At the Gulf Coast Council, Wood Badge is the premier adult training course to help empower our volunteers. Our volunteers who take Wood Badge retain longer in the program and come up with several new ideas to help Scouting. In 2023, the Gulf Coast Council sold out it’s Wood Badge Course at 56 participants. One feature that sets this course apart from the rest of the country is that we utilize the beauty and awe of the Gulf Coast.
Preparations are already underway for the 2025 course.
Wood Badge:
Strengthened Commissioner Service:
At the Gulf Coast Council, we have had three successful Commissioner Colleges since 2022. Previously, it had been a few years since the Council had last conducted this course. Commissioner service continues to grow and the Commissioner cabinet began meeting for the first time in June 2022 since 2015. As a result, our commissioners are unified and continue to receive training resulting in stronger communication between the districts and units.
Additionally, we have re-introduced our College of Commissioner Science, and in 2023, we had 52 commissioners in attendance with 60% of the overall attendance being from the Gulf Coast Council
Collaboration at all levels:
At the Gulf Coast Council, our volunteers are very dedicated and help in many different ways. Every summer volunteers from Okaloosa and Walton Counties help in a competition called “Smoke on the Coast.” This BBQ event is designed to invite the community and tourists to the Destin Commons. The BBQ is judged, and the winners receive funds for their respective organization. The past two years the Gulf Coast Council has placed in the BBQ competition. It takes a team effort and the day is long, however, the volunteers who help enjoy helping.
New Approach to Training:
Adult Leader Development Conference (ALDC) is designed to bring new ideas and solutions to units. This conference happens in the spring and fall. Courses are selected months in advance based on feedback from unit leaders.