Boy Scouts and Kilts

[scottmphoto]

Every summer, our Boy Scout troop goes to camp for a week. Normally, I stay the entire week but this year, because of work scheduling, I could not stay. I helped to transport the boys there and then had to come home. This is a shot of my son Zachary and myself in the troops campsite at Camp Orr Boy Scout Camp which is located just outside Jasper, Arkansas on the Buffalo National River. In the course of under two hours, from the campsite, to the flag ceremony, through breakfast and back to the campsite, I received 50-60 positive comments. I had NEVER received that many at any one time. I had a smile on my face all day long.

Now, if I can just get him into a Kilt. He's seen me wear one for many years but he's just not interested.

[briansbarkery]

Scott, Maybe you can get him interested in kilts once he earns his wood badge. Once he does that he can start wearing the Boy Scouts kilt. Which is the MacLaren Modern tartan.

[scottmphoto]

He's a Life Scout working on his Eagle Project right now. I loved Scouts as a kid and that's why (not just to do things with him), I'm still in Scouts 33 years later. I'd be happy if I could go to Wood Badge (I just never have the money, the time or both at the same time). He says that after he comes back from his mission that he wants to stay active (he was baptized into the LDS Church (my wife's - he's from a previous marriage of mine)).

[Cavfsnco]

Very Nice I wear my Maclaren frequently and it gets nothing but positive comments.



I used to be an Eagle and a good old Eagle too

[Matty Ross]

Just Thought I'd say Howdy to a fellow Scout. I am kilted full time and camp if a great place to be kilted.

[Woodsman]

Very Nice I wear my Maclaren frequently and it gets nothing but positive comments.



I used to be an Eagle and a good old Eagle too

Ron,
Remember, once an Eagle Scout always an Eagle Scout! Never say "used to be" you "are".
Marty Larson
Scoutmaster*
Troop 71
Macungie, PA

*after 9 years as SM now serving as Asst. Scoutmaster

[Cavfsnco]

Marty,I never made it to eagle as a boy but I am a member of the Eagle Patrol Troop 1 Gillwell. It's a Woodbadge Thing

Ron Gauld
Scoutmaster
Troop 3 Miltom Ma

[Aussie_Don]

Ron,
Remember, once an Eagle Scout always an Eagle Scout! Never say "used to be" you "are".
Marty Larson
Scoutmaster*
Troop 71
Macungie, PA

*after 9 years as SM now serving as Asst. Scoutmaster

Ummm.. unless I'm mistaken, he's quoting
from "Back to Gillwell" and thus is saying that
he was a member of the Eagle Patrol, one of the
four standard patrols in a US Woodbadge course.

The patrols being, Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, and Fox
for a training troop with four patrols.

I used to be a Fox and good old Fox, too
But now I'm finished foxing and don't know what to do
I'm growing old and feeble and I can Fox no more
So, I'm going to work my ticket if I can

NE-V-27 Fox Patrol, Eagle Scout, inactive because the
Aussie Scouting movement wouldn't accept US Woodbadge
as Woodbadge.

-Don

[O'Callaghan]

Scott, Maybe you can get him interested in kilts once he earns his wood badge. Once he does that he can start wearing the Boy Scouts kilt. Which is the MacLaren Modern tartan.

I have to correct that. ALL scouts are entitled to wear that tartan, although the question of whether you can wear it as uniform is more complicated, but in the US the answer is no (ETA: unless you are in a Venture crew that votes to have kilts as uniform), in the UK it would be a qualified yes, in that outside Scotland you would have to be of Scottish descent.

The misconception arises due to the square of Maclaren tartan on the Wood Badge scarf.

[scottmphoto]

Correct, here in the US, there is no provision for wearing a kilt with the uniform. The regulations say only official Boy Scout shorts or pants may be worn. Most people that I have ever seen (and I'm in my 33rd year with the program) don't have the official shorts or pants. I only have one pair of shorts myself and can't bring myself to wear them for a week straight at camp during the summer. Most people wear all kinds of different shorts or pants and I plan to continue to wear my kilt until the uniform police tell me specifically to stop. I did get an olive green utility kilt to wear with my uniform so at least it "looks" more uniform and I am planning on getting a MacLaren tartan kilt soon for more "dressy" occasions. At summer camp, most places only require the Field Uniform for the daily opening and closing flag ceremonies so I am wearing a kilt mostly with the Activity Uniform (as in the photo I posted). I'd love it if the BSA would add a provision for wearing the kilt with the uniform, especially since the MacLaren tartan has a long history with the Scouting Movement.