Boy Scout kilts

**Skipper1** · 17th May 10, 06:05 AM

Though I havenèt been engaged with scouts for the past three years, I am prety sure that Canadian Scout rules are pretty flexible regarding dress excepting the shirt and necker (scarf). Those are manditory. As it turns out, I will be turning over command of my ship in a couple of days and moving up to the head quarters to become a staff weinne. I will go back to working with the scouts and I am considering getting a scout tartan kilt. Hey just what I need - an excuse to get a new kilt.

**claidheamdanns** · 31st May 10, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by PGH

They're not Boy Scouts they are a Venturing Crew. There is NO provision for a Boy Scout or Scouter to wear a kilt as part of his "class A" (Field) uniform. If you do so as a leader you are sending the message that one of the methods of Scouting is a crock. If you wear a kilt with a T-shirt etc as "class B" (Activity) you're fine.

The same site shows both Venturing Crews, and Scoutsmasters wearing kilts.

**claidheamdanns** · 31st May 10, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by PGH

There is NO provision for a Boy Scout or Scouter to wear a kilt as part of his "class A" (Field) uniform. If you do so as a leader you are sending the message that one of the methods of Scouting is a crock. If you wear a kilt with a T-shirt etc as "class B" (Activity) you're fine.

I asked our District Exec if their was a specific ruling either banning or allowing the wearing of kilts, and this is what he wrote back:

"Trust me when I say: No one at the council office will know one way or the other.....do it, it's your heritage and can be argued either way."

**bubba295** · 2nd June 10, 06:02 PM

I am an Assistant Scout Master, Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow, and Assistant Advisor for our OA Chapters ceremony team, and Wood Badge, SR-621, graduate. I used to be an Owl........ My oldest son, 17, is an Eagle Scout and OA Bortherhood member and a member of our OA chapters ceremony team (Meteu). My youngest son,13, is a Star Scout, and just completed his Ordeal for the Order of the Arrow. I served as an Elangomat for his Ordeal, and wore my Khaki Xkilt that I make a few weeks ago. I got a few strange looks, and a little good humored teasing, but I really enjoyed it. The Xkilt made it easy to get the tics off of me as well.

**Kiltman** · 2nd June 10, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

Ken,

If nothing else, you are following in the footsteps of tradition with your Scout kilt-wearing. Lord Baden-Powell, who was World Chief Scout when I was a lad, as he was for many years, frequently wore the kilt as part of his Scout uniform.

Well done!

It's good to see the legend returning. Kilts and scouting go together very well. Can't believe some tried to stop it.

**GaRebel211** · 2nd June 10, 06:40 PM

I can't speak for everyone else, but scouting has changed a great deal from when I went through. I received Eagle in 1994, and it was very common to have someone in a kilt. I think it is a shame what today's society does to scouting, and even the die-hard scouters seem to shun the "old ways" of scouting, just my two cents, but if I was still active in scouts or OA or a Venture post, I would fight tooth and nail to return Scouting to its roots and by all means promote kilts as part of the uniform.

**claidheamdanns** · 2nd June 10, 07:47 PM

Tartan Day 2010 fell on a BSA Troop Meeting Night

My youngest son and I, in front of theScout Hut

**Cygnus** · 24th June 10, 12:28 PM

While I realize this is an old thread, I've just gone through it and find myself agreeing with both the "pro-scout-kilt" and "anti-scout-kilt" camps. I think if having a kilted leader or patrol adds to the scouts' interest in and fun with the program (and interest in actually learning what's being taught), it can't be a bad thing. I also agree that the purpose of a uniform is to create a sense of acceptance and unity - wearing a kilt against regulations certainly has potential to disrupt that.

So... since nobody else seems to have posted it, why not write to the BSA National Council and tell about why the kilt is important to you and its association with scouting?

I took the liberty of finding their contact information so you can do just that (this is on the Cub page, but it seems to be the same for all scouts). I know I will, and if enough folks do, we just might get a paragraph in the future like the Boy Scouts in the UK have about allowing kilts in certain situations.

Then I think folks in both camps will be happy (me included)!

EDIT: Changed the link to the more accurate contact page posted by Gordontaos.

**longhuntr74** · 26th June 10, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by BKPowell

Aye. I have to add my 2 cents here, too. I am and have been a scouter for most of my 60 years. Love the scouting organization and the adventure it afords. Always loved the uniform. Its even better with the kilt and all that goes with it. Somewhere, I have a picture of B-P in his kilted uniform. When I find it, i'll post it.

