First time out to Eagle Scout Court of Honor

[EagleJCS]

Congrats on wearing your kilt out!

As a Scout leader (and Eagle Scout, and Wood Badger - I used to be a Bear...) I have worn my kilt (Scott Red Modern) with my uniform top to closing campfires at summer camp and other large camp settings - when I'm playing my pipes. I've also worn it to a District Roundtable (to promote Cultural Awareness) and to an Eagle Court of Honor and a couple of Scouters' funerals when I was asked by the family to play my pipes. I have yet to wear my kilt to a Scouting function where I'm not playing my pipes.

Technically speaking, the kilt is not part of the 'official' Boy Scout uniform - nothing in the Insignia Guide about kilts at all, really. When I'm wearing my kilt, I'm actually bending the rules - with a purpose, when I'm playing my pipes. Venturers are allowed to choose their own uniform, and I have also heard there are some that wear kilts (Chicago? ).

AFAIK, there is not an official Boy Scouts of America tartan. There is a British Scout Association tartan (a couple, actually), and they use a couple of others as neckers, but in my conversations with Scottish Scouts at the World Jamboree last year, they really don't require the use of it. From what they told me, most Scottish Scouts - being those IN Scotland - get whatever fits from the kilt hire shops. Of the tartans I recognized, I saw some wearing MacKenzie, MacGregor, and of course Black Watch and Royal Stewart. Other British Scouts authorized to wear the kilt (being FROM Scotland or with Scottish parents) do the same. Some try to get one with a family/regional connection, but they still go with what fits (size- and budget-wise).

MacLaren is the Wood Badge tartan, and, as such, appears to have been co-opted for use by the organization at large. (As has been noted in previous threads: "The Clan MacLaren Society of North America has established a special associate (non-voting) membership for any Scouter who has earned his or her Wood Badge. Wood Badge membership in the Clan MacLaren Society of North America (CMSNA) is therefore extended to all Wood Badge-trained Scouters who have completed their "ticket" and have received their Wood Badge beads." quoted from the Clan MacLaren website).)

By the by, according to the MacLaren website, William F. de Bois MacLaren was just a Scottish businessman and District Scout commissioner from Rosneath, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, near Glasgow, not Lord MacLaren (as best I can tell, there was no chief of the clan at the time). And, Baden-Powell was the founder of the British Scout Association, but had little to do with the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. That was done by William D Boyce, with the help of Ernest Thompson Seton (Woodcraft Indians) and Daniel Carter Beard (Sons of Daniel Boone), merging their organizations.

Whew! I apologize for the length on this one for my first post (besides in the newbies forum). Also, I apologize for hijacking the thread a little, just wanted to be sure other comments were addressed.

[Mark Keeney]

Slight correction on the Venture Crew uniforms. Venture Crews can devise their own uniform top-to-tail or not wear one at all.

Where does one go to sign up for a Venture Crew that doesn't wear a uniform?
I hope it is warm.
Their outings would be interesting.

[Highlander31]

Congratulations to the Eagle Scout. Sounds like it was a great venue for the kilt. Were there any photos?