After more than one decade of dedication to the World Organization of Scout Movement (WOSM) and after completing all the stages in the advanced leadership and governance training, on Dec., 14th, 2019, I was awarded with the most highly prized possessions a scoutmaster could have: The Wood Badge.
According to the worldwide traditional ritual, my training conclusion resulted in receiving a certificate, the 1st Gilwell Scout Group neckerchief, the automatic membership in Gilwell Troop 1 and the wood badge itself, which is a set of two simple wooden beads knotted on a leather thong to signify that the wearer has completed the most respected scout training program and is dedicated to the highest standards of service .
Besides my personal effort and dedication to learning by doing in order to reach this top milestone, I counted on the support from my family, from every single member of the Sea Scout Group Ilha de Vitória and from Leader Leonardo Vilar who is my personal training supervisor and to whom I dedicate my gratitude and recognition for the active guidance along my journey.
For sure there was not a better way to close the decade than being honoured with such a distinguished world-wide award.
Robert Baden-Powell, founder and first Chief Scout of the world-wide Scout Movement
One of the purposes of Wood Badge training is to get Scouters to think about the practice of Scouting, to meet together, to exchange experiences, and to live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath.