𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟑𝟎 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧

The Wood Badge Training was conducted in Nganglam LSS, Pemagatshel from January 14-20 resuming this premier adult leadership program since the COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by the Scouts and Sports Division under the Department of Education Programmes, the training brought together 30 Scout Adult Leaders from 8 Dzongkhags and 1 Thromde from the Eastern and Central Regions.

Originating in the UK in 1919, the Wood Badge course has been adapted in Bhutan to reflect national values, educational priorities and 21st-century skill development, while remaining aligned with the standards of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), of which the Bhutan Scouts Association became a member in 1999. Since then, more than 3,000 leaders have been trained both within Bhutan and abroad, reinforcing the spirit of “leadership by example” and building a strong cadre of competent, ethical, and service-oriented Scout Adult Leaders.

Aligned with recent education transformation initiatives, the training emphasised advanced skills such as First Aid-CPR, Disaster Risk Reduction, Child Safeguarding, and fundamental scouting principles, while integrating leadership, innovation, inclusivity, and continuous professional development. It complements the Specialised Scouting Curriculum introduced for Classes V, VII, and IX, which embeds structured skills, leadership development, service learning, and values-based education into the school system.

In her opening remarks, the Director of the Department of Education Programmes and Chief Commissioner of the Bhutan Scouts Association reaffirmed the importance of such training for adult leaders. She highlighted that the efforts will be made to make Leadership Training inclusive, revive national-level programs like the Spiritual Retreat Program and other capacity-building initiatives and integrate modern practices such as project-based learning and digital skills into adult leader training to align with 21st-century education and scouting goals.

She further encouraged participants to serve as change agents, become multipliers of knowledge, and champions of social service, ensuring that scouting continues to nurture values, innovation, and holistic development in alignment with Bhutan’s national education priorities.

Similar training will be conducted for Scout Adult Leaders from the western and southern regions in Punakha in the coming week.