A Past

 

The ways things were, Stateside...

The badges you could earn when there was only  BOY in the B.S.A. and a smart practical uniform suited to outdoors and in.

Other ideas on Uniform

 

Going over the Atlantic for some vintage uniform ideas and we're back to the 80'a but as it applied for Canadian Boy Scouts, noting the use of the Sash as in Girl Guiding to hold awards on and the more formal styled shirt..

Things fit together

 

You often have interests that aren't exclusive to being a scout but maybe that you'll encounter others that share them along your path as that scout like playing games such as Chess, perhaps vintage , often steam railways or as with this scout vintage cars.

All three were things with me and do have the potential do build on skills you'll find useful as a scout such as thinking, developing stratagies, having a role within team, learning about how things work, doing day to day maintance.

It could easily of been me aged ten taking an interest in that car.

Run!

 

More fun at camp this time in 1985, obviously having a great time and looking just right.

Out but looking the part

 In view of my comments last time regarding tidiness and having a distinctive uniform, here's proof it doesn't have to be as hit or miss as it currently is where older leaders may use more suasion to get their packs out looking smart in current uniform and others who tend not to bother much with that at all so as as they've got on what they have to.

That's 1981, in Scotland at camp so there will be more casual periods like for playing football where you may get muddy but at other times their expected to be in uniform even if the cap, then a feature of it isn't being worn.

Of course you need to be prepared to make temporary consessions in extreme hot or cold weather as children's welfare matters but generally you expect them to turn up smart in full uniform.

If they could do that back then, where is the problem now?

The Cub Scout

It should be getting cooler again in a day or so as I was out a couple of days back seeing butterflies and small birds about but this week we've floated thousands of miles Westwards.

I don't generally post much about American scouts not least cos I'm not American and in so far as keeping up traditions go, I'd sooner we'd keep our own up like Grand Howl in all its glory but this was the Boy Scouts of America summer uniform of the 1980's which with the odd change stayed in place to the early 2000's.

Smart, practical and more in tune with B-P's ideas than some of the stuff we've had of late, it doesn't aim to "blend in" with everyday boys leisure wear, it identifies you as that Cub Scout with even the socks being distinctive.

Equally I don't post anything around American badges although they follow the basic concept of the badge and award system we know cos they reflect U.S. cultural norms which you'd understand and like here you have to earn them which is a great idea.

There are times where I feel a slightly more modern and inclusive version of the 70's and 80's cubs uniform here backed up by a "stay smart" campaign would be a good thing.

Enjoying the views

 

The allure of The Lakes is easy to understand when you consider the natural beauty, how agriculture has changed the fells and its promixity to the big cities of the Midlands and North with great road and rail connections.