Boy Scout kilts

[PGH]

All that being said - and I apologize for being so long-winded - Venturing is a different animal from the Boy Scout program, and - from my understanding, not being a Venturing leader - Crews are allowed to choose their own uniform, as long as the local council approves. If your crew chooses to and is allowed to wear the kilt, more power to 'em!

I agree with everything you say about the Scout uniform, EagleJCS. Just want to add though that the Venturers don't need council approval for the uniform that they choose. If a Crew or Ship doesn't want any uniform at all, that's fine too. The youth members of a Venturing unit are the only ones that decide.

Hat off to the Crew that chose to wear kilts!

I used to be a beaver...

[O'Callaghan]

I live in a council where many leaders think just the uniform shirt is OK, and they'll wear jeans or slacks instead of uniform pants. The Council is trying to get all of the registered leaders to wear the uniform correctly, including the uniform pants, especially in front of the boys. (The arguments against puchasing/wearing them are: "They're too expensive", "I don't want to get them dirty", "They don't fit right", etc.)

That's how it is here. Certainly very few of the boys wear them.

I have read of an incident a few years back where a registered leader (volunteer) wore the uniform shirt with camouflage pants to a high-profile (read - the press were involved) council event. On his way in, he was asked by his Council Executive (the local top-level professional BSA staffer) to change into uniform pants or remove the shirt. The gentleman refused and was subsequently escorted off the premises by the police and barred from further membership and participation in any other Scouting event in that council. An extreme example, to be sure, and we don't know if there were extenuating circumstances (past history?), but the Executive was within his rights to do so.

That's a different issue, though. The BSA don't allow wearing of 'military uniform' items with BSA uniform, and they count camouflage as military uniform. They do take a very serious view on this, as there are a few people (thankfully very few) who treat the scouts as if it were a paramilitary organisation, and the BSA don't want them in their organisation, period. Of course, if someone had been hunting and just kept on his hunting trousers but put on a BSA shirt he would also fall under this policy, but they would say that he ought to know better.

Kilt-wearing in other Scout Associations around the world (Ireland, the UK, etc.) is subject to their own regulations. There is no over-arching authority regarding uniforming.

Absolutely. The UK rules on this are complicated, and I have already posted on that subject.

Disclaimer: I'm not a scout leader, but my wife is, and she has her woodbadge.

[Spartan]

EagleJCS nailed it. Whether or not the BSA rules fit our agenda for wearing kilts, he has it right.

Although I'm not currently registered, I have a long history of BSA leadership on the unit, district and council levels. As a Woodbadger (used to be an Eagle -- and a course director, too) I have the opportunity to be an Honorary Members of the Clan MacLaren Society. Not being currently registered, I'm not entitled to wear the Scout uniform. If I have the opportunity to attend one of my grandson's Scouting events, I would consider wearing a MacLaren tartan kilt as civilian attire, but not as part of a Scout uniform as a registered Scouter.

[longhuntr74]

Great thread everyone...like most of the rest of you here, I have a long history with Scouting (the BSA to be specific). I've been a registered Scout or Scouter for 26 years now (I'm 34 by the way). I am an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor Member of the OA, and I used to be an owl (NE-VII-13 / I think that it was somebody's idea of irony to take an 18 year old scout leader and put him in the owl patrol....funny thing was, that with all my scouting experience, I was the guy in the patrol that most turned to for advice and instruction).
I'm also a Major in the Army, so I appreciate sentiments on wearing a uniform and wearing it properly. In my opinion, it all boils down to setting a proper example in conduct and appearance to young boys (and girls...to be fair). I agree that, as Scout Leaders, we have an obligation to wear the uniform properly and enforce standards. It is my observation that, in most units, they allow the wearing of jeans, shorts, etc with the Class A shirt for all the excuses that have already been mentioned (cost, fit, etc). I appreciate units that require their scouts to wear scout pants or shorts, but don't necessarily have a problem with units that don't require it...provided they are providing a quality program, building character, etc. Somebody mentioned the neckerchief....not many units wear them anymore....I miss them! I think they really are an integral part of the scouting uniform (worldwide). So there's my two cents.
JRB

PS...thanks for the info on the MacLaren Society! I had forgotten about the connection and didn't know about honorary membership. And it is a very attractive tartan too!!

[rocscotjoe]

I was at the 1969 Jamboree too! I see the patch on the right shoulder of the scouter on the right, wearing the black watch like kilt. Attended as a scout in '69 and as a SM in 2001. Wish I'd had a kilt for the 2001 Jambo. I wore a Japanese Scout beret for our International program...

Seosamh

[Skipper1]

I was a cub, a scout,a venturer and then scout leader for 20 years. I never realized that my gilwell necker had the Maclaren tartan on it. Well you learn something every day. As an aside, my first necker was made of the Maple Leaf Tartan, designed to celebrate Canada's 100 years of confedration. It was the same year my pack was creaated.

[rocscotjoe]

I was a cub, a scout,a venturer and then scout leader for 20 years. I never realized that my gilwell necker had the Maclaren tartan on it. Well you learn something every day. As an aside, my first necker was made of the Maple Leaf Tartan, designed to celebrate Canada's 100 years of confedration. It was the same year my pack was creaated.

I went through Wood Badge NE-V-126 and that was the first I learned of the Gilwell Wood Badge neckerchief having a scrap of McLaren tartan. Of course, in Cubs, the Webelos neckerchief is a colorful tartan! Origin? I don't know!

[fluter]

I went through Wood Badge NE-V-126 and that was the first I learned of the Gilwell Wood Badge neckerchief having a scrap of McLaren tartan. Of course, in Cubs, the Webelos neckerchief is a colorful tartan! Origin? I don't know!

I believe the Webelos tartan was designed for that purpose. If I'm thinking of the correct one, it's listed as Cub Scouts of America. I believe that it was after my time (1964-ish).

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=819

[rocscotjoe]

I believe the Webelos tartan was designed for that purpose. If I'm thinking of the correct one, it's listed as Cub Scouts of America. I believe that it was after my time (1964-ish).

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=819

My Cubbing days were about the same time, maybe just a little later. I am an Eagle Scout, Class of '74, NE-V-126 (I used to be an Eagle...), and Brotherhood Member of OA, Ty-Ohni Lodge (inactive currently).

Growing up in BSA I have some very mixed feelings about uniforming. There were always those who took uniform inspections to nearly military standards, but I also took (and still take) great care to mke sure my badges were correctly placed. Uniform pants, for young guys, can be an issue as they are expensive and you outgrow them so quickly. Uniform exchanges make a difference, and not looking askance at hand-me-downs from my cousin made it work too.

Kilting and Scouting? I am all for it! Scouting is a International brotherhood and I think anything that promotes cultural understanding and appreciation is a positive. Where I draw the line is the use of clearly military apparel such as camo. Tartans and Rep ties may have military roots, but they do not send the same message (intended or not) that camo does.

My $.02!

Seosamh

[jordanjm]

The only problem I see with trying to change the BSA rules is, U.K. Scouting codes aside where do you draw the line. The BSA managed to create a uniform, which allowed some form of "Ethnic" dress for scouts of all heritages. This would probably be to much to accomplish in the USA.