Boy Scout kilts

[Computergeek]

well for what it is worth, I finished my eagle with an explorer post 12 years ago. I have since taught at a BSA summer camp kilted and done Philmont in kilt. I found that when you are teaching young scouts wilderness survival classes in a kilt it is amazing how the people that were telling you that you were a disgrace to scouting half an hour ago are suddenly telling you what a pleasure it is to work with you when they realize that the kids they can't control in troop meetings are sitting and listening to everything you say with rapt attention. especially after you tell them and the parents with them that they will be spending a night in the wilderness with the others in the group with nothing but a ball of twine and a pocket knife.

[Galician]

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)?

[auld argonian]

I'm aghast at the comments about our kilt wearing members who participate in Scouting getting told that they are somehow being a "disgrace to the regiment" by showing up in a kilt. What gives? I've said on many occasions that a kilt is probably one of the most conservative and traditional things that a guy could wear...what's the deal?

Best

AA

[Nick]

I'm aghast at the comments about our kilt wearing members who participate in Scouting getting told that they are somehow being a "disgrace to the regiment" by showing up in a kilt. What gives?

I worked on staff at the local Scout camp for ten years, and I've noticed that many of the Scout leaders who hold this attitude are ex-military, and have transferred the expected discipline and regulations of their military days to their troop. Not as a broad generalisation, but many of them, anyway. My troop didn't follow strict protocol, though we certainly had rules, and I don't think that harmed my experience.

I've posted this before, but this is a picture of me before going to a Council ceremony. The Council Exec approved.

[Mark Keeney]

I'm aghast at the comments about our kilt wearing members who participate in Scouting getting told that they are somehow being a "disgrace to the regiment" by showing up in a kilt. What gives? I've said on many occasions that a kilt is probably one of the most conservative and traditional things that a guy could wear...what's the deal?

Best

AA

The problem is not the kilt. The problem is that there is a uniform that includes pants/shorts, and one of the methods of scouting is the uniform.

Personally I wear the complete uniform when Class A is called for. I have purchased the Scouts UK uniform in its entirety complete with non earned patches in the proper places to wear with my kilt. I wear this and I get questions about the scouting program of the UK. I wear kilts with scouting t-shirts when appropriate.

[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.

[claidheamdanns]

Tartan Day 2010 fell on a BSA Troop Meeting Night



My youngest son and I, in front of theScout Hut

[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.

[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.

[Royal Scots]

This is my first post. I liked what has been said about the kilt and the scouting movement. I have also worn my kilt on many scouting occasions. I have had a bit of resistance in the past from some scouting nazi's. I have found that there are quite a few people that are ignorant to scouting policies. You guys have struck it on the head with the venturing program. I'm a unit commissioner and wear my kilt when ever I can. Besides, my wife doesn't complain tht I spent $700 on a kilt that I only wear twice a year.