A Brief History of Scouting [infographic]

It’s been a long ride for Scouting over the past 102 years—highlights, traditions initiated, and memories made. Many different years marked significant events and milestones, but keeping track of them all can prove challenging. Reading through long lines of text and dates isn’t much fun either. That’s why Stadri Emblems made this awesomely informative infographic that highlights many of the key events in Scouting from 1910 to today.

Have fun with it. Link to it on your own website; share it with your friends; or print it out and tack it to your wall! Click on the image to see the full size version.

Embed “A Brief History of Scouting” on your own Website or blog.

If you want a more extensive history of Scouting and like reading though text, check out the complete history on scouting.org

From The Stadri BSA Archives: 13th Annual Boy Scout Invitational Golf Tournament

The Northeast Georgia Council held the 13th Annual Boy Scout Invitational Golf Tournament on April 22, 1996, at the Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, GA.

Boy Scout Invitational Golf Tournament The event featured a $2,500 putting contest and gift certificates and prizes for three flights of teams—provided by Ethan Allen and Belk’s. More than that, it was fun—the kind of wholesome outdoor fun indicative of the Boy Scouts.

This tournament marked the first time Stadri Emblems had the privilege of sponsoring a hole at such an event. As players worked their way through the tournament’s two courses, we became part of the golfing landscape, having a unique chance to achieve high-visibility as a Scouting partner.

The tournament was successful in its goal of providing funds for Scouting and increasing awareness of the Boy Scouts of America in Northeast Georgia. Since then, Stadri has sponsored many more tournaments, and, in 2007, became an Official Licensee of the Boy Scouts of America. This has enabled us to be even more involved with supporting Scouting at every opportunity, and passing on further savings to scouts on their custom Boy Scout patches.

The First Boy Scout Troop In The U.S.

Disclaimer: When you have an organization that is over 100 years old and has had 85 million+ people associated with it, there is going to be some discrepancy over who was first. New York’s Hudson Valley however had the first Boy Scout Troop in the U.S…as far as I’ve been able to research.

Stadri Emblems has always been committed to involvement in the community on many different levels. This year we’re lucky enough to be working with the very local Olive Boy Scouts, Rip Van Winkle Council, Troop 163. These scouts have the ability to trace their lineage as one of the first (if not the first) Boy Scout Troops in the country. Of the other Troops claiming to be first, I would guess that none can lay claim to a New York Times article (hyperlink) written about them.

The first Eagle Scout rank was earned in 1912 with another 21 earning it in the same year. Of those 22, our Troop 1 had 5 scouts earn the honor of Eagle Scout:

If all of that wasn’t enough, the cabin the original Scout Mater, Sydney Clapp owned is still standing. The current owner has agreed to allow the scouts camp and hold special events at the cabin.

Pretty neat being able to trace history! Thanks goes out to Rob from the Olive Boy Scouts, we’re excited to be a part of your Troop!

Stadri Emblems is privileged to be an official licensee of the Boy Scouts of America.

Traveling Scout Man

From 1922 and through into the 1930’s a “regional deputy” used to hit the road with little more than a small suitcase and bedroll at his side. His mission was to mobilize the youth and convince townspeople to invest in Scouting. This BSA road warrior would sometimes show up in a small town unannounced and set out discovering if there were any Troops or Scoutmasters in the area. Usually a talented salesman, he would then work quickly to establish an executive board and raise the funds needed to make a council’s first year budget. Though sometimes these outsiders were met with opposition, more likely than not, they would persevere, finding ways to band towns together and connect them to a city commissioner who could serve as a Scout executive. The traveling regional deputy’s main goal was to permanently stabilize Scouting’s position in an area. This had the additional benefit of familiarizing neighboring townsfolk and groups of people who would have not otherwise met. You can read more about this interesting facet from Scouting’s history in this online archive of Scouting Magazine

What do you think? With Scouting in North America seeing a decline in memberships, should the BSA consider bringing the traveling Scout Man back? Or can this type of community building and organizing be done more effectively using the internet these days? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

For the finest scout patches, pins, neckerchiefs and more visit Stadri’s Scouting Site

1989 National Scout Jamboree—Presidential Praise and Spaceships

1989 National Jamboree Pocket Patch

The 12th National Scout Jamboree took place at Fort A.P. Hill and featured newly-elected President George H.W. Bush stepping out of Marine One to address the Scouts, praising them for their leadership and role in confronting the problem of drug abuse. “You are teaching self-protection strategies against drugs and other dangers,” President Bush said. The patch for 1989′s Jamboree featured a space shuttle to match the theme of that year’s most popular attraction, a huge NASA exhibit that featured mock versions of rockets and other space craft for the Scouts to explore. To welcome NASA, the scouts organized their 32,717 attendees into 20 subcamps, each one named after a different space mission. This marked the first year that Scouts used propane stoves in the campsites, and the first female-registered campers attended a jamboree-22 members of Post 1425 from Wilmington, Delaware. As the Scouts were poised to say goodbye to the 80′s and welcome in a new decade, there were clearly many new challenges and adventures awaiting them.