B K Powell
Eagle Scout

P.S. Perhaps, my avatar is kilted, you just can't see it.

If you have a pic with B-P...please share. It's been hotly debated and pretty much already decided that B-P NEVER wore a kilt (neither with or without his uniform...in fact I don't believe he was Scottish was he?)...so I think you're quite mistaken. I don't know for sure one way or another...but there's many that have been involved in the original scouting movements and may have even been alive during the early days and seen that man that have refuted claims that he wore a kilt with his uniform...don't believe it's so. If you have proof otherwise...please set the record straight.

Originally Posted by claidheamdanns

The same site shows both Venturing Crews, and Scoutsmasters wearing kilts.

Just because there's pictures of Scout Leaders in kilts doesn't mean that they're adhering to the policies and uniform "regulations" of the BSA. As the MacLaren Tartan does have ties to the WoodBadge program (which is what you're seeing in that pic), many WoodBadge staffs have used that occassion to wear MacLaren kilts with their uniform...it may be an exception that is officially sanctioned by their particular council or even the national office...but it doesn't mean it's within the standard prescribed uniform of the BSA.

Originally Posted by bubba295

I am an Assistant Scout Master, Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow, and Assistant Advisor for our OA Chapters ceremony team, and Wood Badge, SR-621, graduate. I used to be an Owl........ My oldest son, 17, is an Eagle Scout and OA Bortherhood member and a member of our OA chapters ceremony team (Meteu). My youngest son,13, is a Star Scout, and just completed his Ordeal for the Order of the Arrow. I served as an Elangomat for his Ordeal, and wore my Khaki Xkilt that I make a few weeks ago. I got a few strange looks, and a little good humored teasing, but I really enjoyed it. The Xkilt made it easy to get the tics off of me as well.

I used to be an Owl Too!!!!

Originally Posted by Kiltman

It's good to see the legend returning. Kilts and scouting go together very well. Can't believe some tried to stop it.

Again...what legend. BSA never had kilts as part of it's uniform to my knowledge. Again...as I've said a few pages back, I'm not for or opposed...but I do have an issue with perpetuating a falsehood that there's some sort of history of kilt wearing in Scouting that originates back to B-P.

Originally Posted by GaRebel211

I can't speak for everyone else, but scouting has changed a great deal from when I went through. I received Eagle in 1994, and it was very common to have someone in a kilt. I think it is a shame what today's society does to scouting, and even the die-hard scouters seem to shun the "old ways" of scouting, just my two cents, but if I was still active in scouts or OA or a Venture post, I would fight tooth and nail to return Scouting to its roots and by all means promote kilts as part of the uniform.

What roots? The original BSA uniform was composed of knee breeches with long socks. No kilts though.

**gordontaos** · 26th June 10, 04:49 PM

As an Eagle Scout, (1968), I have read this thread with great interest.

I agree with everyone who states that "a uniform is the uniform, thats it".
I am quite a proponent of FULL uniforms for all Scouts, not just shirts and neckerchiefs. I believe that it is important to give the youth of our nation a respect for basic rules and regulations, whether you like them or not.

I agree that if we are to quote history as a "reason", then we must be able to back up that stance with original source material. If we are to believe Longhuntr74, and there is no reason not to, that original source material has yet to be put forth.

However, I also agree with Cygnus. It is important to be able to motivate the membership. Will kilts do that? I certainly do not know, but why not try? It can't hurt to dash off a quick letter, to the National Uniform and Insignia Committee, http://sne.tripod.com/bsa-info.htm ,followed by a telephone call. It is important to remember that the Official BSA Uniform does change! Scouts today are certainly not wearing the same uniform that my dad wore in the 1930's.

Finally, I am old enough and independent enough to know that there is a potential way around most regulations that you disagree with, (such as Venturing, WoodBadge, etc.). There is even a place in this world for passive, or even active, resistance as a means to change a rule that you disagree with. I understand that I am talking out of both sides of my mouth, but if you ARE going to break a rule, could it also be seen as a lesson in Civics or "Citizenship in the Nation"? Was our Country not founded by Law breakers, (it was indeed a Revolution you know)? Were the men who signed the Declaration of Abroath merely following the rules of the organization that they belonged to?