Boy Scout kilts

[O'Callaghan]

I noticed that the rules given early in this thread kept saying that the kilt could be worn only by those of Irish or Scottish ancestry. Has the issue of kiltwearing come up for any troops with members with other ancestries (even Celtic ones, like Breton or Welsh)?

Summing up the SA rules in as plain English as I can manage, anyone in N. Ireland can wear the saffron kilt in the Scouts, and anyone in Scotland can wear the kilt in any tartan, but outside N. Ireland or Scotland respectively only those of Irish or Scots descent can wear a saffron or tartan kilt respectively, and outside Scotland a Scout of Scottish descent can only wear their own tartan or Maclaren.

There is no provision for Welsh cilts or for Manx, Cornish, Northumbrian or Breton kilt wearing. Of course Bretons come from Brittany, which is in France, not in the British Isles.

As for Scouting Ireland, I have since discovered that they seldom wear full uniform except for parades, ceremonies, etc. I think they are considered to be in uniform by just wearing the scarf.

[beloitpiper]

A mural of some kilted boy scouts in Belfast.

[Standard]

Summing up the SA rules in as plain English as I can manage......

Yes, this is quite true for the UK Scouting organization, but the USA Scouting organization simply does not address the wearing of the kilt in its uniform code. At least that is my understanding from reading the USA - BSA uniforming information on the National website. It would be interesting to know if/when the question of kilts has been brought up at the National level in the USA.

[Packhound]

Scouting is one of the reasons that I became interested in wearing a kilt. I am Woodbadge trained (I used to be a Beaver). and originally intended to wear my kilt primarily with my uniform. I am also the Scoutmaster for my unit. I have decided against wearing the kilt with the uniform at troop functions because the uniform policies of the BSA do not make provision for the kilt with the Boy Scout uniform and I want to promote the wearing of the complete uniform, not just the uniform shirt with jeans. However, I am also the SPL for the upcoming Outdoor Leader training and plan to wear my kilt that weekend. (The setting is not as formal.)

BSA policies DO allow for Venturing Posts to select their own garb for the lower half. The Post associated with my Troop has no problems with the kilt so I may just start wearing the dark green Venturing shirt with a kilt to non-troop functions. The more of us that properly wear the kilt with a Scouting uniform (Venturing shirt), the more likely that policy may change to allow for the kilt to be Official BSA Field uniform. BTW, I have only seen pictures of BSA members wearing a kilt. No one in my area wears a kilt to my knowledge.

[randal]

The MacLaren tartan is a connection to the beginnings of Scouting as we know it today, world wide. Where allowed, the kilt and appropriate tartan in association with the Scouting uniform, pay homage to those beginnings.
Personally, I think there are still too many hangups in American Scouting regarding kilts. Perhaps a good dose of education, "exposure" to the kilt and even wearing the kilt would change the minds of those in charge.
BTW, my son is a Tiger Cub and I'm the Cubmaster and a Den Leader. For November we will be wearing our kilts at the monthly Pack meeting as part of the heritage theme for the month and encouraging the other scouts in our Pack to wear the dress of their heritage.
As soon as I get the opportunity to complete Woodbadge, I'll also get a MacLaren kilt and wear it when appropriate.

Cheers

[O'Callaghan]

A mural of some kilted boy scouts in Belfast.

The name O'Reilly and his blue shirt would tend to point to a catholic member of Scouting Ireland. OTOH, wearing tartan rather than solid kilts would almost tend to make me think they were protestants and in the Scouting Association, except that the SA have never worn blue shirts AFAIK and their current rules at least wouldn't allow tartan in NI unless they were all of Scots descent (which of course most of the protestants are, but not all). Not trying to be divisive really, just trying to ID them as one faction or the other, out of curiosity.

[Detroitpete]

"As soon as I get the opportunity to complete Woodbadge, I'll also get a MacLaren kilt and wear it when appropriate."

And not a finer tartan I might say--well worth the reward for a Wood Badge :-)

So I might not be COMPLETELY impartial ;-)


PROUD member of the Clan MacLaren Society of North America. Creag An Turic!

SWK aka Jerry--has a SWEET MacLaren Modern---nice enough for more formal too-do's. Both Jerry and Sport Kilt have GREAT MacLaren Modern for banging about. Add the buckles for a more traditional yet less formal look.

Either way--Jerry and Seamus have ya covered brother, if you don't want to spend up for a tank.

[Matty Ross]

I just wanted to add my picture to this thread. As I have mentioned before I am a 25 year veteran in Scouting and a two time Wood Badger. I am also looking forward to being on Wood Badge staff next year. I plan to wear my Kilt most of the time.

[Jamais Arriere]

Being a committee member in our troop, I'm not required to wear a uniform so I wear a kilt and one of our troop t-shirts. Usually my olive UK. I do wear oneto roundtable with a class A upper and some folks had things to say but they quit when I told them if they didn't like it they could just fire me. I'm a woodbadger and staffer also. "All critters are good!" I'm expected to show up kilted to WB activities with my pipes. I do wish BSA would see fit to allow it as class A

[Matthew Siegmann]

I do wish BSA would see fit to allow it as class A

As a 10 year vetern Eagle Scout, I agree. I wonder what it would take to convince the BSA to add a kilt (perhaps the MacLaren Modern) as an official part of teh Class A uniform. Perhaps bring back the old Garrison BSA hat to wear with the kilt!

I actually wore my dad's garrison cap at my Eagle Scout court of honor with my full uniform.

Ugh... my bone to pick with the scarf however is the fact that we had to roll those things every time we wore them... pain in my rear and from what I could tell that was not something scouts for the better part of 60 or 70 years did...

Thus endeth the rant.