T0 order official Scout Patches, neckerchiefs, and more visit: Stadri’s Scouting Site

1985 National Scout Jamboree—Scouting and Diamonds are Forever

In 1985 the Scouts celebrated their 75th “Diamond” Anniversary. The Jamboree was part of the year-long Diamond Jubilee celebration. There was cause to celebrate as the eighties marked a lot of upgrades and modernizations to the Scouting movement. The new Oscar de la Renta designed uniform premiered in 1980, Tiger Cubs had been formed in 1982 as a program for seven-year old boys. 1984 brought on extended camping and uniform privileges for Webelos and the Jamborees of the eighties marked the first time computers were used to organize and inform councils about the schedule of the events. The shift into the modern era was reflected in the 1985 “Jambo” patch, featuring a saluting Scout clad in the old uniform on the left and connected by a fleur de lis and stripes of the flag to a modern saluting Scout on the right. The theme for that year’s Jamboree was “The Spirit Lives On.” In addition to the pocket patch, attending Scouts received a neckerchief, regional jacket patch, two special region hat pins, and a travel bag. The Jamboree covered a 9 mile area of the active Army base and set-up was handled and used as simulated disaster relief training by the Army Corps of Engineers.

To get the highest quality official Scouting patches, neckerchiefs, and more at the lowest prices visit: Stadri’s Scouting Site.

1985 Jamboree Pocket Patch

1981 Scout Jamboree—The Scouts Find a Home

1981 Jamboree Pocket Patch

In 1981 Scouts descended up Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia to hold their Jamboree at the site that would become the Jamboree location for the next 29 years. The theme for that year’s Jamboree was “Scouting’s Reunion with History” and much of the programming focused on America’s heritage. There were performances by the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle team, the U. S. Naval Academy Band, as well as, a Youth Jamboree band made up of 120 Scouts from councils all over the country. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden was a VIP attendee. Winds as high as 50 mph were reported on the last day, but, by all accounts, this was a safe and fun Jamboree event. The pocket patch for that year featured an embroidered Washington framed by a Scout in blue silhouette. A red fleur de lis hangs over the Scout’s right shoulder and the patch is a yellow gold color with a red merrowed border.

To order official Scout Patches visit: Stadri’s Scouting Site

1977 National Jamboree at “More-Rain” State Park

The Patch for the 1977 Boy Scout Jamboree

In 1977, 28,000 Scouts set up camp in a valley of Moraine State Park and then the floods came. 4 1/2 Inches of rain soaked the Jamboree site in two days, causing more than just wet socks and sleeping bags. In some places, the mud was 4 inches deep with standing water reaching up another 2 inches. However, the Scouts didn’t let the soggy surroundings dampen their spirits. There were plenty of Scout competitions and one of the largest campfires ever. Burl Ives and Bruce Jenner were also rumored to have been in attendance for a portion of the 10 day event. The patch that year was simpler than the last two Jamborees, but featured a compass and fleur over a diagonally striped background. The traditional red, white, blue, and gold colors were also used in the design.

To order officially licensed Boy Scout Patches visit: Stadri’s Scouting Site

1977 National Boy Scout Jamboree

(YouTube video courtesy of celakip)

1973 National Scout Jamboree—Boy Scouts Divide to Grow Together

This National Scout Jamboree took the novel approach of splitting the Scout contingent between a “Jamboree East” in Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania and “Jamboree West” in Farragut State Park, Idaho. Jamboree West featured activities such as “punt-pass-and kick” and “horseshoes” with a “Merit Badge Midway” and “Trading Post Warehouse.” Jamboree East was hosted by the newly formed Moraine Trails Council-a merger of the former Lawrence County and Pioneer Trails Councils. Whichever site National Councils decided to attend, they readied themselves for three exciting weeks of Scouting activities. The combined attendance of the Jamboree sites was 73,610 Scouts. The two sites were unified by this “Jambo” pocket patch of a tree and gold fleur in the foreground of a red setting sun and red, white, and blue stripes. Blue Neckerchiefs featuring the tree were also distributed at the sites.

To order licensed Boy Scout Patches visit: www.stadriemblems.com/scouting

The "Jambo" patch for East and West Jamboree's of 1973

1969 National Scout Jamboree—Play the Game, Earn a Patch

The Jamboree in 1969 took place in Farragut State Park, Idaho and featured a popular Jamboree Wide Game. If a Scout successfully completed the game, they earned a strip with the “Building To Serve” logo that could be added to the bottom of the attractive “Jambo” pocket patch for that year. The yellow patch featured an embroidered deer and a gold fleur de lis. With its beautiful nature scene, this was the most detailed Jamboree Patch to date.

To order official Boy Scout Patches, neckerchiefs, and more visit: Stadri Emblems Scouting

1969 "Jambo" Patch

Strip addition to the 1969 Pocket Patch

Embroidered Boy Scout Patches

Stadri Emblems Scouting Blog

Category Archives: History