Woodbadge
and
The Katzenjammer Kids


The year was 1977. My brother and I were still members in the scouts, but we were now two of the growing number of alumni adults leaders.  While in college we somehow managed to find the time for scouting and mentoring those who followed in our footsteps.  My brother served as one of the Assistant Scoutmasters and I served as District Training Chairman.


A unique opportunity was presented to us during this time -- something called Woodbadge.  Up until now, only the old timers had the opportunity and honor to wear the funny knotted "beads" (a cord of black leather with pieces of wood tied at the ends).

Our scoutmaster (a Woodbadger himself), in his infinite wisdom, decided we were up for the challenge and signed up five of the youngest candidates for the four weekend adult training session.  Another seasoned Woodbadger was assigned to us as our "instructor".  He decided to call us.....


and balanced out the patrol by teaming us up with an elder (someone well above the age of 21) whom we called the Captain.


Being the youthful scouters we were (I was 21 and the oldest of the "adult" kids), our patrol literally took camp activities by storm and received the highest ratings for the session in teamwork and performance.  The food wasn't bad either as we planned, prepared and cooked it ourselves each weekend.  After hours, the kids would serenade the nightlife with popular tunes.  We could hear the rest of the camp snore away while the leaders reminded us to "keep it down".  I'd say we probably harmonized better than the Beatles or the Backstreet Boys.

The last session of the training was held during the Halloween weekend. I remember the carved pumpkins at the dorm I was staying at near the U.C.Berkeley campus. We had a pumpkin carving contest that Friday evening. What is Halloween without carved pumpkins? But I also remember riding in the car of one of the guys, stopping off at a drugstore and picking up masks for each member of the patrol (including the Captain) before arriving at camp that Friday night.

Graduation was Saturday, Halloween Night. Naturally we donned our masks before accepting our graduation neckerchiefs and leather slide. We were also the only group to have our

taken with and without Halloween masks.  I'm pretty sure no other Woodbadge patrol came close in the antics we pulled.


 Our Gang.....WE-3-28


We were the Captain and the Kids during that Woodbadge session, but the books will remember us as the Eagles of WE-3-28.

 

NOTE: My "ticket" was not completed until February of the following year.  This was the official certificate received upon completion.