors in all of the information that we can gather from you. We then use an online psychic who can tell us who can snore the loudest. During our final staff meeting we will meet with a criminal profiler to determine what each of your personalities may be. With all of this hypothetical information gathered we'll use voodoo dolls created in your image and we'll throw darts with the patrol names listed on them. Whatever dart hits your doll, that's your patrol. (Disclaimer: No dolls were harmed in the making of these patrols. Wood Badge staff is not responsible for any sudden striking pain felt by participants prior to attending the course. Any pain felt during the course is purely coincidental.)
  

Finding Snydermill Lodge

Getting to the lodge is actually quite easy. From the top of the Kimball Junction exit you will drive about .7 miles south. You will see two driveways. The first is marked by a green mailbox on a white pole. The second is for the Bear Hollow Condos which, according to the sign, are currently being closed out in the $300s (you'll see the sign).

You will want to take the first driveway and go through the gate marked "Canyon Rim Stake - Private Property". The paved road quickly ends and turns into a dirt road. Driving back behind the condos you will quickly come to the lower parking lot. The caretaker's home is just ahead and there is a bowery on the right. The bowery is where you will check in. After checkin, you will be given instructions on how to get you and your gear up to the lodge.

Three Weeks Until Wood Badge

This weekend the staff of the May Wood Badge course held an overnight development meeting. Snow levels from the recent series of storms have not quite melted yet and our weekend adventure began with a ride in the snow cat from the parking lot to the cabin.

We sampled the fine cuisine provided by the quartermasters. We reviewed daily events and presentation of the course. We did our best to select some of the outdoor sites we'll need for different activities. We were hindered a bit by the snow.

Although the temperature wasn't that cold and the snow was only knee deep in places, we're still hoping that these next three weeks are warm and dry. At the rate the snow has been melting, you may not realize there was this much snow on the ground, but it's still important to be prepared.

Uniform Questions

There has been in inquiry regarding uniform requirements. As others may also be wondering, the questions and answers are listed here.

Class B Uniform, can this be any scout-related t-shirt (e.g., a 2007 Troop Klondike t-shirt), or does it have to be purchased from an official scout shop? 

Your example of a troop Klondike shirt is very much a class B uniform and will be appropriate.  Some participants may want to purchase a Wood Badge shirt (available for $18 thru XL, a little more for XXL and above).

2 pairs of pants/shorts.  Does the other pair need to be official scout pants, or can I use a pair of jeans?

You can get by with one pair of Scout pants for the classroom portion.  For the second weekend a pair of jeans for the service project will work out.  If you need to change out of your scout pants, jeans will work.  Don't worry about buying a second pair.

3-4 pairs of scout socks.  I only own one pair of official scout socks.  Are there adequate "washing facilities" to wash a simple pair of socks each evening?

You could wash your socks out in the bathroom sink.  Another suggestion is khaki-colored socks that are cheaper in price. 

Will an appropriate neckerchief, slide, and hat be provided for us?

The neckerchief, slide and hat will be provided as part of the course.

Meet Your Staff

Greetings

Greetings from the May 2008 Wood Badge staff. As we draw closer to May you can expect to be contacted by a staff member who will provide information you will need prior to attending.

Until you hear from us, you can get a head start on the items required prior to your arrival on course. If you have not completed a class 3 medical form within the last year, you will need one prior to arrival. (Class 3 is required for Wood Badge, even if you are under 40.) In addition, you can begin working on the Pre-Course-20 Questions and Personal Resource Questionnaire.

The Personal Resource Questionnaire will enable us to better serve you while you are on course. The Pre-Course Assignment 20 Questions is a list of questions that will enable you to get more out of your Wood Badge experience. Review this form carefully and be honest to yourself in the responses. We will not collect this form. This is for your use to help you develop a clear understanding of your interests, values, and sense of the future.

Links to all of these forms can be found on this web page. Should you have any questions, please wait until you have been contacted by a staff member. If you have questions after your visit, please feel free to contact us.

See you soon.